No kidding, where I come from we would call him " one tough nut to crack".What a soldier.
Picture of the day
- Thread starter jwhc
- Start date
No kidding, where I come from we would call him " one tough nut to crack".What a soldier.
Wow. That must have been physically exhausting!
Walk like an Egyptian.
I remember one of these sitting outside at HMCS Tecumseh on 17th Ave SW in Calgary. That and a Sea Fury. I'm glad to see they brought them inside somewhere and are taking care of them.
PBY's (Catalina's) were called Cansos in Commonwealth service. Some were converted to waterbombers after WWII. Used extensively here in Ontario by MNR. A/C were hired on contract from commercial operators. I worked on numerous forest fires where we had "air attack" support from Cansos. I also had the experience of catching a "ride" in one of these A/C when it was being moved from Timmins to Geraldton . I remember the crew putting 5 gals of oil in each engine during the preflight. A/C was owned and operated by Georgian Bay Airways based in Parry Sound. Contract Cansos were replaced by Canadair CL 215's owned and operated by the Province. 215's have been replaced by turbine powered 415's. You've got to love the sound of big radial engines being fired up.
rockport guy
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Riverview NB
Henry Johnson enlisted in the army in 1917 and was assigned to 369th Infantry Regiment of New York National Guard the first all African-American unit, later nicknamed; The Harlem Hellfighters. In 1918, the Hellfighters were in France and only used for menial tasks from unloading ships to digging holes, all because they were black.
French Officers saw something in the unit so the US Army loaned the Hellfighters to the French Army. About a week later; Sgt. Johnson and his friend Pvt. Roberts were pulling security one night in the trenches, when about a platoon of Germans (around 30 men) rushed the two Hellfighters. They both caught shrapnel from grenades, Johnson was shot in the chest with a shotgun, and Roberts was shot twice with a pistol. The Germans rushed into the trench and grabbed Roberts to take as prisoner. Sgt. Johnson got up, and chased after them, firing his rifle killing and wounding multiple Germans, he was also shot multiple times during the exchange of fire. When his rifle jammed, he rushed the germans and beat one to death with his rifle's butt stock, breaking it in the process. He then pulled out his French Bolo knife and began his assault on the German positions, killing 24 Germans with his knife and bare hands. He then found his friend Pvt. Roberts, and dragged him back to safety. The following morning friendly reinforcements showed up to around 30 dead Germans, and the two Hellfighters singing songs around a campfire. After this, Sgt. Johnson was given the nickname "Black Death".
For his actions, Sgt. Johnson was awarded the Croix De Guerre (Palm and star) by France for heroism and valor. Sgt. Johnson later died of myocarditis in 1929. In 1996, he was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart. In 2002, he was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, the US's second highest honor. In 2015, nearly 100 years later, Sgt. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
Wow!!
If I had a million dollars a Canso/PBY 5A would be mine.
If your looking for a nice one to restore, there's one sitting in the hanger at Gananoque. It was flown there in 1966, and was there in the 80's when I was skydiving there. Rumor has it, it's owned by a South African and I believe its still there.
View attachment 152997
If I had a million dollars a Canso/PBY 5A would be mine.
I sincerely doubt a million dollars would come close to purchasing a flyable PBY. Maybe 5-10 million???? Then again, can you afford the fuel and maintenance???
Personally, I couldn't come close to affording the fuel bill on one of those.
Sadly, most of the folks that flew those and in those during their service are long gone. I knew a fellow that flew one out of Labrador during WWII. His comment was like Ganderite says, difficult to maneuver and so slow. Lots of staying power for extended flights. He claimed he never needed or saw any external fuel tanks. Because of their extreme weather conditions, his plane was equipped with blisters, no guns but a bomb/depth charge on each wing. They weren't allowed to jettison the bombs unless they had a target or emergency. The bombs under each wing only added to the handling issues, especially when landing in rough conditions.
Too nice a pic to not post
Ah the F4, proof you can make a brick fly if you give it enough power.
Henry Johnson enlisted in the army in 1917 and was assigned to 369th Infantry Regiment of New York National Guard the first all African-American unit, later nicknamed; The Harlem Hellfighters. In 1918, the Hellfighters were in France and only used for menial tasks from unloading ships to digging holes, all because they were black.
French Officers saw something in the unit so the US Army loaned the Hellfighters to the French Army. About a week later; Sgt. Johnson and his friend Pvt. Roberts were pulling security one night in the trenches, when about a platoon of Germans (around 30 men) rushed the two Hellfighters. They both caught shrapnel from grenades, Johnson was shot in the chest with a shotgun, and Roberts was shot twice with a pistol. The Germans rushed into the trench and grabbed Roberts to take as prisoner. Sgt. Johnson got up, and chased after them, firing his rifle killing and wounding multiple Germans, he was also shot multiple times during the exchange of fire. When his rifle jammed, he rushed the germans and beat one to death with his rifle's butt stock, breaking it in the process. He then pulled out his French Bolo knife and began his assault on the German positions, killing 24 Germans with his knife and bare hands. He then found his friend Pvt. Roberts, and dragged him back to safety. The following morning friendly reinforcements showed up to around 30 dead Germans, and the two Hellfighters singing songs around a campfire. After this, Sgt. Johnson was given the nickname "Black Death".
For his actions, Sgt. Johnson was awarded the Croix De Guerre (Palm and star) by France for heroism and valor. Sgt. Johnson later died of myocarditis in 1929. In 1996, he was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart. In 2002, he was posthumously awarded a Distinguished Service Cross, the US's second highest honor. In 2015, nearly 100 years later, Sgt. Johnson was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
To which I say about damn time on the MoO. Same thing used to happen all the time. The Black steward manning an AA gun at Perl Harbour similar case.
Holy Mother Russia! Was it knocked out or bogged out? Why was it upside down? Looks like there was a hole on the armour. Human remains? Restored since recovery?
The Stug is equipped with winterketten (extenders to the track sides to increase traction/reduce ground pressure)
and it looks like it’s been on the receiving end of a couple of hits as well.
probably knocked out in that boggy area, and just deemed not worth the recovery effort.
Looks like it was dragged out of the bog upside down. Freeze /thaw over the last 60 years could be responsible for it turtling over.
and it looks like it’s been on the receiving end of a couple of hits as well.
probably knocked out in that boggy area, and just deemed not worth the recovery effort.
Looks like it was dragged out of the bog upside down. Freeze /thaw over the last 60 years could be responsible for it turtling over.
Donny Fenn1
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- East Kootenays
PBY for sale https://www.trade-a-plane.com/mobile/search?model=PBY-5A+CATALINA&s-type=aircraft
or save some money
http://courtesyaircraft.com/aircraft/grumman-g-44-widgeon/
or save some money
http://courtesyaircraft.com/aircraft/grumman-g-44-widgeon/
