Picture of the day

[Kampfhamster]

Poor Hetzer / Panzerjäger G-13 at 31:42

They were used up as hardtargets to RakRohre and rifle grenade training on various ranges. As a kid I used to climb those on the local range. Sadly they are long gone to the scapyard.

 

[The Wizard]

Someone's about to enter the Recoil Olympics...

The Sturmpistole was a flaregun with a shoulder stock that fired grenades.

This from Wikipedia:

The M79 "Blooper" prototype! There is nothing new under the sun. Only improvements on old ideas.

 

[Grizzly Adams]

The M79 "Blooper" prototype! There is nothing new under the sun. Only improvements on old ideas.

I would call that very last ditch. Guy with a Geballte Ladung is next.

Grizz

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Long Beach Naval Air Station, 1945:

 

[DOUGLAS D]

Love those oil derricks in the background. That's some serious production.

 

[HuskyDude]

Long Beach Naval Air Station, 1945:

Wondering what those are (top right) parked on the grass in the back. Tri-gear not tail taggers...
Kinda looks like a Ryan FR-1

 

[zuke]

Wondering what those are (top right) parked on the grass in the back. Tri-gear not tail taggers...
Kinda looks like a Ryan FR-1

Air Cobras?

 

[Still alive]

Air Cobras?

My guess as well.

Didn’t know the bottom left Wildcats were still in service in 1945. Thought the Hellcat replaced them all.

 

[HuskyDude]

Air Cobras?

My first thought too, was a couple of Airacobras.

But the tail section looks too big to be Airacobras...and the front looks too fat also...
Wish there was a better picture...

 

[Ganderite]

Why are the canopies open? No risk of rain?

 

[donor]

My guess as well.

Didn’t know the bottom left Wildcats were still in service in 1945. Thought the Hellcat replaced them all.

Those are FM-2 Wildcats.Made by eastern Aircraft Company,not by Grumman with 1350Hp engine,taller vertical stabiliser and more ammo for less guns.I think most of surviving Wildcats are FM-2 version.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_surviving_Grumman_F4F_Wildcats

 

[Still alive]

Thanks donor! Good eye on the catch!

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

I'm amazed there were still factory fresh Wildcats of any lineage on the tarmac in 1945. One would think that between Hellcats and Corsairs, the USN would have done away with the Wildcat long before this.

The RN operated Wildcats as the Grumman Martlet of various marks.

This particular Martlet (FN142) was lost in 1943.

Mission: Training Flight.
Date: 19th December 1943.
Time: 10.05.hrs.
Unit: 759 Squadron. Fleet Air Arm.
Type: Grumman Martlet IV.
Serial: FN142
Base: Yeovilton. (H.M.S. Heron)
Location: Cloford Common (4 miles South West of Frome, Somerset)

Pilot: Midshipman (A) Basil John Charlton, R.N.V.R. Age 19. Killed.

REASON FOR LOSS:

Took-off from Yeovilton at 0925 hrs on a cloud flying exercise in a defined area south west of Yeovil, At approximately 1005 hrs, the aircraft was observed near Frome emerging from cloud in a high speed dive, the engine being under power and the aircraft in a left-wing-low attitude. The dive continued under power in a westerly direction from approximately 5,000 feet, down to 1,000 feet, when structural failure of both wings and tail unit occurred. Two loud bangs were heard in quick succession as the aircraft broke up. The fuselage and engine continued in the dive, and crashed to the ground 700 yards further along the line of flight. No attempt was made by the pilot to abandon the aircraft.

Inspection at the scene of the accident showed that the main wreckage consisting of fuselage and engine had dived at an angle of about 45 degrees into rising ground near the North West corner of Postlebury Wood. The detached wreckage was strewn along a rough line extending to the village of Truddoxhill, a distance of one mile north east of the crash.

Midshipman Charlton:

His grave marker:

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Meanwhile in Brazil, Military Policemen patrol atop water buffaloes, as they can pursue bandits through swamp and jungle better than other means of transport.

Plus they look like Mongo in Blazing Saddles.

 

[bearhunter]

Wondering what those are (top right) parked on the grass in the back. Tri-gear not tail taggers...
Kinda looks like a Ryan FR-1

Winner, good eye.

 

[donor]

Horse use to be ATV before ATVs came ,I guess in some parts of Brazil Buffalo does that job better.

I think horse is still vehicle of choice in many parts of the world just like horse,camel,elephant an buffalo are in others.

Ultimate green transport,source of food/milk and sometimes a friend.

And 4 legged war heroes since very ancient times.

 

[Falcorn]

Custom licence plate from ME.

 

[zupermann]

Custom licence plate from ME.

What an excellent idea !!

 

[nowarningshot]

I'm amazed there were still factory fresh Wildcats of any lineage on the tarmac in 1945. One would think that between Hellcats and Corsairs, the USN would have done away with the Wildcat long before this.

The RN operated Wildcats as the Grumman Martlet of various marks.

This particular Martlet (FN142) was lost in 1943.



Midshipman Charlton:

His grave marker:

The wildcat was produced for escort carriers, for its short take off ability. Thus the use by the british. Tough little plane, no match for experienced zero pilots early in the war. However, the quality of japanese pilots went down drastically over the war; they did not rotate experienced pilots to instructors, when the superior american fighters/tactics appeared, it left only very inexperienced half trained pilots.

 

[HuskyDude]

Meanwhile in Brazil, Military Policemen patrol atop water buffaloes, as they can pursue bandits through swamp and jungle better than other means of transport.

Plus they look like Mongo in Blazing Saddles.

Can't believe no one else has commented on the humor in that sentence.

I'm still convinced members who use cel and small ipad etc miss out on so so much....