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IA, USA
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Posted: 12/19/2022 9:45:20 AM EDT
[#1]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Leisure_Shoot: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/46582/2022-11-10_08_55_28-Allied_Warbirds_and_-2594726.png My dad's first cousin did the same thing. He did 27 bomb missions (100th Bomb Group B-17's) over Germany starting in January 1945. He lost one tag and his son had 26 to show at his memorial service. He also did 2 Chow Hound drops over the Netherlands after the war. kwg |
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Posted: 12/19/2022 6:20:56 PM EDT
[#2]
Japanese-Americans recover goods from shops destroyed by the Pearl Harbor raid
 Attached FileJapanese-American children drill in American service caps, Hawaii  Attached File"Sleeping here, a brave air-hero who lost youth and happiness for his Mother land. July 25 Nippon Army" Kiska Island, Aleutians, Japanese memorial for an American pilot  Attached File |
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Posted: 12/20/2022 10:15:48 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#3]
Dauntless with minimalist 1941 roundels. Roundels on one wing only were an Army idea to present a more asymmetric target to make aiming at the center mass of a plane a little less intuitive
 Attached FileDauntless on Hornet at Midway with maxed out 1942 roundels. You literally couldn't paint larger roundels on the plane  Attached FileEnlarged roundel painted on a Wildcat, January 1942. USN roundels were made ENORMOUS in early 1942 after numerous friendly fire incidents early in the Pacific war. Soon afterwards the small meatball in the center was eliminated for being too similar to the large Japanese meatball, and later in the war the roundel was scaled back down a bit and the bar was added  Attached FileEnterprise Wildcats, at lower left and upper right you can see the giant new roundels overlapping the old small ones on some wings. The Dauntless at top right still has the small roundels only  Attached FileOriginal caption says that the huge roundels of 1942 were routinely tarped on deck to reduce the visual signature of the aircraft carrier, which sounds entirely futile, but also sounds like something they'd be ordered to do. The tail stripes are also covered. The cockpit is tarped, which I suppose would reduce glint  Attached File |
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Posted: 12/21/2022 12:00:54 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#4]
F4F-3 at NAS Langley Research Center, March 1941. Telescopic gunsight, prop spinner, interesting "cuffs" on the props (improved engine cooling?)
 Attached FileMartlet and F4F fuselages at the Bethpage plant  Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 12/22/2022 10:24:43 AM EDT
[#5]
Japanese propaganda photos of Christmas dinners in POW camps, 1944
Yoshima, Japan  Attached FileTokyo  Attached FileFukuoka  Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 12/22/2022 4:48:45 PM EDT
[#6]
Christmas 1943 on Guadalcanal, Santa arrives at the field hospital in a captured Nissan
 Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 12/27/2022 11:15:41 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#7]
USN weather station team, Kiska Island, Aleutians. The dog's name is Explosion.
 Attached FilePhoto published in Japanese magazines of Kiska USN weather team prisoners, June 1942. The weather station was the only US presence on the desolate island. The Japanese stormed the weather station, killing two, capturing seven. Two men were absent and one escaped.  Attached FileChief Petty Officer William C. House escaped the attack. He lived off of raw plants and worms for 50 days in freezing weather and weighed 80 lbs when he surrendered. He survived the war and was recovered from a POW camp in Japan. Here's a transcript of a lengthy interview he gave on his ordeal (pdf): https://www.nps.gov/aleu/learn/photosmultimedia/upload/House-Transcript.pdf "...during the morning the guy in the bed above me jumped out and he was yelling and hollering and I said, 'Wimpy what's the matter?' He says, 'God,' he says, 'I've got a bullet in my leg', he said. And God, I looked at the window and the panes of glass were falling out, and so I just pulled my pants on and I looked out the window and here was a whole bunch of landing craft coming up the harbor..." House in the Japanese camp on Kiska, July 1942  Attached FileExplosion the dog had flexible loyalties that served him well  Attached FileExplosion the dog had been adopted by Japanese Captain Seichi Hiramatsu, who renamed him Katsu-go, 'victory' in Japanese. Hiramatsu's company became very attached to Katsu-go. As American air attacks intensified, the soldiers noted, Here comes Katsu, jumping into the underground barrack! The dog gives the first bark warning that the planes are coming near. The dog's sensibility of air-raid approaching had proved to be sharper than that of the radar. When some of the Japanese gunners were killed by shrapnel during a bombing raid, Katsu-go sat sentinel as their bodies were cremated, and that night produced a series of long and sad howls that unfolded across the foggy slope. As the months passed, the air raids continued to become larger and more frequent. Several Japanese shipwrecks now dotted the coast, the superstructures visible above the waterline. The US Navy effectively blockaded Kiska, and the Japanese knew that an invasion was imminent. They decided to evacuate the island in the cloak of fog. As July of 1943 drew to a close, Katsu-go watched as Capt. Hiramatsu's men destroyed their installations, and marched away. The dog followed them over the Tanabata Pass and down to the beach where, unable to take Katsu-go with them, the men bid him farewell and boarded their vessel. As they headed out to sea, some of soldiers watched Katsu-go running up and down the beach and howling at the departing ship. There were food scraps and garbage piles left behind by the retreating Japanese troops. Arctic foxes routinely came to pick over the rubbish for edibles, and the abandoned dog probably joined them in order to find sustenance. As it happened, the Japanese had escaped Kiska in the fog without the US Navy spotting them. A combined Canadian and American force, including the 87th Mountain Infantry Regiment of the 10th Mountain Division, landed on Kiska on August 15, 1943. They expected stiff resistance, and in the fog engaged in several friendly firefights that caused over 100 casualties, but soon realized that they were shooting at their own men and that the Japanese had gone. US Army and Navy personnel were landed to build new installations for the 7,000 Allied troops stationed at Gertrude Cove. One of those landed was Ensign William C. Jones, who had helped to build the weather station 15 months before. He stood stunned among the soldiers as a dog wagged its tail and ran toward him. It was Explosion.  Attached File"A Phony Hero", 11/23/1943. Newark, N.J. No longer can Abe Levey, 28, of San Antonio, Texas, boast about how he killed 62 Japs at Kiska and was personally decorated by President Roosevelt, for the self-styled hero has been jailed by the FBI as impersonating an officer. "A Phony Hero", says the FBI, speaking of Levey who was given a medical discharged from the Army last Summer in Denver, Colo., where he so impressed a medical officer that the reason for his release was listed as due to wounds from the Kiska fighting. Actually, the "bayonet" sores were received in childhood.  Attached File |
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Posted: 12/30/2022 9:25:57 AM EDT
[#8]
American tank crew listen to US citizen Bernard Herzog who was just liberated from the camp of Santo Tomas, Manilla, 1944. His legs are swollen from Beriberi, caused by lack of vitamin B-1. He's carrying a small pail of baby food, probably a good way to ease him back onto a normal diet
 Attached FileChristmas party with Red Cross packages, Tokyo POW camp 1944  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 1/1/2023 12:24:15 AM EDT
[#9]
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Posted: 1/3/2023 10:45:23 AM EDT
[#10]
 Attached File Attached FileThere's an interesting Okinawa story at 51:00 in this oral history interview with a Marine, who is convinced that the third man to die on Okinawa was murdered by a fellow Marine, who later went crazy in China, for a fancy pearl handled revolver his father sent him: https://www.ww2online.org/view/william-bill-pierce#landing-on-okinawa Cpl John Tilotson tries on a captured uniform on Okinawa  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/6/2023 10:08:51 PM EDT
[Last Edit: cyclone]
[#11]
Though it's not a WWII pic, the mockup came from WWII and was one of many German emergency aircraft program ideas
 Attached FileThe Zeppelin Fliegende Panzerfaust, a rocket powered parasite interceptor designed by Germany in 1945 as part of the emergency fighter program, with a single mockup built |
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Posted: 1/7/2023 6:49:49 AM EDT
[#12]
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TX, USA
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Posted: 1/8/2023 10:12:10 AM EDT
[Last Edit: HankZudd]
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: M2HB for vehicles and infantry had a cyclic rate of 450-575 rounds/min, the aircraft mounted AN/M2 was 750-850. The aircraft AN/M3 hopped up to 1,200 rounds/min was developed a bit too late to enter WWII but was used in Korea. Also the M2 actually started out as a water cooled gun and water jacketed .50's at, I believe, 600 RPM were used as anti-aircraft guns at sea and on land https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/m2_browning_water_cooled_jpg-2450967.JPG Marines aboard gunnery training ship AG-17 (ex-battleship Wyoming) late 1941 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Marines_gunnery_training_ship_Wyoming_AG-2450968.JPG Enterprise AA practice 1941 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/enterprise_1941_jpg-2450976.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/enterprise_1941_practice_jpg-2450960.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Crewmen_relaxing_aboard_the_aircraft_car-2450984.JPG USMC AA position on Guadalcanal, 1942 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Guadalcanal_Marine_at_50_cal_anti_aircra-2450962.JPG Free French at the Garigliano river, Italy (the Gustav Line) 1943 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/French_forces_at_Garigliano_river_Italy_-2450965.JPG Seabees somewhere cold https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Seabees_man_water_cooled_50_jpg-2450953.JPG The US Army recently found a first year production run (1933) M2 in an armory, said it was in excellent working order: https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/oldest-m2-browning-50-caliber-mg-still-in-service/383060 how many 50cal boolits did those big canister mags hold? ETA: video just below original entry said 200 rounds, but took a bit to load,,, |
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Posted: 1/8/2023 10:38:20 AM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/1911_stopped_bullet_okinawa_png-2659037.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/1911_stopped_bullet_okinawa_2_png-2659042.JPG There's an interesting Okinawa story at 51:00 in this oral history interview with a Marine, who is convinced that the third man to die on Okinawa was murdered by a fellow Marine, who later went crazy in China, for a fancy pearl handled revolver his father sent him: https://www.ww2online.org/view/william-bill-pierce#landing-on-okinawa Cpl John Tilotson tries on a captured uniform on Okinawa https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Cpl_John_Tilotson_wears_captured_uniform-2659044.JPG One of my uncles did something similar. 
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UT, USA
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Posted: 1/9/2023 8:21:05 AM EDT
[#15]
Crewman trains with his sidearm. I think he's a loader with a handy shell pouch slung under his arm; I've read mention of them, but they don't appear in many photos, usually there was an assistant loader handing them forward from a pile dumped on the ground
https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/37mm_crewman_trains_with_sidearm_jpg-2626148.JPG I think that may be the carrier for the gas mask issued early war? I can see the chemical corp insignia on the bag. |
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Posted: 1/9/2023 11:05:28 AM EDT
[#16]
I've posted some subcaliber artillery training setups before, here's some more
Most common is a rifle strapped to the barrel; overengineered rifle mount for a Springfield on a 75mm M1897 (US copy of the French 75)  Attached FileMedium-engineered 75mm Pack Howitzer M1 with, interestingly, a Kar 98  Attached FileUn-engineered Soviet 76mm ZiS-3s and Mosin-Nagants  Attached File75mm guns were themselves mounted as subcaliber guns atop large coastal artillery, which were extremely expensive to fire in both ammo cost and wear and tear, and disturbed civilians. 75mm atop a 12" M1895, Fort Hancock NJ. Wide open coastal artillery positions were difficult for ship guns to engage, but were outranged and made highly vulnerable by air power. Fort Hancock's 12" guns were scrapped 1942-1943, like most US coastal artillery  Attached File75mm mounted on 12" M1895 rocked by rare full size live fire training  Attached File75mm being fired off of a 16" gun at Fort Tilden, New York. Tilden's 16" guns were scrapped between 1942-1944  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/9/2023 1:18:46 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryI, along with a number of military history friends, have been down the rabbit hole with this for several days now. We can't find the photo on panzerdb.com. It seems the photo may have originated on a Polish forum which we can't find (photo below). We can find no references to a sloped hull Pz.Kpfw. III prototype being built. It appears to be a later model Pz.Kpfw. III turret with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 and without the port side vision port. Although it looks like there's something added to the top of the turret, it could just be stacked boxes. As far as we can tell this is at best a post war Pz.Kpfw. III mockup for a film or a digital fabrication of a variant that never existed. 
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Posted: 1/10/2023 6:11:47 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#18]
USS Nevada a few days before Pearl Harbor
 Attached FileAfter  Attached FileTraining on Hawaii early 1942  Attached File Attached FileRough hewn bunker, Hawaii, early 1942  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/16/2023 3:57:31 PM EDT
[#19]
 Attached File Attached File"Unwelcome Neighbors, 4/13/1944. GREAT MEADOWS, NJ Five Japanese Evacuees [US citizens ordered to leave their West Coast homes by the Federal Government] who thought they might have a chance to start anew on the muckland Farms of New Jersey's Warren County, packed up their bags and prepared to leave Great meadows as outraged farmers threatened to run them out with shotguns, if necessary. Placed on the farm of Edward Kowalick on a tenant basis by the War Relocation Authority, the Japanese didn't have a chance to prove their loyalty before irate neighbors, many of whom have relatives in the service, demanded that they be ousted. Kowalick yielded to the pressure of his neighbors after his shed, holding seven tons of fertilizer, burned down causing $800 damage. Here is a sign on route 6 erected by protesting farmers, pointing in the direction of the Kowalick Farm. John Nykun, a recently discharged Great Meadows soldier, points in the same direction as the sign." Someone destroyed the first "to little Tokyo" anti-Japanese sign, the replacement stands over the debris  Attached FileAt left, Edward Kowalick. The ousted evacuees are: (left to right) Eddie Taniguchi, Frank Kitadawa, Ted Midmura, George Yamamoto and T. Matsumoto. Unsure what to do with them, the federal War Relocation Authority sent them to a hostel in Philadelphia  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 1/17/2023 1:02:45 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#20]
January 1940, Bolling Field at Washington DC puts on a dog and pony show for FDR and Congressmen and DC brass showing off the modern aircraft that will win the coming war (some do... most don't). Dramatic camouflage schemes were applied with water based paint just for the show.
Boeing XB-15 experimental super heavy bomber, dead end ancestor of the B-29 (very long range but low altitude, slow). One example built, disarmed and used as a transport during the war.  Attached FileBoeing B-17A Superfortress, brand new Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss XP-36F (P-36 Hawk with two 23mm cannon), XP-36E (Hawk with six .30s), XP-36D (Hawk with four .30s and two .50s). The P-36 was the mainstay US fighter of the late 30's and scored a quarter of the kills claimed by the French in 1940; evolved into the P-40 Warhawk  Attached FileRear left Douglas B-18 Bolo 75mm belly howitzer gunship testbed, gun seems to be dismounted and might be displayed in front of port engine (obsolete Bolos were converted to ASW patrol during the war; gunship project led to the B-25G), rear right Bell YFM-1 Airacuda pusher prop heavy anti-bomber fighter with manned flexible 37mm cannons in the wing nacelles (a dozen were in service briefly), XP-36F, XP-36E, XP-36D  Attached File Attached FileCurtiss XP-37 (attempt to reengine the radial Hawk with an inline)  Attached FileCurtiss A-18 Shrike ground attack aircraft; only 12 built, which were present on the ground at Pearl Harbor. Smoke generator hung on the wing  Attached FileNorthrop A-17 Nomad light bomber (with smoke generator), built in what were quite large numbers for the 30's, saw some WWII action in out of the way theaters. Douglas C-41 (converted DC-3 VIP transport predating the C-47), and a Twin Beech (I think)  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/17/2023 7:45:57 PM EDT
[#21]
Its a Lockeed Electra not a Beach 18.
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Posted: 1/24/2023 7:55:21 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#22]
Originally Posted By sgthatred:Its a Lockeed Electra not a Beach 18. Huh, thought it was too small. Traditional laminated wood fixed pitch propeller. Skilled labor can make these with few tools and no strategic metals, but the pitch angle can't be changed, so can only be made ideal for a certain narrow range of speed. Something has to give between takeoff and climb performance, fuel efficiency at cruising speed, or maximum speed, and low altitude vs high. Increasing aircraft speed required increasing propeller RPM which required increasing engine RPM, which meant running the engine outside of it's most efficient RPM band much of the time once top speed started to become much greater than cruising speed. And of course it can't be feathered, so it creates drag and/or windmills dangerously if the engine fails.  Attached FileGerman carpenters hand carving a laminated propeller, WWI  Attached FileSemi-automation, laminated propellers stacked on cart at left being rough finished on a shaping lathe following a finished propeller as a template, distant ancestor of the ancient Greek pantograph  Attached FileAlthough acceptable for low performance utility and training aircraft flying in a narrow speed range, fixed pitch propellers sharply limited performance of new high powered aircraft. The RAF was still typically fixed pitch wooden propeller for combat aircraft at the end of the 30's, and the earliest Hurricanes and Spitfires were initially hobbled by them. Hurricane MK I with Watts fixed pitch wooden propeller, while ground crew cranks the also obsolescent inertia starter.  Attached FileThe first 77 Spitfires were equipped with two blade Airscrew Company fixed pitch wooden propellers; 19th Squadron in August 1938  Attached File Attached FileMuch better three bladed aluminum props with two pitch positions, for takeoff and cruise, reached pilots in March 1939, license built copies of an American Hamilton Standard design made by de Havilland. |
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Posted: 1/25/2023 6:08:18 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Huh, thought it was too small. Traditional laminated wood fixed pitch propeller. Skilled labor can make these with few tools and no strategic metals, but the pitch angle can't be changed, so can only be made ideal for a certain narrow range of speed. Something has to give between takeoff and climb performance, fuel efficiency at cruising speed, or maximum speed, and low altitude vs high. Increasing aircraft speed required increasing propeller RPM which required increasing engine RPM, which meant running the engine outside of it's most efficient RPM band much of the time once top speed started to become much greater than cruising speed. And of course it can't be feathered, so it creates drag and/or windmills dangerously if the engine fails. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/wood_prop_jpg-2684015.JPG German carpenters hand carving a laminated propeller, WWI https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/german_caprenters_prop_wwi_jpg-2684029.JPG Semi-automation, laminated propellers stacked on cart at left being rough finished on a shaping lathe following a finished propeller as a template, distant ancestor of the ancient Greek pantograph https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/propeller_shaping_machine_jpg-2684031.JPG Although acceptable for low performance utility and training aircraft flying in a narrow speed range, fixed pitch propellers sharply limited performance of new high powered aircraft. The RAF was still typically fixed pitch wooden propeller for combat aircraft at the end of the 30's, and the earliest Hurricanes and Spitfires were initially hobbled by them. Hurricane MK I with Watts fixed pitch wooden propeller, while ground crew cranks the also obsolescent inertia starter. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Hurricane_Mk1_fixed_pitch_Watts_propelle-2684109.JPG The first 77 Spitfires were equipped with two blade Airscrew Company fixed pitch wooden propellers; 19th Squadron in August 1938 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/19_Squadron_received_new_Spitfire_fighte-2684124.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/spitfire_two_blade_fixed_pitch_prop_2_jp-2684086.JPG Much better three bladed aluminum props with two pitch positions, for takeoff and cruise, reached pilots in March 1939, license built copies of an American Hamilton Standard design made by de Havilland. Awesome post, Mal. Simply awesome. I love this stuff. How about those early Spitfires? |
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Posted: 1/25/2023 9:45:40 PM EDT
[Last Edit: dedreckon]
[#24]
Wanted to post some pictures of Guam during the war -- my dad was ground crew after the liberation. Never saw any pictures from his time in the service but he told a lot of good stories -- eating mutton for lunch and dinner shipped in from Australia, guarding Japanese prisons and watching them cry if he took his 45 out of his holster, chocolate and beer rations (chocolate was about 40% wax to prevent melting). Also after the war ended some sailers from a visiting sub were killed after going off base into the jungle exploring -- still Japanese hiding out and would kill you.
Found a few good pics just by searching:  Battle map - 3rd MarDiv to the North, 77th Inf Div to the South and East - joint USA/USMC operation (also CG, Navy, AAF)  Marines at the landing in 1944  M4 Sherman and troops Advance on Japanese Pillbox at Orote Point Guam  Marines with recovered plaque from Marine Barracks on Orte  Marine fighter pilots eat atop Japanese torpedo on Guam  Marine Doberman Devil Dog Lucky at work on Guam  Marines salute the Coast Guard  Marines help a captured Japanese soldier out of a trench After the liberation:  Japanese soldiers laugh as fellow prisoners play game on Guam 1945  Captured Japanese machine guns and Rifles (I see a Garand so not all Japanese. Knee mortar)  B24 Liberator taking off from Guam aistrip - Mal, would this be a SAR bird or did they do bombing runs with B24s?  B29 on Guam, North Field  29th Bomber Group on Guam |
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Posted: 1/25/2023 10:34:48 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: To this day there are AMTRACs sitting off invasion beach in about 10-12' of water. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: Originally Posted By dedreckon: Wanted to post some pictures of Guam during the war -- my dad was ground crew after the liberation. Never saw any pictures from his time in the service but he told a lot of good stories -- eating mutton for lunch and dinner shipped in from Australia, guarding Japanese prisons and watching them cry if he took his 45 out of his holster, chocolate and beer rations (chocolate was about 40% wax to prevent melting). Also after the war ended some sailers from a visiting sub were killed after going off base into the jungle exploring -- still Japanese hiding out and would kill you. Found a few good pics just by searching: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a4/7c/7a/a47c7a85f70bbe4fa1536cd6953a5a76.jpg Battle map - 3rd MarDiv to the North, 77th Inf Div to the South and East - joint USA/USMC operation (also CG, Navy, AAF) https://i.pinimg.com/originals/37/fa/06/37fa06283106260e36f765ee8965d6a2.jpg Marines at the landing in 1944 https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/tanks/m4_sherman/M4_Sherman_and_troops_Advance_on_Japanese_Pillbox_at_Orote_Point_Guam.jpg M4 Sherman and troops Advance on Japanese Pillbox at Orote Point Guam https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/pacific/guam/Marines_with_recovered_plaque_from_Marine_Barracks_on_Orte.jpg Marines with recovered plaque from Marine Barracks on Orte https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/pacific/guam/Marine_fighter_pilots_eat_atop_Japanese_torpedo_on_Guam.jpg Marine fighter pilots eat atop Japanese torpedo on Guam https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/pacific/guam/Marine_Doberman_Devil_Dog_Lucky_at_work_on_Guam.jpg Marine Doberman Devil Dog Lucky at work on Guam https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2Fimages%2FInternational%2Fmarines-salute-coast-guard-1944-gty-hb-170814_13x16_1600.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=59434308978801c81482bf9507769ed2a1e8ef929064d3187a114118bee2aa3c&ipo=images Marines salute the Coast Guard https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nhhc-series/nh-series/USMC-88000/USMC-88071/_jcr_content/mediaitem/image.img.jpg/1456553980862.jpg Marines help a captured Japanese soldier out of a trench After the liberation: https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/pacific/guam/Japanese_soldiers_laugh_as_fellow_prisoners_play_game_on_Guam_1945.jpg Japanese soldiers laugh as fellow prisoners play game on Guam 1945 https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/pacific/guam/Japanese_machine_guns_and_Rifles.jpg Captured Japanese machine guns and Rifles (I see a Garand so not all Japanese. Knee mortar) https://cdn.britannica.com/52/71352-050-E60905E0/B-24-Liberator-airstrip-World-War-II-Guam.jpg B24 Liberator taking off from Guam aistrip - Mal, would this be a SAR bird or did they do bombing runs with B24s? https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50134861811_c6a6ddbfb9_b.jpg B29 on Guam, North Field https://www.worldwarphotos.info/wp-content/gallery/usa/aircrafts/b-29/B-29_Base_29th_Bomb_Group.jpg 29th Bomber Group on Guam To this day there are AMTRACs sitting off invasion beach in about 10-12' of water. Hope to see that someday. I saw some modern pictures during my search, war wreckage in the jungle mostly, but didn't post those since they weren't technically WWII pics. I've been to Palau and Hawaii and just saw old pillboxes, and some shipwrecks of course, there. |
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Posted: 1/26/2023 2:32:03 AM EDT
[#27]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By dedreckon: Hope to see that someday. I saw some modern pictures during my search, war wreckage in the jungle mostly, but didn't post those since they weren't technically WWII pics. I've been to Palau and Hawaii and just saw old pillboxes, and some shipwrecks of course, there. I did a UXO project on Guam where they were removing soil from an old supply depot (fuels contamination) and the stuff we pulled out was amazing....Thompson drum mags, Ma deuce barrels, bayonets etc, etc. I've also done projects on Saipan and Rota. |
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Posted: 1/26/2023 11:58:12 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#28]
Originally Posted By Sand_Pirate: Awesome post, Mal. Simply awesome. I love this stuff. How about those early Spitfires? @Sand_Pirate Early Spit, iron gunsight only, no reflector. Possibly a test plane with little need for a gunsight or no reflector has been mounted for a plane on public display since the new sights were secret, before the Germans captured plenty of them from wrecks  Attached FileCompass calibration of a Spitfire Mk I with two blade prop on a hand operated turntable. Cockpit compasses were affected by all the surrounding metal and had to be calibrated, airfields had (and still have) compass calibration pads with the compass rose painted on them. Compasses could also be knocked out of calibration by violent maneuvering, and on several occasions pilots flew the wrong direction home and British pilots accidentally landed in occupied France and Germans accidentally landed in Western Britain  Attached FileSpitfire IIa compass at bottom left, in front of the stick  Attached FileMk I daily inspection film, June 1940 - some neat tech details here  The Vickers Supermarine Spitfire Mk1 - Daily Inspection - Squadron 609 The accident rate in WWII fighters was incredible, both training and operational, and wheels up landings or locking up the brakes or hitting a soft patch and nosing over were common. One problem with the stronger metal props is that when they dug into the airfield while under power the shock would probably damage the engine and require its complete replacement, while wooden props shattered easily, probably saving the engine. Aluminum DH prop, June 1942  Attached FileRockcliff Ontario, 1943. There's a little damage to the chin and belly  Attached FileDieppe, tore the entire reduction gear out  Attached FileWood props on Spitfires made a comeback with four bladed Rotol propellers, which shattered when they dug in  Attached File Attached FileWood prop nose over  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/26/2023 12:31:08 PM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: I did a UXO project on Guam where they were removing soil from an old supply depot (fuels contamination) and the stuff we pulled out was amazing....Thompson drum mags, Ma deuce barrels, bayonets etc, etc. I've also done projects on Saipan and Rota. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Brundoggie: Originally Posted By dedreckon: Hope to see that someday. I saw some modern pictures during my search, war wreckage in the jungle mostly, but didn't post those since they weren't technically WWII pics. I've been to Palau and Hawaii and just saw old pillboxes, and some shipwrecks of course, there. I did a UXO project on Guam where they were removing soil from an old supply depot (fuels contamination) and the stuff we pulled out was amazing....Thompson drum mags, Ma deuce barrels, bayonets etc, etc. I've also done projects on Saipan and Rota. Very cool. Would love to see a thread on that. |
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TN, USA
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Posted: 1/26/2023 12:57:08 PM EDT
[Last Edit: TnG27]
[#30]
Periscope pic of the Japanese carrier Unryu sinking after being torpedoed by SS395 Redfish. My father was there
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Posted: 1/26/2023 1:06:43 PM EDT
[#31]
Detailed RAF training film, squadron level repair of high performance wooden propellers, emergency and permanent. Damaged tips, edge nicks, bullet holes.
3:15 through 13:50 show manufacturing of several different types of composite and laminated blade used in Rotol props on Spitfires and others.  Squadron repairs to wooden propellor blades Shattered blade tip recovered from Normandy Spitfire crash shows reinforced leading edge, fabric mesh, numerous laminations  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached FileCladded softwood Spitfire blade cross section  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/26/2023 1:46:30 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: ---snipped--- One problem with the stronger metal props is that when they dug into the airfield while under power the shock would probably damage the engine and require its complete replacement, while wooden props shattered easily, probably saving the engine. ---snipped--- It was those damaged engines that (among other rebuilds) were initially tried out in Crusader tanks, then earmarked for the Cromwell tanks. Not suitable for things that might fall out of the sky, but plenty OK for a tank, and a damn fast tank it made. Eventually, the Meteor engine was purpose-built. Rolls-Royce Meteor |
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Posted: 1/26/2023 4:40:57 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By PigBat: It was those damaged engines that (among other rebuilds) were initially tried out in Crusader tanks, then earmarked for the Cromwell tanks. Not suitable for things that might fall out of the sky, but plenty OK for a tank, and a damn fast tank it made. Eventually, the Meteor engine was purpose-built. Rolls-Royce Meteor Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By PigBat: Originally Posted By Mal_means_bad: ---snipped--- One problem with the stronger metal props is that when they dug into the airfield while under power the shock would probably damage the engine and require its complete replacement, while wooden props shattered easily, probably saving the engine. ---snipped--- It was those damaged engines that (among other rebuilds) were initially tried out in Crusader tanks, then earmarked for the Cromwell tanks. Not suitable for things that might fall out of the sky, but plenty OK for a tank, and a damn fast tank it made. Eventually, the Meteor engine was purpose-built. Rolls-Royce Meteor Oh that's cool. Waste not want not. It's interesting how many aircraft motors made it into tanks in WWII US photo recon Spitfire pilot is surprised with a video of him belly landing. "That's a wooden prop... Hell I flew that thing again as soon as they put a prop on it, and a radiator"  SPITFIRE 944  Attached FileUS Spitfire in India, taxiing accident February 1944  Attached File Attached File Attached FileWhat a Spitfire prop strike on takeoff looks like  Crash Spitfire ( vidéo complète ) au décollage a l aérodrome de Villette-Longuyon 11/06/17  Spitfire crash on takeoff few meters from public during airshow in North of France |
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Posted: 1/27/2023 10:28:56 AM EDT
[#34]
WASP pilot delivering a 200hp 132mph Fairchild PT-19 trainer with a fixed pitch wooden propeller wearing the Pegasus emblems of Sensenich Brothers
 Attached FileHamilton Standard's management and engineering team stands behind their 1,000th two position controllable pitch propeller before delivery to the US Navy, 1934  Attached FileHamilton Standard two position hub with ERCO wooden props on a 450hp 180mph Vultee BT-13 Valiant trainer (ERCO also made several other products for WWII, most famously nose ball turrets for the Liberator and Privateer)  Attached FileBeautiful ERCO props were made of Formica "Compreg"  Attached File Attached FileHamilton Standard two position hub and aluminum props on a USCG 450hp 200mph Grumman Goose amphibian, 1939 delivery to Puerto Rico  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/27/2023 1:19:07 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: WASP pilot delivering a 200hp 132mph Fairchild PT-19 trainer with a fixed pitch wooden propeller wearing the Pegasus emblems of Sensenich Brothershttps://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/WASP_trainer_prop_jpg-2686906.JPG Hamilton Standard's management and engineering team stands behind their 1,000th two position controllable pitch propeller before delivery to the US Navy, 1934 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/1_000th_Controllable_Pitch__Propeller__p-2686905.JPG Hamilton Standard two position hub with ERCO wooden props on a 450hp 180mph Vultee BT-13 Valiant trainer (ERCO also made several other products for WWII, most famously nose ball turrets for the Liberator and Privateer) https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/erco_compreg_prop_BT-13_Vultee_jpg-2686911.JPG Beautiful ERCO props were made of Formica "Compreg" https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/erco_compreg_prop_jpg-2686942.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/erco_compreg_formica_jpg-2686913.JPG Hamilton Standard two position hub and aluminum props on a USCG 450hp 200mph Grumman Goose amphibian, 1939 delivery to Puerto Rico https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Grumman_Goose__Puerto_Rico_1939_prop_jpg-2686950.JPG I have a PT19 prop on the wall in my den. My grandfather ran a primary school for most of the war, and any prop strike at all they scrapped the prop. IIRC, the one on my wall came from a student pilot barreling through a barbed wire fence. Prop probably would have been fine, but they didn't take any chances so they replaced it. My uncle has a second prop that my grandfather had on loan to the local American Legion for decades.  Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 1/27/2023 6:34:12 PM EDT
[#36]
Originally Posted By wm69: I have a PT19 prop on the wall in my den. My grandfather ran a primary school for most of the war, and any prop strike at all they scrapped the prop. IIRC, the one on my wall came from a student pilot barreling through a barbed wire fence. Prop probably would have been fine, but they didn't take any chances so they replaced it. My uncle has a second prop that my grandfather had on loan to the local American Legion for decades. snip[/url] Great photos. Grandfather was a brave man. God I wonder how many of those Ryans got wiped out during the war. 1933, adoption of Hamilton Standard two pitch propellers spreads across the world  Attached FileThe BF-109 prototype and earliest production B models used a fixed pitch two blade Schwarz laminated wood propeller (the earlier repair video shows the British building some wood props using the Schwarz process, which they licensed before the war. The British would also license build copies of the VDM spinners). 109s fighting in Spain were initially equipped with these props. 1935:  Attached FileSpain:  Attached FileReplaced during the Spanish Civil War by two pitch aluminum propellers made by VDM, license built copies of the American Hamilton Standards  Attached File Attached FileIn turn replaced by the more familiar VDM-designed "constant speed" three blade propeller before WWII, which significantly outperformed the two blade two pitch Hamilton Standard-based propellers of Hurricanes and Spitfires when they first met each other in combat.  Attached FileA given engine produces its maximum fuel efficiency or maximum power at certain RPMs, and constant speed propellers automatically adjust the angle of infinitely variable pitch blades (within a limited range), maintaining a consistent load on the propeller regardless of altitude or attitude so that engine RPM stays where it was set. The pilot sets the RPMs he wants, whether for fuel efficiency or for max sustained rate climb or for briefly running into or away from a fight, then he can largely ignore the throttle and concentrate on staying alive. If he climbs or dives or flies at higher altitude or lower prop pitch changes to the angle that keeps the RPMs steady and gets the most out of his engine. The dismayed British figured out how to modify their two pitch Hamilton Standards into constant speed and quickly did so.  Attached File |
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Posted: 1/28/2023 1:37:03 PM EDT
[#37]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Great photos. Grandfather was a brave man. God I wonder how many of those Ryans got wiped out during the war. 1933, adoption of Hamilton Standard two pitch propellers spreads across the world https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/DIGEST-HAMILTON-STANDARD-Aero-Digest-DEC-2687519.JPG The BF-109 prototype and earliest production B models used a fixed pitch two blade Schwarz laminated wood propeller (the earlier repair video shows the British building some wood props using the Schwarz process, which they licensed before the war. The British would also license build copies of the VDM spinners). 109s fighting in Spain were initially equipped with these props. 1935: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Bf_109_V1__D-IABI__Schwarz_wood_fixed_pi-2687442.JPG Spain: https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/bf109_spanish_civil_war_wood_prop_jpg-2687540.JPG Replaced during the Spanish Civil War by two pitch aluminum propellers made by VDM, license built copies of the American Hamilton Standards https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Messerschmitt_Bf_109B1_late_with_VDM_met-2687441.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/bf109_prop_jpg-2687533.JPG In turn replaced by the more familiar VDM-designed "constant speed" three blade propeller before WWII, which significantly outperformed the two blade two pitch Hamilton Standard-based propellers of Hurricanes and Spitfires when they first met each other in combat. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/bf_109_prop_2_jpg-2687452.JPG A given engine produces its maximum fuel efficiency or maximum power at certain RPMs, and constant speed propellers automatically adjust the angle of infinitely variable pitch blades (within a limited range), maintaining a consistent load on the propeller regardless of altitude or attitude so that engine RPM stays where it was set. The pilot sets the RPMs he wants, whether for fuel efficiency or for max sustained rate climb or for briefly running into or away from a fight, then he can largely ignore the throttle and concentrate on staying alive. If he climbs or dives or flies at higher altitude or lower prop pitch changes to the angle that keeps the RPMs steady and gets the most out of his engine. The dismayed British figured out how to modify their two pitch Hamilton Standards into constant speed and quickly did so. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Messerschmitt-Bf-109E1-Red-14-may-belong-2687465.JPG Unfortunately by the time I came along my grandfather was at the end of his flying years. He did instill the fever in his son/ my uncle, who flew Thuds in Vietnam, along with A7’s, F16’s, and F117’s. He retired as a two star and still flys often, but lives a ways away so I rarely see him. I grew up close to my grandparents, so spent a lot of time listening to plane talk, including trips to the local airstrip where he and other WW2 vets would talk. Prop on the wall in my den, complete with 80’s track lighting.  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 1/30/2023 10:01:02 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#38]
Sensenich Brothers started out as bored kids on a dairy farm with a really long driveway
 Attached File Attached FileAfter running into a snow bank destroyed the propeller on the sled they made their own replacement, and in the early 30's discovered people were willing to buy propellers from them. They were the largest manufacturer of fixed pitch wooden propellers in WWII, equipping mostly trainers and light utilities  Attached FileAlso large custom props for the Vought V-173 Flying Pancake  Attached File Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 1/31/2023 12:30:00 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#39]
Japanese props in 1941 were (joining the crowd) primarily Hamilton Standard two position copies, licensed before the US embargos. Late in the war they licensed Axis constant speed designs; Sumitomo (navy) licensed Germany's VDM, Nippon Gakki (army) licensed Junkers, Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo licensed the French Ratier-Figeac, and some designs combined features from several. And of course during the war they studied enemy wrecks and captures and made unique improvements. Laminated wood and aluminum props were in use.
Niihau Island Zero wreck at Pearl Harbor, Hamilton Standard-type Sumitomo propeller, three blade aluminum. Sumitomo was one of the big four "zaibatsu", industrial conglomerates partnered with the military to effectively rule Japan. Mitsubishi, manufacturer of the Zero, was another.  Attached FileHub closeup, spinner torn away  Attached File1944 Tinian, US prop maintainers inspect a captured training model of a Japanese Hamilton Standard copy; manufacturing quality was found to be excellent  Attached FileKi-44 fighter with experimental Hamilton Standard derived Sumitomo Pe-7 contra-rotating propeller  Attached FileKi-43 at the Great Patriotic War Museum, Moscow, common Hamilton Standard/Nippon Gakki prop  Attached FileTorakusu Yamaha founded Nippon Gakki music instrument company in 1887, making organs and pianos. Wooden propellers were a natural fit for them, and in 1931 they advanced to metal propellers for the Imperial Japanese Army and they became the largest Japanese producer of props in WWII. After the war they switched to motorcycles and became the Yamaha Corporation. 1978-79 one of the directors wrote a series of history articles for the company newsletter that goes into some detail on the development and manufacture of Japanese propellers: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/design_technology/technology/yamamomo/ |
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Posted: 2/1/2023 11:11:15 AM EDT
[#40]
Nakajima Sakae 12 engine, and propeller, recovered from a Zero. At first glance I thought the sentry was Russian, but the sign on the prop is in English, he's got a Garand, and he's wearing a necktie. American in dress uniform for some reason? That and bothering to assign a serious looking sentry and the heavy jacket suggests the Akutan Zero or other wreckage recovered in the Aleutians.
 Attached FileStorch inspired Ki-76 Stella captured in the Philippines  Attached FileAichi E13A Jake at Palawan, Phillippines, 1945  Attached FileNakajima Ki-43's at Shanghai, 1945  Attached File |
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CA, USA
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Posted: 2/1/2023 11:38:36 AM EDT
[#41]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Rough hewn bunker, Hawaii, early 1942 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/A_hastily_built_defense_bunker__Hawaii__-2667711.JPG American Zemlyanka. |
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Posted: 2/1/2023 9:44:11 PM EDT
[#42]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Japanese props in 1941 were (joining the crowd) primarily Hamilton Standard two position copies, licensed before the US embargos. Late in the war they licensed Axis constant speed designs; Sumitomo (navy) licensed Germany's VDM, Nippon Gakki (army) licensed Junkers, Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo licensed the French Ratier-Figeac, and some designs combined features from several. And of course during the war they studied enemy wrecks and captures and made unique improvements. Laminated wood and aluminum props were in use. Niihau Island Zero wreck at Pearl Harbor, Hamilton Standard-type Sumitomo propeller, three blade aluminum. Sumitomo was one of the big four "zaibatsu", industrial conglomerates partnered with the military to effectively rule Japan. Mitsubishi, manufacturer of the Zero, was another. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/zero_wreck_pearl_harbor_jpeg-2692460.JPG Hub closeup, spinner torn away https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/zero_wreck_pearl_harbor_hamilton_standar-2692455.JPG 1944 Tinian, US prop maintainers inspect a captured training model of a Japanese Hamilton Standard copy; manufacturing quality was found to be excellent https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/tinian_prop_jpg-2692450.JPG Ki-44 fighter with experimental Hamilton Standard derived Sumitomo Pe-7 contra-rotating propeller https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Ki-44-1_Type_2_fighter_with_the_Sumitomo-2692454.JPG Ki-43 at the Great Patriotic War Museum, Moscow, common Hamilton Standard/Nippon Gakki prop https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/ki-43_prop_resize_jpg-2692477.JPG Torakusu Yamaha founded Nippon Gakki music instrument company in 1887, making organs and pianos. Wooden propellers were a natural fit for them, and in 1931 they advanced to metal propellers for the Imperial Japanese Army and they became the largest Japanese producer of props in WWII. After the war they switched to motorcycles and became the Yamaha Corporation. 1978-79 one of the directors wrote a series of history articles for the company newsletter that goes into some detail on the development and manufacture of Japanese propellers: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/design_technology/technology/yamamomo/ You can see the Niihau zero at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. |
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Posted: 2/2/2023 12:02:07 PM EDT
[#43]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: Japanese props in 1941 were (joining the crowd) primarily Hamilton Standard two position copies, licensed before the US embargos. Late in the war they licensed Axis constant speed designs; Sumitomo (navy) licensed Germany's VDM, Nippon Gakki (army) licensed Junkers, Nippon Kokusai Koku Kogyo licensed the French Ratier-Figeac, and some designs combined features from several. And of course during the war they studied enemy wrecks and captures and made unique improvements. Laminated wood and aluminum props were in use. Niihau Island Zero wreck at Pearl Harbor, Hamilton Standard-type Sumitomo propeller, three blade aluminum. Sumitomo was one of the big four "zaibatsu", industrial conglomerates partnered with the military to effectively rule Japan. Mitsubishi, manufacturer of the Zero, was another. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/zero_wreck_pearl_harbor_jpeg-2692460.JPG Hub closeup, spinner torn away https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/zero_wreck_pearl_harbor_hamilton_standar-2692455.JPG 1944 Tinian, US prop maintainers inspect a captured training model of a Japanese Hamilton Standard copy; manufacturing quality was found to be excellent https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/tinian_prop_jpg-2692450.JPG Ki-44 fighter with experimental Hamilton Standard derived Sumitomo Pe-7 contra-rotating propeller https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/Ki-44-1_Type_2_fighter_with_the_Sumitomo-2692454.JPG Ki-43 at the Great Patriotic War Museum, Moscow, common Hamilton Standard/Nippon Gakki prop https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/ki-43_prop_resize_jpg-2692477.JPG Torakusu Yamaha founded Nippon Gakki music instrument company in 1887, making organs and pianos. Wooden propellers were a natural fit for them, and in 1931 they advanced to metal propellers for the Imperial Japanese Army and they became the largest Japanese producer of props in WWII. After the war they switched to motorcycles and became the Yamaha Corporation. 1978-79 one of the directors wrote a series of history articles for the company newsletter that goes into some detail on the development and manufacture of Japanese propellers: https://global.yamaha-motor.com/design_technology/technology/yamamomo/ Very cool. I always thought it strange that Yamaha made pianos. I figured they were different companies with the same (family) name. Seems I was wrong |
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Posted: 2/2/2023 1:19:22 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#44]
Originally Posted By Brundoggie: You can see the Niihau zero at the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. I really need to get out there one of these days. I can't find a ton of pictures demonstrating it, but early war Soviet and Italian built planes also used Hamilton Standard two position variables. So that's practically everybody major, until constant speeds and Hamilton Standard Hydromatics largely replaced them in combat and on larger cargo/utility planes. There's a period of only a couple years or so in which practically every modern combat plane in the air replaces fixed pitch props for that system. Except, naturally, for the French, some of whose modern domestically built warplanes used a Chauviere propeller with pitch pneumatically adjustable by a pressurized air tank. Finn captured Soviet I-16 with the spinner off, which is a rare thing, showing the distinctive HS counterweights  Attached FileIt's faintly recalled that the Italians sent several squadrons of bombers and fighters to participate, very modestly, in the Battle of Britain. This Fiat CR.42 Falco was in a dogfight with several Hurricanes when it's HS-licensed variable prop malfunctioned and forced it down near Lowestoft, England  Attached FileFalco being rebuilt  Attached FileFinnish Bristol Blenheim  Attached FileDouglas TBD Devastator  Attached FileThe temporary graves of pilots were sometimes marked with their propeller as a cross. Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal  Attached File |
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Posted: 2/2/2023 7:26:48 PM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Mal_means_bad: The temporary graves of pilots were sometimes marked with their propeller as a cross. Lunga Beach, Guadalcanal https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/172926/guadalcanal_lunga_beach_pilot_s_grave_jp-2694851.JPG I bet that's his gunner to his left. |
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Posted: 2/3/2023 10:44:48 AM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#46]
Originally Posted By DOW: I bet that's his gunner to his left. @DOW He appears to be a ground anti-aircraft crewman killed by a Japanese night bombing of Henderson Field This list of Marine casualties - those who died or were killed - is compiled from the USMC Casualty Cards (mc), supplemented by other sources Wednesday, October, 14, 1942 GUADALCANAL: Japanese night bombers struck Henderson Field damaging 42 of the 90 operable planes and causing heavy casualties; air operations were moved to Fighter 1. [among other KIA] BELFI, John, 274302, 3rdAAGrp, 3rdDefBn, FMF, Solomon Is, October 14, 1942, killed in action (mc) BELFI, John, Cpl., USMC. Parents, Mr. and Mrs. Bartolo Belfi, 31 Alabama Ave., Paterson, NJ Burial location of John Belfi, KIA 3rd Defense Battalion  Attached FileUSMC Defense Battalions were coastal artillery and air defense troops, 3rd AA Group was 3rd Defense Battalion's batteries of anti-aircraft artillery and machine guns. Several pilots or air gunners were also killed in the same attack as Belfi, likely one of them lay under the prop. 90mm AAA gun battery protecting Henderson Field; .50 cal AA and ground mounts to left and right defend the 90mm position from short range strafing and banzai charges, which came close to overrunning the airfield  Attached File90mm gun dug in a little better on Guadalcanal  Attached File90mm battery height finder, Guadalcanal  Attached FileWater cooled air defense .50 position defending Henderson Field  Attached File |
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Posted: 2/3/2023 10:56:53 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By E-95: I, along with a number of military history friends, have been down the rabbit hole with this for several days now. We can't find the photo on panzerdb.com. It seems the photo may have originated on a Polish forum which we can't find (photo below). We can find no references to a sloped hull Pz.Kpfw. III prototype being built. It appears to be a later model Pz.Kpfw. III turret with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 and without the port side vision port. Although it looks like there's something added to the top of the turret, it could just be stacked boxes. As far as we can tell this is at best a post war Pz.Kpfw. III mockup for a film or a digital fabrication of a variant that never existed. https://i.imgur.com/RkaiHYl.jpg Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By E-95: I, along with a number of military history friends, have been down the rabbit hole with this for several days now. We can't find the photo on panzerdb.com. It seems the photo may have originated on a Polish forum which we can't find (photo below). We can find no references to a sloped hull Pz.Kpfw. III prototype being built. It appears to be a later model Pz.Kpfw. III turret with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 and without the port side vision port. Although it looks like there's something added to the top of the turret, it could just be stacked boxes. As far as we can tell this is at best a post war Pz.Kpfw. III mockup for a film or a digital fabrication of a variant that never existed. https://i.imgur.com/RkaiHYl.jpg Looks like a mock-up of the Pzkpfw III/ IV Auf Einheit |
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Posted: 2/3/2023 7:16:08 PM EDT
[#48]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By cyclone: Looks like a mock-up of the Pzkpfw III/ IV Auf Einheit Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By cyclone: Originally Posted By E-95: I, along with a number of military history friends, have been down the rabbit hole with this for several days now. We can't find the photo on panzerdb.com. It seems the photo may have originated on a Polish forum which we can't find (photo below). We can find no references to a sloped hull Pz.Kpfw. III prototype being built. It appears to be a later model Pz.Kpfw. III turret with the 5 cm KwK 38 L/42 and without the port side vision port. Although it looks like there's something added to the top of the turret, it could just be stacked boxes. As far as we can tell this is at best a post war Pz.Kpfw. III mockup for a film or a digital fabrication of a variant that never existed. https://i.imgur.com/RkaiHYl.jpg Looks like a mock-up of the Pzkpfw III/ IV Auf Einheit Spaced armor concept maybe, instead of scheutzen panels, possibly an armor appliqué that sits above and spaced away from the hill and turret. |
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Posted: 2/6/2023 5:42:48 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#49]
Formerly an artist and sculptor, now employed in an American factory hand chiseling laminated wood props. This is certainly the hard way, perhaps the shop made small batches for rare planes, or prototypes to wind tunnel test designs before investing in tooling
 Attached FileWright R-2600 driving prototype props in the NACA "Prop House" wind tunnel, which could be temperature controlled and partly depressurized to simulate altitude  Attached FileThe vast majority of US frontline planes used aluminum props, which were expensive in metals and energy but could be mass produced easily. Rough aluminum propeller blade forgings were produced by a smelter, mostly the ALCOA monopoly Cleveland Works, which employed 12,000 people at its peak. ALCOA ad, blade forging at bottom right  Attached FileALCOA still makes rough aluminum propeller forgings. This modern video of Hartzell making propellers gives a good look at some rough forgings today (link goes to Youtube timestamp): https://youtu.be/-KyxxrEJBH0?t=190 The blade forgings went to the propeller manufacturers to be machined down into finished props. During the war a Chevrolet QC employee in a GM propeller plant inspects rough aluminum forgings received from a Michigan smelter. The uneven edge and tip are apparent. He's laying out the centerline and checking that there's enough material to machine a finished blade.  Attached FileHamilton Standard machines bases on blades, 1940  Attached FileAluminum prop shanks were reamed out hollow. During the war Hamilton Standard licensee Nash-Kelvinator, formerly a high end kitchen appliance manufacturer, hollows out blade shanks with a fantastic multi-station drill. Looks like a twist bit for a pilot hole at the right then progressively larger reamers around the machine clockwise. I'm not familiar with the machine, I wonder if it revolves between strokes so either the bits or the blades rotate to the next operation to reduce handling the blades from six times each to once  Attached FileHamilton Standard quickly machines away the excess width from a forging, following a template visible behind it  Attached File...then a blade shaper grinds away excess thickness to near-finished dimensions  Attached File Attached File |
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Posted: 2/6/2023 5:43:10 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Mal_means_bad]
[#50]
The blade shape has been machined to near-final. Excess material remains unmachined at the delicate tips and the rounded shanks. I'm guessing these were done by hand, perhaps the shank by loose belt sanding? I don't think the shank shape mattered very much aerodynamically (edit - turns out it matters a lot for cooling, and "cuffs" converting the shanks into an engine cooling fan became common) but tip shape was crucial
 Attached FileThe machining at the blade shaper isn't perfect. Inspector makes grease pencil notes for manual grinding and final polishing  Attached FileA worker at a manual grind and polish work station checks blade balance, June 1942  Attached FileAluminum dust can't be good for you. Batteries of dust collecting work stations in the grind and polish finishing department, 1940  Attached FileAfter passing careful inspections the practically perfect finished blades could be fitted to a hub  Attached File Attached File |
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