I've been meaning to post these for a while, but what with one thing and another.........
Last September I made my annual pilgrimage to Whidbey Island to visit my son. One of the trips we made was to Paine Field in Everett, home to the Flying Heritage Collection, who were putting on a display to commemorate the Battle of Britain.
On display were the following aircraft. (please forgive the cardinal sin of stationary propellers) (descriptions courtesy of HFC).
Here they are taxiing ready for take off.
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
Regards,
Stuart
Last September I made my annual pilgrimage to Whidbey Island to visit my son. One of the trips we made was to Paine Field in Everett, home to the Flying Heritage Collection, who were putting on a display to commemorate the Battle of Britain.
On display were the following aircraft. (please forgive the cardinal sin of stationary propellers) (descriptions courtesy of HFC).
Here they are taxiing ready for take off.
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-3
Place in history: Introduced in 1935, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the first modern fighter. A monoplane, with all-metal stressed-skin construction, enclosed cockpit and retractable landing gear, it had no equal. The original Bf 109 could fly 290 mph, about 100 mph faster than most other military craft. More Bf 109s were produced in ten years of production than any other aircraft in history, with approximately 35,000 units delivered. Though Allied fighters eventually surpassed it in speed, manouverability, and firepower, the Bf 109 remained in service until Germany's surrender.
This aircraft: This Bf 109-E was manufactured in Germany and deployed in October 1939. Piloted by Eduard Hemmerling, it flew primarily over France. Hemmerling shot down a British Spitfire on July 7, 1940, while escorting Stuka dive-bombers that were attacking British ships in Dover harbor. Later that month he destroyed a British Blenheim bomber and another British plane. But his own aircraft was mortally wounded, and Hemmerling turned back toward France. His failing airplane crashed off the coast of Cap Blanc Nez, killing the 27-year-old pilot. In 1988, a man walking on the beach near Calais noticed a piece of metal sticking out of the sand – the tip of this plane's wing.
This aircraft: This Bf 109-E was manufactured in Germany and deployed in October 1939. Piloted by Eduard Hemmerling, it flew primarily over France. Hemmerling shot down a British Spitfire on July 7, 1940, while escorting Stuka dive-bombers that were attacking British ships in Dover harbor. Later that month he destroyed a British Blenheim bomber and another British plane. But his own aircraft was mortally wounded, and Hemmerling turned back toward France. His failing airplane crashed off the coast of Cap Blanc Nez, killing the 27-year-old pilot. In 1988, a man walking on the beach near Calais noticed a piece of metal sticking out of the sand – the tip of this plane's wing.
Supermarine Spitfire Mk.Vc
Place in history: The Supermarine Spitfire was Britain's answer to the Messerschmitt 109, and in many ways it was as nimble and deadly as its German counterpart. The aircraft was produced by Supermarine (a subsidiary division of Vickers-Armstrong) which had manufactured racing seaplanes before the war. It was their seaplane design that was adapted as the basis for this fighter. The distinctive elliptical wing design increased the fighter plane's overall maneuverability and decreased drag. Pilots who flew it loved the airplane, calling it "a ballerina in flight." It has often been credited with winning the Battle of Britain, in spite of the fact that the much more numerous Hawker Hurricanes shouldered most of the burden.. It was the most extensively produced of all the Allied fighters.
This aircraft: Allocated to the British-based Czech 312 Squadron on September 11, 1942, it was piloted by Squadron Leader Tomas Vybiral. On May 14, 1943, Vybiral led his squadron on a daring wave-top raid against enemy shipping at St. Peters Port, Guernsey. AR 614 was heavily damaged by flak, killing its wingman and narrowly missing Vybiral in the cockpit, but he was able to lead his squadron safely back to England.
This aircraft: Allocated to the British-based Czech 312 Squadron on September 11, 1942, it was piloted by Squadron Leader Tomas Vybiral. On May 14, 1943, Vybiral led his squadron on a daring wave-top raid against enemy shipping at St. Peters Port, Guernsey. AR 614 was heavily damaged by flak, killing its wingman and narrowly missing Vybiral in the cockpit, but he was able to lead his squadron safely back to England.
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt
Place in history: In 1940, the United States Army Air Corps decided that larger fighters would be needed in the coming European war. Alexander Kartveli, Republic Aviation's chief designer, prepared a rough sketch of a new fighter with the most powerful Pratt & Whitney engine ever developed, along with eight .50-caliber machine guns and heavy armor. World War II pilots considered it to be "unbreakable;" its legendary toughness gave them confidence that they had a good chance of returning home safely even if their plane sustained damage in combat.
This aircraft: Manufactured by Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana, and delivered to the USAAF on June 27, 1945. It was placed in storage until March, 1948, when it was assigned to an Air National Guard squadron. FHC's Thunderbolt is painted in the colors of the "Tallahassee Lassie," flown by Seattle-born Colonel Ralph C. Jenkins. He led the 510th Fighter Squadron, initially in England and later all the way through Europe to Germany at the end of WWII. Colonel Jenkins may be the pilot who attacked the staff car of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, wounding the German commander.
This aircraft: Manufactured by Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana, and delivered to the USAAF on June 27, 1945. It was placed in storage until March, 1948, when it was assigned to an Air National Guard squadron. FHC's Thunderbolt is painted in the colors of the "Tallahassee Lassie," flown by Seattle-born Colonel Ralph C. Jenkins. He led the 510th Fighter Squadron, initially in England and later all the way through Europe to Germany at the end of WWII. Colonel Jenkins may be the pilot who attacked the staff car of Field Marshall Erwin Rommel, wounding the German commander.
Regards,
Stuart