4th FG Photo Challenge-Put Your Cards Down Wade!

Jack Cook · **Posted:** Wed Jan 28, 2009 9:59 pm

I know you can wup me real bad here :shock:

Shuttle mission pilots and Ben Kelsey

Don "Snuffy" Smith was a great guy!!

Swede Carlson's P-47

Dusty Miller

Capt Frank Jones KIA and his teddy bear

Dutch Van Wyk

Bob Kenyon

Don Willis

Van Chandler

Duane Beeson

Gentile and Godfrey

P-47 with DT

VF+T after

KG Smith the only 4th FG pilot with a US Mae West :idea:

SSgt Willard Walls

Oscar Coen & SSgt Weck

Red Dog Norley

Ellington ready to start

Oscar Coen pins on Pete's Eagles

Oscar Coen is greeted after a mission

Django · **Posted:** Thu Jan 29, 2009 3:07 pm

I think you scared him Jack.

Django · **Posted:** Mon Nov 09, 2009 3:40 pm

Hey Jack, I guess you win. :lol:

warbird1 · **Joined:** Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:25 pm **Posts:** 2760

Jack Cook wrote:

VF+T after

Great picture! Look at the unusual bending of the prop blades. I don't believe I've ever seen prop blades bending both back and forward before on the same prop after a ground strike. Is this normal?

drgondog · **Joined:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:50 am **Posts:** 237

It is 'normal' when the crash landing (low level buzz) doesn't proceed in a straight line..

Jack - do you want to have a 'pic off' on the 355th /SF (Experimental and 2nd)?

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:03 pm

When it comes to photos, though I have a ton of 4th stuff, I'll never beat Jack. That being said, I'm saving my "unbeatable hand" for later - some unpublished 335th and 336th FS stuff I got from a mech's son ...

Wade

Holedigger · **Posted:** Tue Nov 10, 2009 8:59 pm

I've got an Ace up my sleeve

Jerry O'Neill · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:13 am

You also get the forward bent on the propeller blades when the engine is making power. Throttled back, you get the usual bent backwards blades.
He obviously had the pedal to the metal when he hit the ground. He was lucky to come out of that alive!
Jerry

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

Any pic-off on the 8th AF is a good thing.
More Please!

Rick

Jiggersfromsphilly · **Joined:** Fri Jun 17, 2005 3:15 pm **Posts:** 951

I hate to sound like my kids but these are "Totally Awesome" !

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:08 am

Regarding Gentile's crash - Here are some highlights of the "REPORT OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT" received by HQ USAAF on 12 May 1944:

Place: 1/2 mile west of AAF Sta-F-356. Date: 13 April 1944. Time: 1634 hours. Type Aircraft: P-51B-7-NA. A. F. No: 43-6913.

Name: Gentile, Don S., Capt. Original Rating: Pilot. Dated: 15 Sep 1942. First Pilot Hours: Type: 672:10; This Model: 94:55; Last 90 Days: 157:05; Total: 707:45.

Aircraft Damage: Aircraft, Engine(s), Propeller(s): Complete Wreck.

WX at Time of Accident: Vis 2 to 3 miles. 5/10 Low Cloud at 3500 ft. Wind Easterly 6 mph.

Pilot's Mission: Operational Ramrod. Nature of Accident: Crash-Landed. Cause of Accident: Flew too low over field, scraping propeller and air-scoop.

Narrative: Captain Gentile was returning from an operational mission and as pre-arranged with the press, he made a "beat up" of his dispersal and came in too low, striking his propeller and air-scoop on the ground. He then climbed to 400 or 500 feet but having no power he had to crash land in a plowed field nearby. Captain Gentile was to have been photographed in his landing and interviewed afterwards for publicity purposes and it is believed that he became over-anxious to put on a "good show" and over did the beat up.

CAUSAL ANALYSIS: 100% Personnel Error. 100% Pilot Error, Carelessness.

/s/ James A. Clark, Jr. Lt Col.

/s/ George Carpenter, Maj.

/s/ Winslow M. Sobanski, Capt.

Report Dated: 18 April 1944.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Pilot's Statement: On the 13 April 1944 I was coming back from a sweep and flew a little low over the field when I hit the ground. I pulled up and managed to get about 400 to 500 feet. I didn't have any power and was dropping fast. I tried again and again to get it running, but with no success. I put flaps down at the last possible moment so that I could clear the woods. I cut all switches and set it down in a field near the woods. It was necessary to put flaps down at the last moment because I had to clear the woods and if I had put them down immediately I would not have cleared the woods. /S/ Don S. Gentile, Pilot.

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

Statement of Senior FLYING CONTROL OFFICER 1Lt. John T. Simpson:

To: Operations Officer, 4th Fighter Group, 14 April 1944.

1. At 1633 hours, 13 April 1944, Capt. Gentile, 336 Sq., in a P-51 aircraft, returning from operations, came over the field and peeled off, coming down from the east toward his own dispersal.

2. The plane was coming down at a terrific speed getting lower and lower until his propeller hit the ground. He started pulling up but due to the damaged propeller, the plane lost power and started settling down.

3. The ambulance and crash tender were immediately dispatched to the scene of the crash. The plane had landed in a plowed field on its belly and the pilot was out of the plane, laying on the wing in a dazed condition.

4. The plane was very badly damaged and all concerned were notified.

Django · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 11:28 am

How about some more 335th pics. :8

Chicoartist · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:12 pm

This is all I have in my PhotoBucket account at present that is 4th-related. Thought I had more piccies, so I threw in some paintings by a local guy -

Wade

Holedigger · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:16 pm

Someone say "RedNosers"!?!?

Redtail 332 · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2009 3:34 pm

I thought that this my interest you fella's

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4th FG Photo Challenge-Put Your Cards Down Wade!

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