True, but the F-105 Thud & F-8 Crusader contributed in their own way to MiG parts distribution. Too bad the chicken NVAF MiG drivers stayed down when the F-104's were airborne....they were scared of them. I would have liked to have seen how the Starfighter did against the MiGs.
Unique aircraft
- Thread starter THE PILGRIM
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True, but the F-105 Thud & F-8 Crusader contributed in their own way to MiG parts distribution. Too bad the chicken NVAF MiG drivers stayed down when the F-104's were airborne....they were scared of them. I would have liked to have seen how the Starfighter did against the MiGs.
shaggist
US Veteran
The Baddest One of WWII
My entry is the DeHavilland Mosquito Fighter/Bomber, which, for most of WWII, was the fastest plane in the sky, with speeds up to 439 mph, depending on the variant. It was powered by 2-Rolls Royce Merlin engines(the later Mustangs only had 1), and was the most heavily armed plane of the war. With 4-.303 machine guns, 4-20mm cannons, or 1-6 lb., rapid-firing cannon, 8-rocket rails, and bombs, it was known as the 'tse-tse', as it was a fly with a lot more sting than a mosquito. It served in all theatres in a multiplicity of roles, to include: fighter, fighter-bomber, anti-shipping, reconnaissance, ground attack, night fighter, etc. Made from plywood by England's furniture industry workers, it was virtually invisible to radar, very sturdy, and could outrun anything that got on its tail. Go to Wikipedia for some great images and information about the neatest plane of all times. You'll be glad you did.
My entry is the DeHavilland Mosquito Fighter/Bomber, which, for most of WWII, was the fastest plane in the sky, with speeds up to 439 mph, depending on the variant. It was powered by 2-Rolls Royce Merlin engines(the later Mustangs only had 1), and was the most heavily armed plane of the war. With 4-.303 machine guns, 4-20mm cannons, or 1-6 lb., rapid-firing cannon, 8-rocket rails, and bombs, it was known as the 'tse-tse', as it was a fly with a lot more sting than a mosquito. It served in all theatres in a multiplicity of roles, to include: fighter, fighter-bomber, anti-shipping, reconnaissance, ground attack, night fighter, etc. Made from plywood by England's furniture industry workers, it was virtually invisible to radar, very sturdy, and could outrun anything that got on its tail. Go to Wikipedia for some great images and information about the neatest plane of all times. You'll be glad you did.
Many USMC & USN pilots proved that it's the man driving it. They did plenty of 'sun downing' in the Pacific with the F4F Wildcat vs. Zeros.
We all know the AVG slapped around the imperial air forces with 'inferior' aircraft.
OP
THE PILGRIM
Member
The mosquito was quite a plane. My father-in-law got a Mosquito flight in Africa.
He was carrying his issued 1917, the Brit pilot was carrying a Webley.
He said the Brit took his Webley out of the holster, still attached to the lanyard and laid it on a side panel.
Down flyers have been recently captured and tortured by some of the North Africa nomads.
M3Stuart
Member
jeffsmith
Member
Its possible that B-25 is the solid nose variant that has the 75mm cannon
ancient-one
US Veteran
One oddball not mentioned was the Ryan Fireball. It was powered by a radial engine with a jet engine in the back.
In the 1945 era I was attached to what was called the Emergency Repair facility at NAS North Island. It was there that I saw my first one flying with the prop feathered and making little sound. A little surprising. We had two come in that were supposedly damaged attempting carrier landings on the old Ranger. When I left they were still not completely repaired.
There is a lot of good information plus pictures on Wikipedia.
In the 1945 era I was attached to what was called the Emergency Repair facility at NAS North Island. It was there that I saw my first one flying with the prop feathered and making little sound. A little surprising. We had two come in that were supposedly damaged attempting carrier landings on the old Ranger. When I left they were still not completely repaired.
There is a lot of good information plus pictures on Wikipedia.
Anything is possible. I left the pentagon in early 1966 and I later heard the aircraft had crashed on landing........sometime in the 1970's. All hearsay to me.
Thanks for the Wikipedia link - interesting what happened after I left the project. We had a series of RC-135's doing different work in that area of the planet. This is the only one I have a photo of.......
When I worked with those people the projects were named Wanda Belle, Nancy Rae, and Lisa Ann. This was all way before the "Rivet zzz" series of project names came along.
Those were fun days - before satellites took over most of the games.
Bob R
US Veteran
From the 2010 Fairchild AFB airshow, a privately owned B25 that came over for the weekend.
We are getting ready for our first airshow in 4 years @ FAFB, so maybe by this time next week I will have some new pictures.
bob
Hobie1
Member
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_X-1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_X-15 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37
Unique to say the least.
Hobie
Unique to say the least.
Hobie
Last edited:
cmort666
Member
I've got the Squadron-Signal miniature "In-Action" book on the Fireball.
It was an interesting plane. The Germans and the Soviets had similar designs, none of which went into production.
OFT II
US Veteran
"Fireball" is not a good name to give an aircraft.
cmort666
Member
Not well, as much as I love the Star Fighter, the Mig would have had him in the first two or three turns, the 104 had a very small thin wing, not at all a dog-fighter, but very fast and very HOT, the J-79 is famous for its "moan" and 104s are very pretty airplanes, held several time to climb records though, in fact the Migs could out-turn both the phantom and the 105, now the A-7, younger sibling of the F-8 crusader was known as the "gunfighter" and it would turn and burn! Poor Air to Air performance against the Migs is what prompted the Air Force to buy the F-15, and the Navy to opt for the swing-wing F-14..
Billy, I thought the F-8 crusader was known as "the last gunfighter". I could be wrong but I have always thought that. But what do I know I was just a young Navy brat back then.
Bob-I do have my dad's cruise books from back then and they have some very interesting pictures. He was on the Ticonderoga, Kitty Hawk, Independence and FDR aircraft carriers. He was a Chief Petty Officer for quite a while. Yeah he was a "lifer". He is really "OLD NAVY" too.
Bob-I do have my dad's cruise books from back then and they have some very interesting pictures. He was on the Ticonderoga, Kitty Hawk, Independence and FDR aircraft carriers. He was a Chief Petty Officer for quite a while. Yeah he was a "lifer". He is really "OLD NAVY" too.
OP
THE PILGRIM
Member
It was called the last gunfighter. That's because the Navy Replaced it with F-4 which had no gun.
Then the Air Force bought the F-4, no gun. later the Air Force started carrying a external gun pod. Then the Air Force bought the F-4E which finally did have a M-60 Gatling gun.
The crusader had an excellent record against the North Vietnamese MIGs, using guns and missiles.
Here's a crusader over at Tucson.
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