Warbird Information Exchange

I agree, it certainly has a F4F canopy.

Note the very early P2V in the background. Could it be the Record setting "Turtle"?Possibly taken at the Pensacola museum in its early days?

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I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

There's four types that are eluding me John, I'm not too convinced I'll find examples of them as I believe their usefulness ran out for the most part by 1947 and on. Perhaps target drones or something.

1. P-38
2. P-40
3. F4F / FM-2
4. SBD (although I swear I have an example)

Here's a B-24 with NACA being used as a testbed for what looks to be jet engine testing.

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Here's what Baugher states:

Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher '5909'

"An article in a 1987 issue of 'FlyPast' magazine states
that this aircraft had been on display on the battleship USS Massachusetts
at Marine Museum, Fall River, MA but had been returned to NASM as was
suffering effects of exposure. A photograph in a 1988 magazine shows
this aircraft at the Smithsonian's Garber facility. Now on display at
Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport."

Here's more recent history:

http://www.skytamer.com/Vought_OS2U-3.html

https://www.flickr.com/photos/22565451@ ... 028997685/

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RE: Post 1948 Dauntless photo

I had the book titled "Buzz Numbers" by Peter Bowers and it did have a post 1948 photo of a USAF A-24 (renamed F-24). IIRC it was painted with an O/A light grey scheme with the red line in the insignia bar. The photo was taken at W-P AFB and it carried a buzz code and number. The book was loaned to someone and I never got it back.

Anyone out there have this title?

JohnV

http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Yep! there it is ... Thx John


Douglas A-24A (SN 42-6783) in June 1950. The officer standing in left foreground is Capt. Butler. (U.S. Air Force photo)

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I think that's a P5M-1 Marlin, not a Neptune

Just saw the tail, probably a -2

With P-61 radome?

[quote="Mark Allen M"]Yah I'm not quite sure what that idea was all about ...

That photo was taken in September of 1950 at Edwards. The CG-15 is on a T-2 tow bar. I suspect that the wiring that is coupled with the bar runs a set of flight control servos to allow the glider pilot to relax a little and let the tow bird "fly" the glider. There are photos of the same rig on a C-47. The forward fuselage of the glider is still in existence, and is located at the 82nd Airborne Museum at Ft. Bragg. The fairing on the top of the glider is probably some type of either radar or early ELINT package. It would be interesting to pull the data card on it and try and track it's test history.

I remember seeing an Air Classics article on the Bong Memorial P-38 44-53236; there was a photo of it from 1948 when it was being delivered to his hometown and it may have had the later markings - anyone remember this shot?

The NMUSAF's first B-18A, 39-25, had a "by-the-book" current USAF scheme painted on it when it went on display in the early '60s.

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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)

Douglas B-18A 39-25 USAFM c65

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Very Cool!! USN JRF-5 Bu. 87745 = Grumman c/n B-139 which is still active and airworthy. Currently registered as N22932, it was one of the last 2 Gooses operated by Pen Air in AK and when they retired their Gooses, this one went to Dillingham, AK with Freshwater Adventures to fly hunting safaris and the like.

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“To invent the airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything!” - Otto Lilienthal

Natasha: "You got plan, darling?"
Boris: "I always got plan. They don't ever work, but I always got one!"

Remember, any dummy can be a dumb-ass...
In order to be a smart-ass, you first have to be "smart"
and to be a wise-ass, you actually have to be "wise"

And we thought it was odd that an OS2U still survived in 1948 with fresh O/A paint and an updated insignia. Here is a Grumman J2F Duck in identical period markings.



JDV
http://www.fuselagecodes.com

Definitely two (2) maybe even 3* Martin P5M-2 Marlins with the later style T-tails in the background of the Kingfisher photo.

*One in front of the Kingfisher, one behind its rudder, and there is another T-tail horizontal stab in the middle behind the prop blade on the Wildcat.

And in regard to the Wildcat, I can't tell if it's a Grumman F4F or an Eastern/GM FM-2 just by the canopy - I'd need to see the engine and/or the vertical stab & rudder to tell that...although "post-war" the FM-2 is more likely IMHO. Now that I think more about it, judging by the distance between the prop blade and the upper cowl flap that is visible, it looks to me like a single-row Wright R-1820 powered FM-2 for sure. Cowling is not long enough for a double-row Pratt R-1830 as in the Grumman F4F variant.


Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher '5909'

_________________
“To invent the airplane is nothing. To build one is something. But to fly is everything!” - Otto Lilienthal

Natasha: "You got plan, darling?"
Boris: "I always got plan. They don't ever work, but I always got one!"

Remember, any dummy can be a dumb-ass...
In order to be a smart-ass, you first have to be "smart"
and to be a wise-ass, you actually have to be "wise"

Good stuff, fun thread ...

These two are a bit off topic. They reflect a couple 30's aircraft in 40's schemes. Interesting look.


Grumman UC-103 42-97045 [ex G-32A NC1326]


Douglas B-18A 37-537 1944

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Back on topic ...

This is an interesting photo. Photo states: "Waco glider picked up by a C-47 in Fort Bragg - NC". Gives no date but you can clearly see the Post-war stars and bars with red bands.

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