Warbird Information Exchange

And this guy.

Followed by a few P/F-80 pics




I believe these two (yellow & Red) are target tows.

A few fighters

The lineup of F-80s at (presumably) Burbank is interesting.
They way the aircraft seams are sealed I wonder if the photo wasn't taken during one of the type's early groundings.
The AAF couldn't take them but production was continued.

The top photo is of a B-29 belonging to the All Weather Flying Center, which was based, IIRC, at Clinton County air field near Wright Field.
You see photos of their C-54 a lot (if flew across the Atlantic under automatic control) however
you don't see shots of their B-29 very often.

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

Colorful trainers

BT-13's

Some maintenance & Ammo-ing.

A Spit in the USAAF ... sorta.

See anything unusual about this image?

Nice wheels...

Phil

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A man's got to know his limitations.

The last photo in the training set is interesting.
If the Cessna is being used as a trainer (which is likely with the large number on the nose and colored nacelles), based in the OD/gray color scheme, it is a UC-78 pressed into service to supplement AT-17s.

After the initial training buildup requirements were met, contracts for AT-17s were converted to UC-78 transports.
However, it is not out of the realm of possibility that some of those found their way into training units.

My father's training records show his multi-engined training time was done in UC-78s (and not AT-17s as might ge expected) before he did his B-17 training.

_________________
Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

These photos appear to have been taken with a 4x5 camera, a standard size for such documentary work then.
I'll say that there are not from an 8x10 camera because the rebates (black edges) and code notch (upper right corner here) are too large in proportion for that size. Not to mention the bulk of an 8x10, the ISO 8 Kodachrome, and the small f/stops (thus even longer exposures) necessary when using cameras that big. I won't mention the 4x cost of both the film and processing over 4x5.
Shooting in color at this level in those days was no simple task, making these pictures even more interesting to me.
Can you tell I spent 25 years working as an industrial photographer?
Thank you for sharing them with us, sir.

Great information by ALL who have been posting. GREAT STUFF!!!!








This guy look familiar?

I'm EXHAUSTED guys!! I'll shut it down for the night.... I hope you're all enjoying them. They really are amazing and MORE TO COME over the next few days once I have time to clean them up and make them come to life as you see them.

Happy Holidays!!!

How about some Fleetwings drones Mark?

Thanks as always Mark!
I spy P-43 s/n 41-671x:

As to where, per AAIR accident records, RP-322s seem to mostly have been based at Williams Field in AZ, but not P-43s. Hmm...
ETA: Also thanks for the clearest shot I've seen of Pyote-based B-17F 42-3236. It's visible in The Best Years of Our Lives behind the plane Dana Andrews climbs into.

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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)