Warbird Information Exchange

Another nice looking creation that I had a keen interest in as a child. Still do today. One of the many aircraft with great lines throughout it's design career. I saw the old CAF machine fly several years ago in Midland, TX and also a quick stop at the Santa Barbara, CA airport many years ago as well. I really neat looking deal. ... tragic ending to a wonderful airplane and the good folks involved.

Part 1

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Part 2

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Part 3

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Mark,
Nice mix of periods and markings/operators from first prototypes up to Spanish A.F. stuff

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Part 4

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Part 5

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“Knowing what’s right, doesn’t mean much unless you do what’s right.”

Mark, thank you so much for the time and effort put into these photo threads. Although the subject is usually a "mainstream" type, the various configurations and markings I often find are always interesting. A radial powered He111? Must look that up...

It's also interesting to see how an aircraft type, which would be considered priceless today, was operated in such severe conditions when it was new. Can you imagine a DB-powered He111 being regularly flown from a rough field in the dead of winter today? In the B-24 thread, a photo caught my eye of a Liberator parked on a rocky beach (out in the Aleutians, I think). Incredible what these machines could withstand (with the help of some spares, no doubt)!

darn if that's not an evil looking airplane

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-recovering Viper crew chief
-AWACS driver/soon-to-be A-26 driver
-displaced Philadelphian

Propsrule,
Here's some basic info from the net on the radial powered airframe-It was the last surviving 111A and apparently built as a civil transport not converted from a bomber. When it's original engines wore out, two WRIGHT R-1820's from a DC-2 were transplanted along with the two bladed props from something else. The 'Zhong' in the black disc indicates it's civil status and registration was XT-ATC. It crashed off Kunming on 12/25/44 and was DBER.

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

Czech 1945

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Disclaimer: Photo discription, original photographer and/or original web source credit unknown unless otherwise noted.

Thanks for the information, Inspector!

I'm familiar with the R-1820 after a brief and torrid affair with some Grumman Trackers. I like the 1820. Now, if I can find an He111 or CASA 2.111 in need of engines...
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I think I'll just keep looking at airplane pictures on the 'net.

In Mark Allen M's posting Part 2, the second and fourth photos and Part 5, the second photo show He 111 Werke Number 6353 which was shot down and force landed near North Berwick Law, East Lothian, Scotland on the 9th February 1940. The aircraft was lightly damaged so it was dismantled and moved to RAF Turnhouse (near Edinburgh) for repair and then in August 1940 it was flown to the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. It was given the RAF Serial AW177 and on the 7th December 1941 it joined RAF 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight, popularly called the "Rafwaffe". Tragedy struck on the 10th November 1943 when the aircraft was destroyed in a head on collision with a Ju 88 also operated by the Rafwaffe while visiting Polebrook airfield.

In Part 5, the third photograph shows a HE 111 that was shot down on the 28th October 1939 at Humbie, East Lothian, Scotland. This aircraft was officially listed as the first enemy aircraft to be shot down on British soil during WW11.

FITD

Great stuff as always Mark. Thanks!
Interesting spotting the radial version PropsRule. It slipped right by me at first glance. Good info Inspector. Thanks folks.
When you put the equivalent of a Lanc' QEC it really changes the look of the things.
Had the pleasure of seeing the CAF machine a few times.
The photo posted by CDF made me think of a trainload of 737 fuse's on their way to assembly

Andy Scott

One of the early war pics has a neat BF-108 and Fieseler Storch in the background.
The photo of the He-111 with US insignia also has in the background a Fieseler Storch and what I think is a FW-190D. Wonder if any of those survive in museums today?

Interesting coincidence. That dual-control cockpit photo is of the CAF Arizona Wing Casa 111. That's my wiring at the lower left side of the main panel. I recognize it in part from the awkward location of the radio stack. That was just about the only place they could put those particular radios, but they sure used up visibility. You might notice the faint line low in front of the pilots rudder pedals. Word has it that the offset nose could really throw you off when landing, so a fine wire was installed in front of the pilot to serve as a visual reference to line up with the runway....

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Without wires, it won't work.