Warbird Information Exchange

A couple of YouTube videos I ran across of Bearcats (and Avengers and Skyraiders) from 8mm home movies. The first one was shot on the USS Boxer and at NAS Alameda. It reminds me a lot of the cool stuff Mark has been posting lately about his dad. The second is from the USS Valley Forge.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHIQpMfcRWg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7s8wMNyoz0

21 is the Boxer. Dad was on it in '53. Neat films, thanks.
Chris...

Beautiful !

THX !

Great stuff! I like the Bearcat coming up to the flight deck on the elevator running and ready to go!

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"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Outstanding stuff Wilson I spend a lot of time in San Francisco so it's nice to see color footage of that time in history. Thx for posting.

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Impeach, Remove, Convict, Imprison!!...

Wow. Awesome stuff! That one Bearcat wave off was really last second, it looked like the aircraft was already over the deck when the LSO waved him off. That was somethgin seeing his skirt over the flightdeck at about 10 feet!

When the deck crewman un-hook the tailhook the pilots really haul ass to the forward part of the deck!!


Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

That's great stuff!

thanks for sharing the link with us!

Z

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Zane Adams
There I was at 20,000 ft, upside down and out of ammunition.
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Fantastic! In the first film (USS Boxer) the national insignia have no red bar, so that puts it in the 1946-47 time frame. Check out the TBM with red tail and wingtips! CAG bird?

Richard

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I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Anyone know why that overall blue AD-4 landing on the Valley Forge has what looks like a 4 foot wide white band painted around the fuselage @ the side national insignia area? Don't think it's a reserve aircraft as they would have all still be using F6F's @ the time.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Couple of the Bearcats (which all have the Glenview V tail code!) have a similar band as well.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

Wow. Good catch I had not noticed that.



Chappie

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Brrring. Dispersal? TWO SECTIONS SCRAMBLE!!

Glad you guys liked the videos.

I noticed the white fuselage bands, too, and did some digging. The Bearcats are from VF-12A. The film is from Valley Forge's world cruise, which lasted from October 9, 1947 to June 11, 1948. The Ginter book on the Bearcat has several photos. By the time Valley Forge is passing through the Suez Canal on her way back to San Diego, all of the Bearcats have the white fuselage band. I still can't find any explanation for the marking, though.