Picture of the day

[Sharps '74]

You mean you had a wet dream? .... ;>)

 

[diopter]

Speaking of which:

Caption
The RR Merlin engine in Miss Bardahl, one of the most successful racing hydroplanes in the 1960s - three times Gold Cup winner. This the view from the cockpit forward. Imagine the noise, hence the nickname 'Roar of the Dragon.'

http://www.bluebird-electric.net/bluebird_history/Miss_Bardahl_Lubricants_Additives_Oils_Fuels.htm

 

[RRCo.]

I almost forgot-today in history-Germans invaded Soviet Union.We all know how that turned out but here is a picture of something not seen very often-wreck of one of the first series of T-34.

Apparently early versions had a lot of problems with everything including non-existent training of crews. Often they got them literally within weeks of invasion.

Because they were a military secret, and in Stalin's USSR, secret meant you blab, you die.

The earliest versions had the cast gun mantlet, but it is a fairly early one with the large dual hatch.

I raise a glass to the Yugoslavs, in particular the Serbs, who threw out Hitler's timetable by six weeks and ensured he could not win in 1941.

"Vječno pamćenje"

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

I hope you'll allow me a minor diversion from the original intention of the thread, but this seemed the bast place to share.

Just got back from a week in New Orleans. That town is everything people say it is. I am bleary but content. While there, I visited the Naitonal WW2 Museum. Here are some pics that may be of interest.

You like motorcycles? They have a couple...

The placard tells us this is an NSU product. Neat wee thing. They also had a Harley:

In the same hall, a pretty nicely kitted out 88:

...and the reason the national WW2 Museum is in New Orleans, a for-real Higgins Boat:

There are three jeeps on the premises. This was the best armed of the three:

The Boeing Heritage Center (I think that's what they call it) is home to a bunch of rare birds as well as a sweet little collection of vehicles, all well cared for and nicely appointed. You like trucks?

Or the Mighty M3 Stuart?

Or halftracks?

Up above are the usual suspects - a P51, a Corsair, an Avenger - but two that I didn't take pics of - a Dauntless and the B17E they pulled off that glacier in Greenland back in the 1990's. Didn't take pics but there's plenty of info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Gal_Sal_(aircraft)

Lots of guns, including some Japanese stuff in very nice kip. We ran out of time, so I only snapped this one blurtastic potato quality pic of a handsome thing:

Well worth the money. A well appointed museum with lots to see. Budget three hours. Go sober.

 

[Ganderite]

Lots of excellent WW2 Pictures here:

 

[ipscgraz]

Another colourized pic found online

Caption reads: An allied soldier takes advantage of the opportunity to have a bath in the port city of Tobruk, Libya. 17 February 1942.

 

[Sharps '74]

Tuco in "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" comes to mind ..... "If you have to shoot, shoot! Don't talk."

 

[Dark Alley Dan]

Ah, the Italians.

The Piaggio P.108 is an early B-17 with extra garlic and maybe a little red wine at lunch, why not?

Here's something not everyone had - remote turrets on the outboard engine nacelles...

How the hell would you aim those? Trust the Italians to sort that out, no doubt with lots of unnecessary complexity and ensuing reliability issues...

 

[diopter]

 

[DaveMachine]

I've been following this thread for a while and I figured I'd share a few pictures of my own from a more recent conflict - shared these in another thread thought you guys might enjoy them as well. Hopefully you guys don't mind.

 

[Candocad]

Thank you for sharing, great photographs.

Candocad.

 

[Brookwood]

Ah, the Italians.

The Piaggio P.108 is an early B-17 with extra garlic and maybe a little red wine at lunch, why not?

Here's something not everyone had - remote turrets on the outboard engine nacelles...

How the hell would you aim those? Trust the Italians to sort that out, no doubt with lots of unnecessary complexity and ensuing reliability issues...

Reminds me of the fantasy 'boss' aircraft in the 1943 video arcade game from the 80's!!

Brookwood

 

[donor]

I have been fascinated by PE-8 engine nacelles gunner positions.That's 12.7mm Berezin MG.Emergency exit is a hatch on top of the wing,but is it the main exit?I never found out.
This is a very old idea used on some WW1 bombers and PE-8 was the last to use it operationally.Would have been incredibly loud and hazardous ride in one of those.

 

[kawicrash]

Speaking of which:

Caption
The RR Merlin engine in Miss Bardahl, one of the most successful racing hydroplanes in the 1960s - three times Gold Cup winner. This the view from the cockpit forward. Imagine the noise, hence the nickname 'Roar of the Dragon.'

http://www.bluebird-electric.net/bluebird_history/Miss_Bardahl_Lubricants_Additives_Oils_Fuels.htm

Note the nitrous oxide switch. YIKES!

 

[BillD]

 

[Brookwood]

[/URL][/IMG]

 

[Ganderite]

I did not realise a U-Boat periscope mast base was so high.

 

[bearhunter]

Those cart dogs on the left look terrified. Poor buggers probably were turned into dinner for their efforts. Shows how hard up the German's were when they had to use dog carts for ammo/supply transport.

 

[diopter]

USS Ling, Balao Class. Version1.1 of Gato Class

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/12/nyregion/submarine-hackensack-uss-ling.html

 

[sail32]

Dog carts were in use in Europe.

Belgium army dog carts.

https://www.google.ca/search?q=Belg...SX5-DUAhVG12MKHXyIA9AQsAQIIQ&biw=1920&bih=971