Hog away buddy!
We're all lovin' your rides.
Well, ok then. This is just some follow up on the planes. You and some of the military buffs will already know most of this but I thought it would be interesting to bring some historical perspective to them.
First up, the C-119
The Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar(Navy and Marine Corps designation R4Q) was an American military transport aircraft developed from the
World War II-era
FairchildC-82 Packet, designed to carry
cargo, personnel,
litterpatients, and mechanized equipment, and to drop cargo and
troopsby
parachute. The first C-119 made its
initial flightin November 1947, and by the time production ceased in 1955, more than 1,100 C-119s had been built. Its cargo-hauling ability and unusual
twin-boomdesign earned it the nickname "Flying
Boxcar".
Next up the PBY
The Consolidated PBY Catalina, also known as the Cansoin Canadian service, is an
Americanflying boat, and later an
amphibious aircraftof the 1930s and 1940s produced by
Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used seaplanes of
World War II. Catalinas served with every branch of the
United States Armed Forcesand in the air forces and navies of many other nations.
During World War II, PBYs were used in
anti-submarine warfare,
patrol bombing,
convoy escort,
search and rescuemissions (especially
air-sea rescue), and
cargo transport. The PBY was the most numerous aircraft of its kind, and the last military PBYs served until the 1980s. As of 2014, nearly 80 years after its first flight, the aircraft continues to fly as a
waterbomber(or airtanker) in
aerial firefightingoperations in some parts of the world.
Next up the B-25
North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber
Most Numerous American Medium Bomber, the B-25
The twin engine B-25 Mitchell was the most numerous American medium bomber built, and was constructed in both solid and glass nosed versions.
Although it served predominantly in the Pacific, it saw service in nearly all fronts of World War II. It was used by the U.S. Army Air Corps, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps., and also by the air forces of Great Britain, the Commonwealth countries, and the Soviet Union.
The Grumman Albatross
The Grumman HU-16 Albatross is a large twin–
radial engineamphibiousflying boatthat was used by the
United States Air Force(USAF), the
U.S. Navy(USN) and the
U.S. Coast Guard(USCG), primarily as a search and rescue aircraft. Originally designated as the SA-16 for the USAF and the JR2F-1 and UF-1 for the USN and USCG, it was redesignated as the HU-16 in 1962.
The Douglas A-26 Invader
As Jim mentioned, this plane had such a long and remarkable service history, it’s really inadequate to sum up in a paragraph.
The Douglas A-26 Invader(designated B-26between 1948 and 1965) is an American twin-engined
light bomberand
ground attackaircraft. Built by
Douglas Aircraft Companyduring
World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major
Cold Warconflicts. A limited number of highly modified
United States Air Forceaircraft served in
Southeast Asiauntil 1969. It was a fast aircraft capable of carrying a large bomb load. A range of guns could be fitted to produce a formidable ground-attack aircraft.
The Grumman S-2 Tracker
I was really quite surprised to find out that this stubby plane had fold up wings and got launched off of an aircraft carrier. Later versions were also quite lethal attack planes.
The Grumman S-2 Tracker(S2Fprior to 1962) was the first purpose-built, single airframe
anti-submarine warfare(ASW)
aircraftto enter service with the
United States Navy. Designed and initially built by
Grumman, the Tracker was of conventional design — propeller-driven with twin radial engines, a high wing that could be folded for storage on aircraft carriers, and tricycle undercarriage. The type was exported to a number of navies around the world. Introduced in 1952, the Tracker and its
E-1 Tracerderivative saw service in the U.S. Navy until the mid-1970s, and its
C-1 Traderderivative until the mid-1980s, with a few aircraft remaining in service with other air arms into the 21st century.
Argentinaand
Brazilare the last countries to still use the Tracker.
)
The last time I was here, I didn’t walk around under the roof for fear of someone discovering me and yelling at me. But this time I’m fully prepared to play the old man card. “ I’m lost, I was just looking for the bathroom.” I can hear someone at the other end of the building banging on something, but I walk in like I own the place.
