Goodyear Blimps

[Robbie Roberts]

hi Robbie,
My late Dad, Ferdinand Kolasa was an aviation ordnanceman on the Ticonderoga during WW2. I've never heard "Ticonderoga-class" before, strangely enough. He always talked of Essex class carriers.
In the photo (I'll check the full-size scan) I believe at least one or two of the seaplanes in the backround are PBMs, and it looks like a Guardian on the flight-deck behind the 5" turret aft of the island.

Rich

I hadn't heard of them either: apparently the Ticonderoga Class is a variant of the Essex Class: http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/usns ... cv14cl.htm due to some hull mods, etc.

Robbie

[Robbie Roberts]

Those PBY's look more like PBM's to me.
What do you think?
Jerry

When I blew up the pic, they looked like PBYs to me- I may take a look at them at work, and see how the photo thing there makes them look...

Robbie

[richkolasa]

Those PBY's look more like PBM's to me.
What do you think?
Jerry

When I blew up the pic, they looked like PBYs to me- I may take a look at them at work, and see how the photo thing there makes them look...

Robbie

Nope, definitely PBMs


and Guardians and a couple of Corsairs on the flight deck (Corsair folded wings just above the 5" turrets)

[RickH]

The Collings F4U-5N made one of the post Korean War Med cruises on the Leyte.

[richkolasa]

Just found another of my uncle's shots from the blimp.

[richkolasa]

Back to blimps, here's my uncle Mike doing his job. I always found this funny, this huge silver bad with a blue camo car hung below. Yeah, in case the enemy missed the bag, they'll never see the car below.

By the way, he's deathly afraid of heights. How high is that engine nacelle?

[Robbie Roberts]

Rich-
I hate to say it- he looks about 15 in that pic!

Thanks for the other pics, BTW: I will forward them as I requested permission for.

I concur about the aquatic avians in the one photo- I blew it up at work, and the wing just did not seem high enough for a Cat. I can't make out the Corsairs tho- their wings go up triangle style, where the TBMs sweep back...

Robbie

[The Inspector]

Since this thread weaves back and forth a little on a subject that very rarely gets much said about it's history.

About 30 years ago when I was in NooAwlunz working for RSTOL, one of our pilots and I had a running joke every time the BIGYEAR gas bag showed up @ Lakefront it ran to 'caution for bag turbulence following blimp on departure...' and we never had an airplane ready for test flight when the blimp was in motion to test that theory, and an RSTOL modded 172 could certainly stay behind a blimp with full droop set, is there bag turbulence behind one? Also, we joked about 'wicked stall characteristics' can you stall an airship or will it just stop with its envelope nosed up?

HMMMMMM----

[Mr Widgeon]

[quote=
About 30 years ago when I was in NooAwlunz working for RSTOL, one of our pilots and I had a running joke every time the BIGYEAR gas bag showed up @ Lakefront it ran to 'caution for bag turbulence following blimp on departure...[/quote]

As I remember it, that call WAS made once by the NEW tower............ with tongue firmly in cheek.

[The Inspector]

THATS RIGHT!!! I never heard it because I WAS WORKING and you were monitoring the UNICOM over at Pan-Air East-

Have a great 4th uno!

[richkolasa]

Rich-
. I can't make out the Corsairs tho- their wings go up triangle style, where the TBMs sweep back...

Robbie

You can see the two Corsairs just in front of the 5" turrets at the aft end of the Island. Tail codes appear to be "NA".

Rich

[Forgotten Field]

Thanks much for posting the photos and information about the airships. The photo of him working on the engine is great.

[Robbie Roberts]

Rich-
. I can't make out the Corsairs tho- their wings go up triangle style, where the TBMs sweep back...

Robbie

You can see the two Corsairs just in front of the 5" turrets at the aft end of the Island. Tail codes appear to be "NA".

Rich

Ah- I see them now...

Thanks-
Robbie