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Onboard a Navy Ship

Monday, August 3 Shortly after settling in on the Essex, I learned it was movie night! As the sky darkened from the

August 23, 2020

Let the Loading Begin

Sunday, August 2, continued There was much to do and a great deal of uncertainty. The runway was a significant distance from

August 20, 2020

Today is the Day!

Saturday, August 1 • Today is the Day! I packed up my room Saturday in anticipation Sunday morning’s events – a COVID

August 14, 2020

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On February 23, 1945, only days after invading the

On February 23, 1945, only days after invading the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines raised the American flag at the top of Mount Suribachi. Deemed too small to see easily from the northern side of peak, where heavy fighting would go on for several more days, the flag was replaced with a larger one. The flags were lowered and raised simultaneously.

Pictured is photographer Joe Rosenthal capturing the now-famous photo of six marines struggling to hoist the Stars and Stripes atop the mountain. Marine Sgt. William Genaust, who was a motion picture photographer is on his left. Photo taken by MSgt. Lou Lowery, a Marine Corps photographer.

February 19, 1945 - U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima,

February 19, 1945 - U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima, a battle that lasted for five weeks with some of the bloodiest fighting of World War II.

This Helldiver with Bombing Squadron VB-80 returns to the USS Hancock after flying close ground support strikes in support.

Warbird Wednesday . US Navy F6F Hellcat fighters o

Warbird Wednesday
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US Navy F6F Hellcat fighters of VF-10 ‘Grim Reapers’ land on carrier Enterprise after attack on Truk, in February of 1944.
~United States National Archives Photo
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F6F Hellcat fighters were initially designed to be an improved version of the F4F Wildcat, but by the time they took flight in mid-1942, they had very little in common with their predecessor. The new design featured heavy armor and self-sealing fuel tanks to provide additional safety to the pilots.

F6F Hellcat fighters engaged Japanese Zero fighters scoring repeated victories signaling the United States had finally produced a fighter that exceeded the capabilities of the feared Zero. By the end of WWII, F6F Hellcats participated in nearly every engagement in the Pacific since their introduction in 1943 and had a staggering 9:1 kill to loss ratio.
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“The Hellcat was a terrific airplane and very effective fighter. It was positively a piece of cake to fly; just a dream.... The difference between the F4F [Wildcat] and the F6F was night and day. We had more range, more speed, more power... more everything.”
US Navy Ensign George Orner, F6F Hellcat fighter pilot aboard USS Franklin.
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#WarbirdWednesday #instaaviation #history #ww2

We're excited to share this rendering by artist Mi

We're excited to share this rendering by artist Mike Lynch of our FG-1D Corsair. The aircraft is currently undergoing restoration at Airpower Unlimited in Jerome, ID under the careful watch of John Lane.

Accepted into service in May of 1945, serial # 92095 first flew with VBF‐80 (Fighter Bomber Squadron 80) and was later assigned to Marine fighter squadrons. By September of 1947, it was flying with reserve outfits as more modern fighters began to appear. Used primarily in training by 1951, the plane was stricken from Navy records in January of 1957.

Football + Fighter Pilot = Tom Landry Tom Landry

Football + Fighter Pilot = Tom Landry

Tom Landry, long-time NFL coach of “America’s Team,” the Dallas Cowboys, fought bravely as a member of the original “America’s Team.” Landry served as a co-pilot of a B-17 during World War II. Stationed in England, he flew 30 missions and survived a crash in Belgium after a bombing run over Czechoslovakia.

#FighterPilotFriday #FootballFriday #instagramaviation #history #worldwar2 #NFL #B-17

Black History Month, also known as African America

Black History Month, also known as African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time for recognizing their principal role in U.S. history, including WWII.

The story of the Tuskegee Airmen reinforces the importance of African American service in WWII.

Civil rights groups advocated for the military to add black pilots to the ranks. Eventually the all-black 99th Fighter Squadron was created. Housed at a newly constructed airbase in Tuskegee, AL, 992 pilots were trained and flew hundreds of missions in southern Europe. Nicknamed the "Redtails," the Airmen lost 66 men and flew more than 15,000 sorties from 1943 to 1945.

“The Tuskegee Airmen” and “Redtails” are feature films showcasing this legendary first all-black squadron of fighter pilots.
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#MovieMonday #blackhistorymonth #instaaviation #ww2

On this day in 1919 WWII Ace pilot Colonel Francis

On this day in 1919 WWII Ace pilot Colonel Francis Stanley “Gabby” Gabreski, was born in Oil City, Pennsylvania.

Gabreski was a fighter pilot stationed at Wheeler Field in Hawaii on Dec. 7, 1941, when Japan attacked Pearl Harbor. He took off in his P-36 Hawk after he heard the Japanese attack but was unable to engage the enemy.

One of this country's most successful combat fighter pilots, Gabreski is credited with 28 aerial victories and became the top-scoring American ace in Europe in World War II. He added 6.5 victories in Korea. Gabreski was enshrined in The National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1978.
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#instaaviation #history #worldwar2

Fighter Pilot Friday Captain Joe Foss USMC, known

Fighter Pilot Friday

Captain Joe Foss USMC, known as the "Ace of Aces," is credited with shooting down 26 enemy aircraft during WWII. He was one of three Medal of Honor recipients featured on the cover of "Life" magazine. After his war service Foss joined the South Dakota National Guard and eventually retired as a U.S. Air Force Brigadier General.

Elected to the South Dakota State House of Representatives from 1948 - 1953, he later served as Governor from 1955-59. Commissioner of the early American Football League, he was a key figure in the initiation of the SUPER BOWL. He also served as President of the National Rifle Association.
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#FighterPilotFriday #instaaviation #history #worldwar2

Amelia Earhart pictured as she dons her flight sui

Amelia Earhart pictured as she dons her flight suit at Wheeler Field before departing for her record breaking flight. (Hawaii Aviation)

On this day in 1935, Earhart departed Wheeler Field on the island of Oahu in Hawaii in her Lockheed Vega 5C Special, NR965Y. She arrived at her destination of Oakland, California 18 hours, 15 minutes later. Earhart was the first person to fly solo from Hawaii to the Mainland.

Published by The Literary Digest on January 19, 1935:

"'All well', Amelia Earhart (1897 – 1937) radioed repeatedly during her 2,400-mile flight from Hawaii to California last week. 'Alls well that ends well,' she might have said as she set her monoplane down at Oakland Airport Saturday afternoon, eighteen hours and sixteen minutes after she took off from Wheeler Field, Honolulu. What she actually said was, 'I'm tired'"

"Thus she has become the first woman to fly the Pacific from Hawaii to California, and the first person of either sex to fly it alone. Her record has been studded with 'firsts' ever since she learned to fly in 1918." ~ © Old Magazine Articles
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#womeninaviation #flight #instaaviation

New York City’s Times Square has hosted a crowd-

New York City’s Times Square has hosted a crowd-filled celebration for New Year’s Eve each year since 1907. The famous ball has dropped every one of those years with only 2 notable exceptions. In 1942 & 1943 the dropping was suspended because of the city black-out during World War II. (Myron Davis/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)

This year the ball will drop but crowds are prohibited due to the global pandemic.
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#history #worldwar2

Merry Christmas Eve

Merry Christmas Eve

The 1970 film “Patton,” a biographical war fil

The 1970 film “Patton,” a biographical war film about U.S. General George S. Patton during World War II, won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay. George C. Scott won Best Actor for his portrayal of General Patton but declined to accept the award. The opening monologue, delivered by George C. Scott as General Patton with an enormous American flag behind him, remains an iconic and often quoted image in film.

#MovieMonday #history #ww2

17 December, 1944 Major Richard Ira Bong, USAAC sh

17 December, 1944
Major Richard Ira Bong, USAAC shot down an enemy “Oscar” flying a P-38 Lighting over the Philippines. This 40th confirmed aerial victory secured him as the leading American fighter ace of World War II. He is credited with 40 aircraft destroyed, as well as 8 probably destroyed and 7 damaged. Five days earlier Major Bong had been presented the Medal of Honor by General Douglas MacArthur.
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#instaaviation #instagramaviation #history #worldwar2 #ww2

December 16, 1944 • Battle of the Bulge Begins

December 16, 1944 • Battle of the Bulge Begins

Two days earlier, American GIs stationed in the Belgian-German border town of Bastogne were in a festive holiday mood. Hollywood star Marlene Dietrich, on a USO tour, had performed for a crowd of infantry on much needed R&R.

Within 24 hours of the initial bombardment, German tanks had broken through the thinly defended center of the Ardennes region and rolled West to the Meuse River, creating the infamous bulge in the Allied line that gave the battle its name. Using the weather and intelligence breakdowns to their advantage, the Nazi offensive appeared to be working.

But if Hitler thought that the outmanned Americans were going to lay down and let the German tanks roll all the way to Antwerp, he was mistaken. After the initial confusion and chaos of the Nazi surprise attack, American soldiers regrouped and relied on old-fashioned ingenuity to hold off the German advance until reinforcements could arrive.
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#history #ww2

If you're looking for a holiday movie to watch con

If you're looking for a holiday movie to watch consider the 1954 classic "White Christmas," starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera-Ellen.

After serving in the Army in WWII, a successful song-and-dance team become romantically involved with a sister act and team up to save the failing Vermont inn of their former commanding general.
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#moviemonday

By 6pm EST the Japanese fleet turns for home after

By 6pm EST the Japanese fleet turns for home after its devastating attack on Pearl Harbor. In the 44 months of war that will follow, the US Navy will sink every one of the Japanese aircraft carriers, battleships & cruisers that were part of this strike force.
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#history #ww2 #instaaviation

The December 7 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor las

The December 7 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor lasted just over an hour. The attack killed 2,403 US personnel & destroyed or damaged 19 US Navy ships. The USS Arizona memorial is a permanent tribute to those who lost their lives in the attack.
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#history #ww2 #instaaviation

“AIR RAID ON PEARL HARBOR X THIS IS NOT DRILL,” was the message sent from Commander Ramsey at Ford Island’s command center in Oahu, Hawaii. And so began the coordinated attack on December 7, 1941 – 79 years ago today.
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#instaaviation #history #ww2

The Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” Torpedo Bomber led th

The Nakajima B5N2 “Kate” Torpedo Bomber led the attack on Pearl Harbor and dropped the first bombs over Ford Island. This Japanese aircraft was superior in speed and capabilities to any U.S. aircraft at the beginning of the war.

Throwback Thursday On this day in 1937, New Yorke

Throwback Thursday

On this day in 1937, New Yorker Jackie Cochran flew a variant of a P-35 fighter from Brooklyn, NY to Miami, FL, setting a speed record of 4 hours & 12 minutes. The previous record held by Howard Hughes was 8 minutes longer.

Cochran’s plane was designed by Alexander Seversky who set his own speed record on this same day, flying a 2nd P-35-type airplane from New York to Havana, Cuba, in 5 hours & 2 minutes.

Seversky is pictured here with his SEV-1XP X18Y.
(Ray Wagner Collection, San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives)
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#TBT #instaaviation #history

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