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ID #1709057 / 32 Views 22-November-2022
62-4478 On display in the Presidential Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This short body T-39A Sabreliner with two triangular windows is one of ten Presidential aircraft in the gallery. Retrofitted to a VIP configuration, it was used by former President Lyndon B. Johnson from 1968 to 1973 to travel to his ranch. Later, it flew as an avionics and communication test bed. It went to the museum in October 1984. One can see the air brake extended behind the nose wheel. (more of 62-4478)
ID #1708432 / 38 Views 22-November-2022
54-0148 On display in the Research & Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This was the world’s first VSTOL tilt-rotor aircraft, powered by a single P&W R-985 Wasp. It was the result of a joint initiative in 1951 between the US Army and USAF. Two were built, and the first hover tests began in 1955. Take off to horizontal flight and back was achieved on 18 Dec 58. It never went into production, but paved the way later for the CV-22 Osprey. The first XV-3 was written off, and this is the only surviving example. (more of 54-0148)
ID #1708418 / 319 Views 22-November-2022
62-0001 On display in the Research and Development Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Dwarfing the SR-71, this exotic Valkyrie was intended to be a Mach 3 nuclear bomber. A sharp-edged splitter plate of the wedge-fronted intake reduced airflow to Mach 1.3, the design helping the XB-70 to surf on its shockwave. The wingtips folded downward on the AV-1 at 25 and 65 deg. at supersonic speeds to add to stability, also adding to lift. It had a retractable visor, delta canards and all-moving vertical stabilizers. Power was from six YJ93-GE-3 turbojets using JP-6 fuel. (more of 62-0001)
ID #1708030 / 63 Views 22-November-2022
42-72843 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Built in San Diego, the Liberator was ferried to the 9th Air Force, where it was assigned to the 512th Bomb Squadron of the 376th BG. "Strawberry Bitch" flew over 50 missions, including the raid on the Ploesti oil refinery in August 1943. One of the four propellers of B-24D "Lady Be Good" of 514th BS that was lost with its crew in the Libyan desert in April 1943 on its first combat mission lies by the nose. (more of 42-72843)
ID #1617518 / 52 Views 22-June-2016
54-1626 Prototype Spectre gunship that was converted under Project Gunship II at Wright-Patterson AFB. It carried four 20mm cannon and four 7.62mm multi-barrel guns, used in a 30-degree left bank at night. This AC-130 was sent to Nha Trang AFB in Vietnam on Sept. 21, 1967 for a 90-day test. Other Spectres of 16th SOS based at Ubon flew interdiction missions along the Ho Chi Ming Trail from 1968 onward, destroying many trucks. (more of 54-1626)
ID #1610488 / 15 Views 22-June-2016
40-2344 One can imagine Lt Col Jimmy Doolittle’s B-25B tied down to USS Hornet and being armed in this diorama at the Nat. Museum of the USAF. Launching 10 hours earlier and further away from their targets then intended on 18 April 1942, the 16 B-25s left an indelible psychological impact as the first raid on the Japanese homeland. Fifteen aircraft barely reached China and one the Soviet Union on the most daring one-way mission. All 80 airmen were awarded the DFC and Doolittle received the Medal of Honor. (more of 40-2344)
ID #1607141 / 45 Views 22-June-2016
0138 On display in the markings of the NVAF at the Nat. Museum of the USAF. This aircraft was obtained from the 457th Technical Evaluation Sqn. based at Nellis AFB. The majority of NVAF MiG-19s were the Shenyang J-6, which equipped the 925th Fighter Regiment. Mainly used during Operations Linebacker I & II, MiG-19s claimed seven victories over the F-4 Phantom II in 1972 by using Kuban tactics that included trailing NVAF MiG-21s by staying low or attacking under GCI and being able to out-turn the F-4. (more of 0138)
ID #1597542 / 61 Views 22-June-2016
430650 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This long-range photo reconnaissance Ju-88 was completed in June 1943 and delivered to Romania, an ally of Germany. In July 1943 a Romanian pilot defected to Cyprus. The aircraft was later handed over by the RAF to the USAAF for testing. A Fritz-X guided bomb lies beneath the fuselage. (more of 430650)
ID #1595669 / 45 Views 22-June-2016
43-16445 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Lodestar served in the transport and training role. The C-60A was the most numerous of the different versions that were built. (more of 43-16445)
ID #1595665 / 17 Views 22-June-2016
NS519 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The USAAF operated the Mosquito as a photographic and weather reconnaissance aircraft, nightfighter and for Red Stocking intelligence gathering missions. This Mosquito with a red tail is painted to represent an aircraft of the 653rd Bombardment Sqn. based in England in 1944-45 that conducted Blue Stocking weather reconnaissance missions, as well as dropping chaff. (more of NS519)
ID #1594512 / 51 Views 22-June-2016
601088 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The Dora was powered by the Junkers Jumo 213 inverted V-12 engine and considered by its pilots to be more than a match for the P-51D. After its capture, this Dora was shipped to the USA for evaluation. It wears the markings of IV. (Sturm)/JG3 "Udet". (more of 601088)
ID #1594502 / 165 Views 22-June-2016
501232 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This is Yellow 5 of KG(J)6, which retrained from the bomber to fighter role toward the end of the war, as denoted by the (J) for Jäger. After its capture in 1945, it was shipped to the USA aboard HMS Reaper for evaluation. The restoration has omitted both the Yellow 5 as well as the checked identification band applied to Reichsverteidigung fighters on the fuselage. (more of 501232)
ID #1559656 / 44 Views 22-June-2016
70-0970 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Corsair of 354th TFW with tail code "MB" for Myrtle Beach AFB was flown by Maj. Colin A. Clarke from Korat on a nine-hour rescue support mission on Nov. 18, 1972 over Thanh Hoa, Vietnam. Maj. Clarke made a number of passes through low cloud to locate the downed F-105 Wild Weasel crew through heavy AA fire and directed a HH-53 to do a DF letdown on him for the rescue, for which he received the Air Force Cross. (more of 70-0970)
ID #1532320 / 18 Views 22-June-2016
45-49167 "Five by Five" 44-33287 in the markings of Col. J.P. Laughlin, CO 362nd FG, 9th AF on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This is a former Peruvian Air Force Thunderbolt. (more of 45-49167)
ID #1521864 / 102 Views 22-June-2016
63-8320 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Thud was produced as an ‘F’ and served with 49 TFW in Germany. It flew as “Cooter” with 333 TFS, 355 TFW at Takhli RTAFB. It then moved to Korat RTAFB, after which it was modified to an F-105G and served as “Bam-Bam” with 561 TFS in 1972-73. It was one of the last twelve F-105Gs to leave Korat and the Vietnam War. Serving thereafter with 562 TFS, 35 TFW at George AFB, “Hanoi Hustler” had three large red stars under the cockpit representing three unconfirmed MiG kills claimed when handed over to the museum. The long QRC-380 ECM blister is visible under the wing. (more of 63-8320)
ID #1516939 / 30 Views 22-June-2016
64-0829 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Phantom is painted to represent “Scat XXVII”, the 8th TFW aircraft in which Col. Robin Olds flying as Tampa Lead on MiG CAP shot down two MiG-17s using a Sparrow and a Sidewinder near Bac Giang in northeast Vietnam on May 20, 1967. The left splitter vane carries two red stars. (more of 64-0829)
ID #1516936 / 48 Views 22-June-2016
5F-YK On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Storch was used by the Flygvapnet, and then became a civilian aircraft. It is wearing the markings of Aufklaerungsgruppe 2.(H)/14 which was a reconnaissance unit supporting Panzerarmee Afrika, but does not wear the white fuselage theatre band for the Mediterranean. (more of 5F-YK)
ID #1504700 / 20 Views 22-June-2016
MM8146 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Saetta carries the markings of Regia Aeronautica's 372 Squadriglia, 153� Gruppo. It was transferred to the 165 Squadriglia in North Africa in Nov. 1942 and captured at Benghazi airfield after the battle of El Alamein. (more of MM8146)
ID #1504699 / 49 Views 22-June-2016
52-2220 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, this has been the largest U.S. military aircraft produced, with a wingspan of 70.1 metres. Only five of 384 Peacemakers built survive. This aircraft made the last B-36 flight from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona to the museum on April 30, 1959. (more of 52-2220)
ID #1504698 / 74 Views 22-June-2016
82-1070 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This is a test aircraft intended for fatigue testing that lacks engines and instruments. An actual B-2, “Spirit of Ohio” underwent extensive temperature testing for heat, extreme cold, rain and high humidity. The nose gear panel from that aircraft was painted and signed “Fire and Ice” by the technicians, which was presented to the museum and installed on the B-2. (more of 82-1070)
ID #1504697 / 39 Views 22-June-2016
58-0325 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This Voodoo served with the 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron and with the 142nd Fighter Interceptor Group. It was flown to the museum in Feb. 1981. (more of 58-0325)
ID #1504696 / 30 Views 22-June-2016
56-1416 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. The F-102 was the USAF's first operational delta-wing aircraft, equipping more than 25 Air Defense Command squadrons. This Delta Dagger served with the 57th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in Iceland. (more of 56-1416)
ID #1504695 / 26 Views 22-June-2016
44-33879 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. This former Brazilian Air Force Catalina has been painted as OV-10A “Snafu Snatchers”, assigned to the 2nd Emergency Rescue Squadron in the Pacific Theater during World War II. (more of 44-33879)
ID #1504693 / 305 Views 22-June-2016
64-15476 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Huey ‘492’ is painted to represent a 20th Special Operations Squadron “Green Hornets” helicopter that rescued a seven-man team of Green Berets on Nov. 26, 1968 in Vietnam. The pilot, 1st Lt. J. Fleming was awarded the Medal of Honor for the mission. (more of 64-15476)
ID #1492961 / 75 Views 22-June-2016
44-27297 On display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. “Bockscar” was a Silverplate conversion, assigned to 393rd BS, 509th Composite Group. It dropped the Fat Man Plutonium atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945 after finding Kokura, its primary target obscured in smoke. Short of fuel on the return leg, it made an emergency landing at Yontan airfield, Okinawa. (more of 44-27297)