The old kodak kodachrome warplane gatherings ...

[JohnB]

What is the P-38 spraying ?

Phil

While the the previously mentioned DDT is a good guess, and they did convert a pair of Stearmans for spraying near overseas bases and very recently someone here mentioned L-5s were used for spraying.
However, in these photos I think they were testing or using smoke generating equipment. The cloud looks awfully thick for DDT.

Smoke screens seemed to be a big thing early in the war, I recall seeing A-20s being used during exercises, and this looks like an early (pre-J) P-38. But the national markings are 1944-ish. Judging by the terrain below, it looks like Eglin Field.

In one one my books there is a shot of an L-19 outfitted with smoke tanks, and they look similar, but from this angle, I can't make a positive match.

Any other guesses/comments or insights?

Last edited by JohnB on Wed Sep 25, 2019 5:29 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[Dana M Bell]

Hi Mark,

As for the reversed images - all the shots that show the national insignia over the right wing or under the left wing (but not on both wings) are reversed. The Corsairs with the antenna mast to the left of the centerline are also reversed.

The Arnold Collection is a gift that keeps on giving - the Groenhoff Collection (also at NASM) is also worth your time!

Thanks for posting these old favorites!

Cheers,



Dana

[Mark Allen M]

Always my pleasure Dana

btw thanks for digging up a photo of one of dad's reserve FG's.

btw2 I've got a vast collection of Corsair photos perhaps you may have not seen. My pleasure to share with you anytime.

Mark

[Mark Allen M]

[Mark Allen M]

Here's the SPAD links

http://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer/?ea ... 56_ref1049

http://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer/?ea ... 56_ref1360

[Mark Allen M]

FINALLY!!!! found the link for those of you asking for more specifics. i.e. P-38 photos etc.

https://sova.si.edu/details/NASM.XXXX.0 ... i=0#ref581

[Noha307]

I was just looking over those pictures at the beginning again and it hit me: They must be of the Air Cavalcade that toured the country during the war. The Bf 109 in the later picture is AE479:


Here's a picture of it I found in some papers at the museum:

Here's a newspaper article about it from page 7 of the 12 June 1942 issue of the Cincinnati Enquirer:

[Cubs2jets]

Here is the Messerschmitt at Cincinnati Lunken Field.

Attachments

[Mark Allen M]

[Mark Allen M]

[Mark Allen M]

[Mark Allen M]

[Mark Allen M]

[seagull61785]

Thank you for these photos Mark,

The pilot of the Spitfire is/was Lt Carter Porter, who was a USAAC test pilot based at Wright Field. He was the principal pilot on this Spitfire, AA963, which was a Mk 5c - one of the few 4 x 20mm cannon armed Spitfires. This was part of the Cavalcade of the Air fund raising tour of 1942.

The Swastika 'kills' marked by the cockpit of the Spitfire were made up for show, as this Spitfire never saw operational service and never fired it's guns in anger.

The text of the various 1942 media releases concerning the capture of Messerschmitt 109 AE479 were also pure speculation and quite inaccurate as this 109 was captured intact by the French forces early on in the war in North Africa, and was shipped to England for evaluation, then on to the USA to become the star attraction of the Cavalcade of the Air tour.

I am still trying to trace the Stateside history and movements of Spitfire AA963 so would be very grateful for any further photos of her travels and subsequent fate.

Thanks again for the excellent pics,

Cheers

Barry

[Michel Lemieux]

Those (as always) are just awesome!!!!

Thank you Mark!!