So I heard a rumble in the sky...

[CajunBass]

Last evening, I was at work, looking out the window of the guardhouse, when I heard a buzzing noise. We have a R/C airport near us, but this was a lower sound, more of a rumble, not a sound I hear everyday. I looked around and didn't see any vehicles, and realized the noise was getting closer and was in the air.

Looking up, over the compound, dead on at 12:00, I see two obviously radial engined aircraft approaching from the east, in perfect formation.

COOL!!

I went outside and watched as they passed. I couldn't get a good look at them, but they were almost certainly AT-6's. I got the impression they were a couple of the ones that had been modified to look like Zero's (based mostly on the red/white paint scheme) but can't swear to it.

The went on out of sight to the west, going to or coming from an airshow I guess.

Neat thing to see.

[NFrameFred]

We had a flight of three of those so painted that flew into a strip I was on in southern WV a few years ago. One of the pilots said these were birds that were used in the movie Tora, Tora, Tora, and they were AT6's.

I love those old warbirds - exceptional deeds done by exceptional men in that machinery. Whenever I explore the bowels of an old war ship or have been privileged to sit in the cockpit of one of those old birds I'm in awe of what they accomplished with the technology available to them in that day.

[Texas Star]

I watched, "A Bridge Too Far" again last night and was again miffed to see AT-6's dropping bombs on German troops opposing the advance of Lt. Gen. Sir Brian Horrocks's XXX Corps. (An armored column spearheaded by the Irish Guards.) I wanted to see P-47's or Typhoons doing that. But I guess the movie producers couldn't get any, nor Mustangs.

The AT-6 was a trainer, but I think some were furnished to South Vietnam as fighter-bombers. Or I may just be recalling the T-28's so used. They fitted them with a couple of .50's in the wings in that role.

Anyone know if any AT-6's were used that way?

Oh: a more satisfactory aircraft in that movie was a Spitfire that made recon runs that should have detected German tanks. Probably did, although the British commander didn't want to believe a shrewd intelligence officer, as it'd have caused a change of plans and upset that prima donna, Lord Montgomery. So we had the disaster at Arnhem...

I think the Spitfire was a MK IX. It definitely had the double radiators under the wings, which the pilot waggled at a Dutch schoolboy who waved at him.

If you haven't seen this DVD, rent it. It's a superb film, other than subbing AT-6's for Typhoons. Has a massive all-star cast, British, US, and German actors. At least, they painted the AT-6's right.

BTW, when I was a boy, I got to climb inside a B-25 at Abilene AFB. I had aleady read Ted Lawson's, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" and was surprised to see how cramped it was inside that medium bomber. Later, a member of the Thunderbirds let me sit in the cockpit of his F-84F. They probably don't allow that now. And the few B-25's still in service then were soon phased out. I think they were mainly just used as transports for generals who were nostalgic about the old bird.

OH: does anyone know why trainers were painted bright orange? Was it a warning to others that a student pilot might be at the controls?

[Sprefix]

You been watching "In Harms Way" again??

[Texas Star]

Originally Posted by Sprefix

You been watching "In Harms Way" again??

No, haven't seen that one in many years. Not really one of my favorites. Don't own the DVD.

Why? Did they use AT-6's in it? I saw them disguised as Zeros and Kates in, "Tora, Tora, Tora" and, "Peal Harbor", etc.
I like, 'Midway" a lot.

My favorite aircraft movie is probably, "Battle of Britain", although the Spits were mainly later Marks than they had in 1940. And the ME-109's and HE-111's were borrowed from the Spanish Air Force and had Merlin engines! I guess they were lucky to get the planes they did by then. (1969) Great cast, too. Michael Caine, Christopher Plummer, Susannah York, Sir Laurence Olivier, etc. You can sometimes find the DVD for $9.99 at discount stores. A terrific buy!