From: Eric Jensen
Date: 4/5/2012 1:56:33 AM
To: Eric Jensen
Subject: Wings of Russia - Fighters - A Struggle for
Superiority
The most
informative thing I have seen on Russian fighter development for the last 60
years. I can't vouch for the accuracy of everything, but it sure is
interesting--and a little frightening.
The video
quality is excellent and has many shots not available elsewhere. It runs for 52
minutes and is well narrated with Russian (Soviet) propaganda.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Joel Payne
Email flyplayne@bellsouth.net
Issue Area- General
Comments - A little mountain flying anyone? Joel Payne 767A
[ret.]
From: George Chaudoin
Date: 5/2/2012 12:03:29 PM
Subject:
OUTSTANDING history of commercial aviation in the US
This is
not only history of all aircraft accidents, but better it is background on all
the airline air craft that came on line from the start of air control. It is
neat to see all the planes we flew.
A retired controller I worked with for many
years (Ron Fandrick) now lives in Florida and has a business designing web
sites and maintaining them. He just completed the below site "The Best 25
Years of ATC History" just as a personnel project. I think it is really
great and you should enjoy it.
http://www.rwf2000.com/ATC/
http://www.rwf2000.com/ATC/
Blue
Side Up
George
Date: 5/11/2012 4:11:06 PM
Subject:
Fwd: Doolittle Raiders' 70th Reunion 2012
Note: Included
pictures missing but there are video and image links at end of story.
The static display on Tuesday -- this line-up of 20 North
American B-25 “Mitchell” fast medium bombers, of various versions and paint
schemes, gathered at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in observance of
the Doolittle Tokyo Raid on Japan , 18 April 1942:
I spent about eight hours walking up and down the flight
line, doing about three circuits of the aircraft, taking many photographs,
learning additional new history, listening to war stories by modern aircrews
and WWII veterans, seeing some old friends and making a few new ones, and
absorbing lots of solar radiation -- a great day!
This nicely-painted B-25J carries the Doolittle Raiders’
official badge:
(B-25J “Doolittle Raiders, Special Delivery”)
Patriotic nose art, polished aluminum and a sunny morning
combine for this war bird character study:
(B-25J “Old Glory”)
It was a very bad day for a Japanese merchant ship, if a
patrolling B-25H crossed its path. According to Mr. Ralph Anderson, my high
school science teacher who flew B-25s and B-29s in WWII, the proper attack
technique is a shallow dive at the ship, while firing your 50-caliber machine
guns. When you see bullet hits at the waterline, fire the semi-automatic 75-mm
howitzer to put *BIG* holes in the target vessel … a very successful
anti-shipping tactic that rarely required a second pass!
(B-25H “Barbie III”)
Noontime on Wednesday: 40 Wright R-2600 engines starting
and warming up in front of the large crowd, which has gathered at the Museum
and on Colonel Glenn Highway to see the B-25 takeoffs and commemorative
flyover:
The first B-25 is in the air and the wheels are coming
up, for the formation join-up over Beavercreek and the flyovers at the Museum:
(B-25J “Panchito”)
Here’s a good shot of the 16-ship fly-over commemorating
the Doolittle Raid of 18 April 1942. These aircraft came over the Museum at
approximately the Raid's bombing altitude of 1200 ft AGL:
Yes, they were loud … but not nearly as irritating as if
they were jet engines!
I obtained several good close-ups during the flyover:
(B-25J “Executive Sweet / My
Buck”)
(B-25J “Devil Dog”)
(B-25 “Miss Hap”)
(B-25J “Yellow Rose”)
… I don’t know about you folks, but the Missing Man
formation *always* chokes me up …
(From left to right: “Miss Hap,” “Panchito” and B-25J
“Betty’s Dream;” see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Missing_man_formation
if the significance of this salute is unknown to you.)
After the flyovers, there was a short ceremony and a
wreath-laying at the Doolittle Raiders memorial. Col. C.V. Glines (Jimmy
Doolittle’s biographer and an honorary Raider) gave a historical sketch,
followed by a brief speech by Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole’s (Doolittle’s co-pilot
of No. 1, and a Dayton native):
It was remarkable that this 96-year-old has a stronger
speaking voice than others (decades younger) we heard at the same event!
Some of the Raiders leaving the ceremony. From the left:
Staff Sgt. David J. Thatcher, Engineer-Gunner of No. 7 (back to the camera);
Cole; Glines; and Lt. Col. Edward J. Saylor, Engineer-Gunner of No. 15 (hand
obscuring face). Take a look at these old gentlemen -- they are genuinely
enjoying themselves!
At a reception that evening, I mentioned to Major Thomas
Griffin, Navigator of No. 9 (in white cap toward the right in the photo below)
that it appeared that he and the other Raiders truly were having a good time,
and his response was, “Oh, yes! We all look forward to this all year!”
Thursday: The 80 silver goblets and 1896 bottle of
Hennessy cognac were on display at the Raiders luncheon.
(The rumor on Wednesday evening, as related to me by one
of the caterers, was that the Raiders would uncork the bottle for this year’s
toast to the departed Raiders. … Although this is slightly contrary to Jimmy
Doolittle’s stipulation that the last two surviving Raiders would open it to
drink a final toast to their departed comrades, it would be entirely
appropriate for the Raiders to do so in this 70th anniversary year,
if they really think this will be their last reunion. I have looked but not yet
found any confirmation of whether or not they cracked that bottle on Thursday --
does anyone else have the straight dope?):
(For the story of the goblets, see http://www.doolittleraider.com/the_goblets.htm
)
The Reunion guests also included two Navy veterans who
served on the USS Hornet CV-8 during the Raid (actually, who served on Hornet
from its commissioning, 20 Oct 1941, to its sinking in the Battle of the Santa
Cruz Islands, 27 Oct 1942!; CPO Allen Josey shown below), a woman whose husband
had assisted Crew #2’s evasion of the Japanese and return to safety from their
Chinese village, and family members of the other Raider crews.
… Reflecting on what these many heroes had risked,
sacrificed and achieved is simultaneously inspiring, humbling … and a terrific
way to check one’s perspective …
During the office golf outing on Friday, five or six
B-25s crossed our airspace (most of them singly; once as a 2-ship). It seems
that many of the attending B-25 crews had stayed in town for the Raiders’
banquet on Thursday night, and then left for their home bases throughout Friday
morning. It was nice to hear those big sweet ol’ Wright radials “one more
time!”
(B-25H “Barbie III”)
Needless to say, I had a great week; these guys have been
among my heroes since I was 10 or 11 years old. It was a real treat to see four
of the five surviving Doolittle Raiders here enjoying the Reunion as much as we
fans did, and to see them and the other Reunion guests being honored by the
unprecedented 20 B-25 gathering and the (very well-behaved!) crowd.
Editor: I was
unable to upload all the great pics but did find a couple of links to videos
and images below that you will enjoy:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The above post is not necessarily the opinion or shared view of the editor. Some posts may be excluded from the current issue because of too much content or deemed inappropriate. All PCN subscribers are welcome to post. PCN Home Page is located at: http://pcn.homestead.com/home01.html
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