Retro WW2 Aero Rides - More galleries

[Team Blitz]

R-R Admins, if this is too off-topic, let me know, and I'll delete the thread. Sharing a few pics from this weekend's Gathering Of Mustangs & Legends show.

P47 Thunderbolt "Hun Hunter XVI", jeep in foreground.


Lancaster RCAF.


P38 Lightning, "Glacier Girl", the one removed from deep inside a Greenland ice flow.

[gnomad]

www.huvard.com/adventures/lost/



More on the Greenland expedition where they found the plane. A local hero, the late Norman Vaughn, was very much involved in the expedition to retrieve the planes. Largely because he knew where they were.

"Vaughan, now in his eighties, was the last man to have seen the Lost Squadron when, as an Army major in 1942, he dogsledded alone to the landing site and retrieved the secret Norden bombsights from the downed B-17s. Vaughan had been with Adm. Richard E. Byrd on the famous expedition of 1928-30 to Antarctica."

[Oldbus]

Nice one but we definately need more pics! ;D

[BenzBoy]

I'm feelin' WWII plane paintjobs on cars... getting all sorts of ideas!

[sav]

Great stuff.

Read the story about Glacier Girl some years back, very interesting.

[autohausdolby]

I was telling Mrs Autohausdolby about Glacier Girl the other day. That and Kee Bird, the B29 on the frozen lake that they overhauled in situ and then burnt out as they were taxiing for take off. I can't even begin to imagine what that must have felt like.

[Team Blitz]

Request for more pics heard. Here is a selection of P51, mainly D model, photos.

Chuck Yeager's P51 mount in the ETO.


P51 "Little Witch". Note airshow contrails reflected in propeller blades.


"Old Crow" P51 in D-Day markings.


P51 "Pistolera" nose art.


P51 "Crazy Horse". Hard-banking P51 in air above.


Cockpit, P51 "Cripes A Mighty".


P51 "Sweet Revenge".


P51 "Twilight Fear", most original patina, boxed up and shipped over from Blighty.

[fpk]

I remeber as a child loving the decorations on ww2 fighters and bomber and it brings back some cool memories would look cool on cars too. aint there some hot rods with it on?

[moose]

my mums partner is an aircraft engineer or summit and i have a book of his all about nose art on planes cause i thought a little design would be relly cool on the morris,great book with some brilliant pic's.

moose

[Team Blitz]

Flyer Tiger P40 Warhawk.


Schwimmwagen, Waffen SS.


P63 KingCobra variant of Airacobra. Note cannon thru crankshaft!


B17.


M3A1 Halftrack. Note the Ma Deuce .50 cal up top!


B25 Mitchell airborne.


RCAF Lancaster bomber.


P38 Lightning "Right Stuff".

[Oldbus]

Oh god yes, thanks for sharing.

Can nearly hear the Merlins up and running, great stuff!

[Team Blitz]

oldbus64 said:

Oh god yes, thanks for sharing.

Can nearly hear the Merlins up and running, great stuff!

Aimin' to please, OldDe! There's a few Allison V12s and Wright Cyclones in there too. One of the P51s I shot is an unlimited pylon racer equipped with a Griffon RR and twin counter-rotating props! A worked Merlin puts out 2200HP. A worked Griffon nearly double, 4000HP!!!!!!

[Oldbus]

Now i wonder if i could get a Merlin in the back of my van...that would be good for a laugh at Santa Pod! ;D

[markbognor]

There's something a bit different about these i think, a bit mad like the engine behind the pilot or something.

Off to google...

[markbognor]

Bell P-39Q "Aircobra" - (scan - 1984)
The P-39 could not compete with the Japanese Zero, but was used from Australia to the Alutians. The engine is behind the pilot, with a drive shaft that runs between his legs, to make room for a 37mm cannon in the nose. The Russians used them as tank busters.

Prototype ordered Oct 37 on basis of originality of its armament--a 37 mm cannon installed in the nose and firing through prop hub. Cannon installation dictated entire structure of aircraft resulting in engine installation in center of fuselage behind pilot, and a long propeller shaft routed between the pilot's legs. Had a completely retractable tricycle landing gear, first for a fighter aircraft. First prototype showed great qualities in both horizontal and vertical flight. However, a series of modns followed which transformed it from a thoroughbred into a draft horse. Most responsible for its lack of success as an interceptor (and lack of high altitude performance) was replacement of experimental supercharged engine, used in prototype, with unsupercharged engine. Worse, aircraft was now heavier with its armor plating and armament installed in accordance with original specifications. Thus modified, prototype suffered significant decline in performance. Nevertheless, Aug 39 aircraft ordered into mass production; first Cs delivered Jan 41. The following D model offered to RAF who rejected it; however, several hundred went to USSR and about 250 to USAAC Dec 41. Had good flying qualities and rugged airframe but low rate of climb, low service ceiling, and relative lack of maneuverability. Properly flown it became an important ground support aircraft with firepower to inflict heavy damage and capacity to absorb punishment. About half (4,773) of all - 39s built went to USSR. Although outclassed by contemporary enemy fighters, served well in the Pacific as a bomber escort, interceptor of Japanese air raids, and ground attacker. First all-black fighter group, the 332nd, equipped with "Q" models Jan 44 and used them to great advantage. Was quickly replaced in Europe as P-38s, -47s, and -51s became available.

I just did what I'm constantly telling the kids not to do. don't just cut and paste from the internet. Oh well.

[Team Blitz]

markbognor said:

Bell P-39Q "Aircobra" - (scan - 1984)

Mark, this is not a P39, however. It is a P63 KingCobra variant. P63 was never used by the USAAC in WW2 combat, only in training. A few thousand were provided to the USSR Stalin regime under Lend-Lease, and 300 went to the Free French.

[stealthstylz]

My 2nd favourite things after cars. Thanks for the pics.

Matt

[Team Blitz]

stealthstylz said:

My 2nd favourite things after cars. Thanks for the pics. Matt

Sure, happy to, Matt. With me, it would be my first thing, but for the price of the ticket punch. B17's were $15K from the Army after the war, and a civilian could just step forward and buy one. It was the 57 Chev Belair of the warbirds, truly a flying fortress. Today $15K gets you a low-end Hyundai.... a flying something else. Oi