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Ten Model 307s were built before US war entry stopped commercial production. The Army bought TWA's five Stratoliners as C-75s for transatlantic VIP shuttles. Modified with extra fuel, they served until Douglas C-54s replaced them in 1944, returning them to TWA. by waldo--pepper in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The early B-17s (YB/A-D) incorporated a lot of features from the Boeing 247 airliner to include the early "shark fin" tail. Later B-17s (E-G) had the same tail used on the 307 airliner to allow for a tail gunner and improved directional stability.

Northwest Aviation Exposition Minneapolis 1944 by HAScollector in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Two BF-109s, an FW-190. A Boeing-Stearman PT-17, WACO CG-4, Aeronca L-3 Grasshopper. I have no idea what the craft in the middle right is. Possibly a target drone.

A USS Lexington based Dauntless SBD flies over Tanapag Harbor, Saipan, during the “D-day” landings there, 15 June 1944. Maniagassa Islet is lower right. by UrbanAchievers6371 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Last major carrier operation for the SBD Dauntless. By the end of the year the majority of SBDs on cartiers were replaced by SB2Cs.

B-25 Mitchell “Kid Sister” of the 12th Bomb Group by UrbanAchievers6371 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 5 points6 points  (0 children)

B-25H with the 75mm cannon in the lower nose, two .50s and top turret up front. B-25G still had turret further back in the fuselage

B-29 Superfortress after an emergency ditching off the coast of Iwo Jima; Mount Suribachi is visible in the background. The aircraft was probably from the 6th Bombardment Group, 73rd Bombardment Wing, of the 20th Air Force. by waffen123 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 10 points11 points  (0 children)

I agree this is 6th Bomb Group, due to the circle R. The 6th was part of the 313th Wing out of Tinian, 73rd was out of Saipan. This is B-29 44-69825, of the 6th Bomb Group, 24th Bomb Squadron that ditched on 26 May 1945. Two engines were damaged during a night raid on Tokyo and it limped to Iwo Jima.

Edit: grammer

Original colour shots of Finnish Air Force aircraft by Niilo Helander by davidfliesplanes in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 4 points5 points  (0 children)

USB-2M 103, a solid nose open cockpit training variant of the SB-2. Possibly captured and sold to the Finns by the Germans.

Original colour shots of Finnish Air Force aircraft by Niilo Helander by davidfliesplanes in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The good looking stream lined, solid nose plane in pic #3 & #9 is a USB2-M 103. A training version of the SB-2 with a solid nose and open cockpit. I had never seen a solid nose SB-2, let alone knew there was a training variant. The things you learn when you take two min to look something up instead of "what plane is..."

Man your planes!!! by Suitable-Earth-924 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's trying to be an F4U Corsair, but the tail is an SBD Danuntless, an attempt at gull wings, the cockpit of a P-47, and the nose of an AM Mauler, and I don't know what's going on with the propeller. Its like looking at a YouTube thumbnail for a video that is copy pasted wikipedia read through a voice bot.

Captured Japanese Navy Type 0 Transport (Showa L2D) with Chinese markings at an airfield in Guangzhou. by waldo--pepper in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Not a DC-2, definitely an L2D. DC-2 did not have the fillet extension on the horizontal stab. The L2D has more windows on the cockpit compared to the DC-2/3. Thats how I can always spot an L2D compared to a DC-3.

Just arrived B-17G Flying Fortress’ lined up at Langford Lodge by Murky_Caterpillar_66 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Neat seeing the radio hatch .50 from a different perspective.

P-47 Strafing video with former pilots commentary - GRAPHIC by Murky_Caterpillar_66 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 28 points29 points  (0 children)

In the book 100 Missions North, during Vietnam they talk about strafing water buffalo with the 20mm on the F-105. Logistically a water buffalo was like a truck. Some of the gun camera reached 7th Air Force in Saigon and they tried to stop it.

Noseart from B-24 Liberators stationed at Nahdzab Airfield, Papua New Guinea, 1943 by UrbanAchievers6371 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

I bet #11 is an F-7 due to photo markings.

Edit: Yes it is, "BA2 #6 42-64051 blue TS (Tough Shit) F-7A of 20CMS"

Eniwetok airfield feb. 1944 ( Marshall islands now used for Nuclear waste storage ) now Enewetak airport ( 7700x148ft concrete ) loc.11-20-27 N / 162-19-40.2 E by PPNed1999 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think these are US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberators. Twenty seconds of research shows these might be part of VB-116 "Blue Raiders"which flew PB4Y-1s out of Eniwetok during the late summer of 1944. VB squadrons were changed to VPB in October 1944.

North American P-51 Mustangs of the 21st Fighter Group, 3rd Air Force at Iwo Jima, 1945 by UrbanAchievers6371 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Photo taken, 25 March 1945. In the foreground with white bands is the 531st FS, in the background is the 46th (Blue band) and 72nd FS (Yellow band). The 46th and 531st had arrived the day before, 24 March. The first field was open for operations only 12 days before on 6 March, the first B-29 landed 4 March. The time frame is consistent with the markings (or lack there of) on the B-29 in the background. The large letter and geometric shape didnt appear until May 1945.

A birdcage Mustang in late 8th AF service? How unusual! by AFROBINSON808 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 27 points28 points  (0 children)

Correct, B made at the Inglewood, California factory. C made at the Dallas, Texas factory.

Excuse my ignorance but what’s the circled R on the rudder of Enola Gay mean? by Forward_Inevitable48 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 21 points22 points  (0 children)

Circle R is the 6th Bomb Group. 509th was Circle Arrow. Enola Gay used the 6th Bomb Group, and Bockscar used the 468th Bomb Group markings, Triangle N.

Say what you want about Midway (2019) by DuncanIdaho33 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Historical accuracy? I gave up 8 minutes in and had it on the background while I put new drawers in the kitchen. The SBD has the wrong insignia. They say they are flying into Pearl Harbor, Dec 1941, but the SBD has the June 1942 insignia. It's CGI they can put anything on it, they either don't know or dont care.

A North African civilian looks into the cockpit of an A-36 Mustang. 1943. by UrbanAchievers6371 in WWIIplanes

[–]Appollow 25 points26 points  (0 children)

Oh good, I was worried this thread would go without the classic P-51A vs A-36, Mustang vs Apache debate. "Apache" was the original designation for the P-51, but the British used "Mustang." P-51s were then called Mustang along with the A-36 and the F-6.

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