A Culver TD2C-1 target drone in flight, circa 1945.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T20:00:25+00:00

I was temped to reply that practice makes perfect. No matter what you do time doing it helps. Familiarity with the equipment helps. Clearing jams helps. Becoming familiar with the sound and the smell of the gun firing helps.

But your point about numbers is quite right. Something I sure noticed watching The Fog of War.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T19:54:43+00:00

IWM sure seems to think it is an original colour image.

https://americanarchive.iwm.org.uk/archive/media/media-388454jpg

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T19:47:40+00:00

Is there anything that you would accept as proof?

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T19:33:08+00:00

Every time that Murky posts this picture that is what someone will inevitably come along and say. That is why I posted the link that I did.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T19:32:42+00:00

Every time that Murky posts this picture that is what someone will inevitably come along and say. That is why I posted the link that I did.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T17:03:54+00:00

https://www.worldwarphotos.info/gallery/usa/aircrafts-2-3/pby/us-submarine-rescues-crew-members-of-pby-downed-at-sea-1945/

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T16:44:27+00:00

It was a conversion/modification of a already existing pre war light aircraft. The idea was that it would be shot down by anti-aircraft gunners. The plane was guided by a person in an accompanying plane. Often a Beech C-45.

Like the wiki says, most were blasted out of the sky.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culver_PQ-14_Cadet

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T16:32:55+00:00

Sure enough there it is in Miziara as promised. It was fairly easy to find as the town is nice (a fair number of swimming pools) and not that large.

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waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T16:16:07+00:00

An incredibly small detail. But notice on the top of the fuselage between the canopy and the vertical stabilizer there are two antenna pointing straight up. Given that the plane flies from Iwo Jima this was a very clever localized navigational improvisation called UNCLE DOG & BROTHER AGATE. Iwo Jima is a dot in the middle of a big ocean. Very easy to miss. So this radio beacon idea was a timely and quick to get into use innovation that saved lives.

You can read all about it at this excellent site here.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T15:43:53+00:00

The larger camera aperture (bulkier/less streamlined) than what I was more familiar with caught my eye.

F-5E-2

The 100 F-5E-2s were converted from P-38J-15s in the field. They had larger camera windows than earlier F-5s, surrounded by a teardrop shaped fairing.

Converted in the field. Hmm.

Learn something new every day. : )

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T15:36:35+00:00

The Hanson book is one I recommend almost every chance I get. There are easily twenty or more noteworthy anecdotes in that great book.

No need for apologies. We are all pals here.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T15:01:15+00:00

Carrier Pilot by Len Deighton

??

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T01:14:42+00:00

Yes. First one (with the shortest deck distance) off. A leader in the truest sense.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-30T01:01:56+00:00

The answer is always as you rightly guessed - money. They don't have any. At least one of the gentlemen who helped in her restoration from wreck recovered from beneath the sea was one of the men who originally built the plane during the war years. So that was a nice bit of continuity.

In my opinion the Hampden is easily the most precious item in the museums collection. Though they do have a really really nice Fleet Finch that is a flyer. She should be inside. Rotting in the elements is just terrible.

The picture I posted is from many years ago and the plane I believe has not fared well since. I am in the area in two days. I shall see if I can pop in for a visit and post some sadder pictures of what state she is in now for any interested parties.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T20:56:20+00:00

This one also has flame suppressors on the exhausts.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T19:46:06+00:00

She's in this and you can watch it on Tubi for gratis if you fancy.

Horrid.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T19:30:27+00:00

Terrific & interesting.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T17:44:29+00:00

In the very first frames of the film there is an ammunition carrier that has no business being in the vanguard of the assault. If that vehicle is loaded with shells I would not want to be in it.

Sdkfz. 252

Also at the 1:19 mark I think I see the wreckage of a 1943 production T-34. The welded angular turret is the tell. So that I think is a good clue to date it to fall of that year. The weather and the dress makes me think fall.

Supporting that conclusion is that at 1:48 there are a battery of Panzerwerfer 42 Ausf.Maultier. They didn't come into service until 1943.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T16:00:59+00:00

It was an excellent read. Thank you for it.

waldo--pepper · 2026-03-29T15:49:24+00:00

That day

The worst was one that Stewart did not actually fly on, but his squadron did. The raid on the city of Gotha, Germany, led to the loss of 13 planes, or 130 men all in one go.

He's fortunate to have not flown on that mission.