While I’m doing aircraft I’ll up the picture count because I have so blasted many of them and we’d still be posting aircraft during the 2028 election cycle. (Slight exaggeration there.)
B25 Gunship: This was a WWII variant of the B25 when someone asked the question of “just how many 50 Cal machine guns can we hang on a B25 and have it still fly?” The answer was “Quite a few”. I’m pretty sure this variant was used exclusively in the Pacific Theater.
40MM Borfors: Another view of this famous weapon.
130 Gunship Crewman: Just lounging around as the civilians swarm around your aircraft.
Armament on a C130 Gunship: This shot was taken on Hurlburt Field, the operational headquarters of most of the Special Forces and their aircraft support. Three mini-guns is unusual, usually there is one 25mm. This aircraft also had a 105 and a 40mm outside this view.
B17 Bombardier: Bombardier station for a WWII B17 bomber. The Germans shot these things down by the many 1,000’s during the war, each one representing the loss of 9 crewmen.Through 1943 and 1944, the probability of making it through a 25 mission tour was essentially zero. Both the German fighter and flack defence was viciously effective. Same story for the American B24’s and the various British bomber crews.
B17 Cockpit: Pilot on the left and CO pilot on the right. One of the tactics the German fighters used to great success was to come at the bombers from the front, avoiding the bristling 50 cal MG’s. Can you imagine being locked in formation, unable to maneuver, while a heavy cannon armed FW 190 comes dead at you guns blazing?
B17 Bomber: This shot was taken at the Air Force Museum at Eglin AFB.
B25 Bomber: This is a side view of the same plane I posted earlier. Taken at NAS Pensacola.
Tom’s World – 09SEP2024 – Museum Aircraft – 1
Tom’s World – 18SEP2024 – Museum Aircraft – 2
Tom’s World – 25SEP2024 – Museum Aircraft – 3
Nice! I like the sun stars on the Bofors shot.
“Can you imagine being locked in formation, unable to maneuver, while a heavy cannon armed FW 190 comes dead at you guns blazing?” While the air force didn’t have to slog through the countryside it must have been pretty terrifying just flying through the ground fire and aerial attacks. The guys who survived probably were completely unflappable from then on.