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Antarctic Mayday by Stan Stokes. In 1946 Admiral Richard Byrd lead a 4,000-man mission to Antarctica to map the continent. This was the fourth of Byrds polar explorations, and his most ambitious. The expedition was named, Operation High Jump. One of the ships involved was the USS Pine Island, a PBM seaplane tender under the command of H.H. Caldwell. The three PBMs of the Pine Island were given the task of photo mapping the eastern side of the Antarctic continent, and the ship had moved as far south as possible to establish a base of operations. The ship anchored on the leeward side of a huge iceberg to provide a suitable area for the launch and recovery of the PBMs. The first flight was made by George-1 on December 30, 1946 without incident. The second flight of this aircraft with a different crew would prove to be a life and death struggle. Under the command of Ralph Frenchy LeBlanc, co-piloted by Bill Kearns, and with Captain Caldwell aboard as an observer, the second flight of George-1 began under hazardous sea conditions and at times near zero visibility conditions due to snowstorms. The aircraft was approximately 200 miles from the coast. Because of the bad visibility Kearns was preparing to execute a 180 degree turn and return to the Pine Island, when George-1 crashed into a giant snowdrift. The aircraft was ripped apart by the crash, and a fire began almost immediately. Three of the nine on board perished in the crash. LeBlanc was pulled from the burning cockpit by Jim Robbins and some of the other survivors, none of which were without some injury. The six survivors of George-1 now faced an indeterminate amount of time before any rescue might be possible. Fortunately, the six survivors showed solid American ingenuity, and went about the business of surviving and caring for the injured in the best way possible. With no working radio, the group had no way of knowing if help would ever reach them. It would be 13-days before the survivors would be spotted by the pilot of George-2 Jimmy Ball. Balls crew spotted a signal fire which the survivors had ignited when the second Mariner passed within several miles of the crash site. George-2 dropped supplies for the survivors and a message that a pick-up might be possible if the group could move about six miles to the coast. The trek was not easy, but the survivors finally made it and were picked up by George-3. This limited edition by Stan Stokes is dedicated to the memory of the three men who did not survive the crash; Max Lopez, W.K. Hendersin, and F.W. Williams, and to the commander of George-1, the late Frenchy LeBlanc. Frenchy lost both his legs as a result of the tragedy, but maintained a determination and a sense of humor which has both inspired and motivated the survivors of this Antarctic Mayday for the fifty years which have passed since that fateful day in 1946. |
Downed but not Forgotten by Stan Stokes. Douglas Aircraft delivered to the Navy Test Center an aircraft for testing in April 1945. This aircraft would prove to be the last of the great single engine propeller driven warbirds. Its simplicity of maintenance, excellent flight characteristics, and overall performance were all rated very good to excellent. In May, with WW II still underway the Navy entered a production order for 600 aircraft. In 1946 the aircraft was renamed the Skyraider. Powered by a 2,500 HP R-3350-24W engine turning a 4-bladed 13.5 foot prop the AD-1 Skyraider was capable of carrying 4,000 pounds of bombs and/or wing loaded rockets. Improvements continued with future variants, and when equipped with a 3,020 HP power plant, the Skyraiders payload capacity increased to a whopping 6,500 pounds, with a top speed of 328 knots. As one of the largest single engine propeller aircraft ever built, the Skyraider saw plenty of action during the Korean conflict. The AD-6 variant was produced in quantity (713), and saw plenty of service in Vietnam with the Navy, Marine Corps., USAF, and Vietnam Air Force. Despite the availability of high performance jet aircraft, the Skyraider proved its value on numerous occasions in Vietnam by providing close in support of ground troops. Colonel Bernard Fisher is depicted in Stan Stokes painting during a mission in the A Shau Valley on March 10, 1966. A US Special Forces camp had faced several days of heavy attack by a large force of North Vietnamese troops, who had brought in ack-ack guns in anticipation of Air Force support. The monsoon season was still underway, and the North Vietnamese knew that this would also hinder American air support. Jet aircraft were of little use due to the low ceilings, and an AC-47 gunship and helicopter had both been downed while making low passes. A1-E Skyraiders from the 1st Air Commando Squadron at Pleiku were scrambled to support the Special Forces. During the second day in support of the A Shau battle, one Skyraider, piloted by Col. Dafford Jump Myers, was severely damaged, and in flames. The only alternative was an emergency landing on the airstrip in the lower-valley camp. Fisher, guided the stricken aircraft in for a belly landing. Failing to jettison his 300 gallon drop tank, Myers Skyraider landed in a ball of flame as it skidded down the make shift runway. Myers successfully escaped the burning wreckage, but was within yards of enemy ground forces. Fisher and several other Skyraiders made several low passes laying down strafing fire and dropping ordnance. With any chance of helicopter rescue many minutes away, Col. Fisher took matters into his own hands and landed his own aircraft on the damaged and refuse-laden landing strip, successfully rescuing his downed comrade. Fishers Skyraider received 19 bullet holes, and for his heroic efforts Col. Fisher became the first USAF officer to receive the Medal of Honor in Southeast Asia. Col. Fisher now resides in Idaho. |
An Interesting Dog Fight by Stan Stokes. October 23, 1942 was a typical day for American troops at Esprito Santo, but for the crew of a B-17 Flying Fortress it would become a most memorable day. Early that morning the Japanese began shelling the field. Lt. Ed Loberg, a former farm boy from Wisconsin, was ordered to take his B-17 up for a reconnaissance mission to determine where the Japanese guns may be located. Not finding anything they returned to the field. The brakes failed on the B-17 upon landing, and they hit several parked Navy aircraft. Fortunately for Lobergs crew a 100 pound bomb dislodged in the crash did not explode. Later that day the crew boarded another B-17 and went hunting out to sea. Around mid-day the crew noticed a PBY being attacked by a Kawanishi H6K Mavis flying boat. Diving the B-17 straight down, the Mavis and the Flying Fortress soon entered a rain squall. The windows were black with clouds and rain, and the plane was buffeted by strong winds. Emerging from the squall at low altitude into blinding sunlight the B-17 emerged only fifty feet from their adversary. Immediately every gun on both aircraft began firing in a broadside exchange reminiscent of age old sailing ship battles. Thousands of bullets criss-crossed the narrow spread of air, and the Fortress shuddered from the impact. Tracer bullets from the B-17 pelted the Mavis like darts with many ricocheting off its armor. The Mavis made a tight turn, and Loberg turned inside him to avoid the mortal sting from the Mavis tail guns. In and out of rain squalls this interesting dogfight continued for 45 minutes. The Mavis kept very close to the wave tops to protect is vulnerable under belly. Several times during the fight the Mavis disappeared for three or four minutes into clouds, but each time as it reemerged Lobergs B-17 resumed the attack. Twice the B-17 passed over the H6K so close that the jagged bullet holes in the Mavis and the round glasses on its two pilots could be seen clearly. Finally, the Mavis began smoking, and the Japanese plane dropped into the sea and exploded in a large ball of flame. In the words of Ira Wolfert, a war correspondent, who was on the flight; During the duel, the Fort that I was on, with a bullet in one of its motors, and two holes as big as Derby hats in its wings, made tight turns with half-rolls and banks past vertical. That is, it frequently stood against the sea on one wing like a ballet dancer balancing on one point, and occasionally it went over even farther than that and started lifting its belly toward the sky in desperate effort to keep the Jap from turning inside it... Throughout the entire forty-four minutes, the plane, one of the oldest being used in the war, ran at top speed, shaking and rippling all over like a skirt in a gale, so many inches of mercury being blown into its motors by the superchargers that the pilot and co-pilot, in addition to their other worries, had to keep an eye on the cowlings to watch for cylinder heads popping up through them. Others on Lobergs crew that day were B. Thurston the co-pilot, R Spitzer the navigator, R. Mitchell the bombadier and E. Gustafson , E. Jung, G. Holbert , E. Smith, and P. Butterbaugh who manned the guns during this unusual dogfight. Both Mitchell and Spitzer were wounded during the battle. |
Herky's Big Day by Stan Stokes. The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, or Jug7 as it was more popularly called, was the mount of many of the American aces of WW 11. The P-47 represented the crowning achievement from two aircraft designers, Alexander Kartvelli and Alexander De Seversky, both immigrants from Russia. It came on the heels of two other aircraft, the P-35 and P-43, which were satisfactory pre-war designs, but not up to the new standards required to compete against Bf-109 fighters in Europe or Mitsbushi Zeroes in the Pacific. The P-47 was the largest and heaviest single seat American fighter of the War. Powered by a huge 2000-HP radial engine, more than 15,000 Jugs were produced. The first production variant was the P-47B which had a razorback fuselage. During tests the aircraft attained a speed of 429-MPH with a maximum range at 10,000 feet of 835 miles. Later variants included a C and D model with the razorback fuselage. Belly tanks and wing tanks became standard equipment as the range of this fighter was stretched for bomber escort missions in Europe. In mid- 1943 one of the biggest pilot complaints about the aircraft was remedied when a bubble top canopy and redesigned fuselage was incorporated into the D model. This dramatically improved rearward vision of the pilots. These aircraft were armed with 8 machine guns, and could carry up to 2500 pounds of additional fuel or ordinance. Herschel Herky Green was one of the top USAAF aces in Europe with a total of 18 confirmed aerial victories (3 in P-40s, 10 in P-47s, and 5 in P-5 Is.) Green was born in 1920 in Mayfield, Kentucky. While studying mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt University he learned to fly in the Civilian Pilot Training Program. He joined the Army as an aviation cadet in 1941 and earned his wings an a commission at Foster Field in 1942. One of Greens first assignments was flying P40s in North Africa. He scored a total of three victories in P-40s before his squadron transitioned to the Jug. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Herkys Big Day, Green downed six enemy aircraft on one mission over Northern Italy on January 30, 1944. Greens flight initially encountered a group of Ju-52 transports, and Green bagged four of them. About thirty minutes later the ace encountered a lone Macchi 202. In a low level turning duel Green eventually got in position and nailed the Italian fighter. Its wing dipped, caught the ground, and sent the Macchi into a terrible cartwheel of destruction. Heading home Green encountered a Do-217, which quickly became victim number 6. Green went on to later add four more P-47 victories, and after his group changed to the P-51 he scored an additional five, making him an ace in both the Jug and the Mustang. Green remained in the Air Force following the War, serving as Deputy Commander of the 4th Fighter Group at Selfridge Field. He also held a number of important staff positions prior to his retirement in 1964. Since that time he has been a successful businessman. Greens numerous decorations include the Distinguished Service Cross, Silver Star, Distinguished Flying Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, The Air Medal with 25 Oak Leaf Clusters, and the French Croix de Guerre with Palm. Green resides in Southern California. |
The War Up North by Stan Stokes. The fighting in the Aleutian Island chain has largely been neglected by many WW II historians, as has the role of the Lockheed Ventura. The Ventura was a high performance aircraft and not that easy to learn to fly. Like the B-26 Marauder the Ventura earned a poor reputation from pilots and crews during training, but eventually became an unqualified success in the field. Despite an uncertain debut for this aircraft, during the last two and a half years of the War Venturas played a major role in the Pacific War. The Ventura was a follow-on to the successful Lockheed Hudson that had been purchased by the RAF. Whereas the Hudson was a militarized version of the Model 14 the Ventura was a militarized version of the Model 18 Lodestar. The Ventura utilized powerful 2000-HP Double Wasp radials and the designers utilized a paddle-style propeller. The paddle props coupled with the closeness of the engine nacelles to the fuselage gave the Ventura a distinctive sound. The Ventura was well armed and could carry a decent bomb load, and was fast enough to avoid many encounters with opposing fighters. The Ventura entered combat with the RAF in December of 1942. Despite the 300-MPH plus speed of the Ventura, the RAF became disenchanted with the Ventura as a low altitude attack bomber, and the USAAF stepped in to pick up the RAF production. The USAAF designated some early Venturas as B-34s and some later variants as B-37s. The US Navy negotiated an agreement with the USAAF to acquire some Venturas as a compliment to its force of PBY Catalina amphibians. The Catalinas were slow and vulnerable to attack, and the Navy felt that a fast land-based reconnaissance and patrol plane would be helpful. The Ventura also had enough offensive firepower to be utilized in the pinch as an attack bomber on enemy supply depots. The Navy adopted the PV designation for the aircraft (P for patrol and V for Vega - the division of Lockheed that produced the aircraft.) Some 1600 PV-1s were produced for the Navy between 1942 and May of 1944. The Navy added fuel capacity - giving the PV-1 a combat radius of 1600 miles. They also modified the nose of the aircraft. The bomb capacity was 3000 pounds and it was possible to carry a single torpedo in the bomb bay. The first Navy deployment of the Ventura was to the Aleutians in April 1943 (VB-135 and VB-136.) These squadrons perfected radar-bombing missions and on two other occasions attacking forces of Japanese Betty Bombers were turned back by Navy Venturas. The wicked flying weather in the Aleutians took as great a toll on our forces as did the enemy. Stan Stokes painting is intended as a tribute to those that fought in the War Up North. |
In the Talons of Eagles by Stan Stokes. The McDonnel Douglas F-15 Eagle has been the USAFs primary air superiority fighter for more than two decades. McDonnell Douglas won the competition to develop this aircraft in 1969 over competing proposals from North American Rockwell and Fairchild Hiller. The Eagle was designed to counter the threat of new Soviet fighters like the Mig-25. The first development versions of the Eagle flew in 1972. Designed as a single pilot, twin-turbofan, all weather fighter, the Eagle had far superior acceleration and maneuverability compared to the aircraft it would replace. The F-15A was capable of speeds in excess of 1600-MPH and had an operational ceiling of nearly 70,000 feet. Although the attack role was a secondary design consideration, the Eagle can carry an impressive bomb load of more than eight tons (externally mounted.) The F-15 is a large, very sophisticated aircraft, whereas the General Dynamics F-16, a much simpler, smaller, and less complicated design, was planned to compliment the F-15. On the morning of January 17, 1991 a USAF strike force comprised of F-16s, F-15s, F-4G Wild Weasels, and EF-111s left its airbase at Tabuk and headed for their target area the Al Taqaddum Airfield. Leading a group of eight F-15 Eagles on this mission was USMC Capt. Charles Magill, who was on exchange with the Air Force. On their way to the target area the F-15s from the 58th Tactical Fighter Squadron of the 33rd Tactical Fighter Wing received information from an E-3 AWACS aircraft than a pair of Iraqi Mig-29s were just south of the intended target area. When the Migs turned and became a threat to the task force, Captain Magill split his flight into two four aircraft formations. As he took his flight towards the Migs, the other four F-15s continued to sweep the area for other bogies. As the two Migs turned back into them at a low altitude, Magill fired two AIM-7M Sparrows from a higher altitude at his target. Magill bagged one of the Migs while the second was downed by Captain Rhory Dreger. As a result of their successes during Operation Desert Storm the 58th TFS received the 1990 Hughes Achievement award as the Air Forces most outstanding air-to-air combat squadron. In the hands of some of Americas best pilots, the F-15 Eagle has proven its capabilities against the finest. |
Fallen Eagle by Stan Stokes. The McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk was designed by Ed Heinemann as a successor to the Skyraider attack bomber. The prototype aircraft first flew in 1954. The diminutive Skyhawk was only 42 feet in length, with a carrier friendly wingspan of 27 feet. The Skyhawk was capable of speeds close to 700 MPH, and was produced in several variants through 1979. The Skyhawk was utilized extensively in Vietnam for ground attack and support. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting entitled Fallen Eagle, the A-4 of a young Navy aviator, Everett Alvarez, has just taken off from the USS Constellation at 2:30 PM on August 5, 1964. Alvarez, a native of Salinas California, had attended the University of Santa Clara before joining the Navy. It was a day that Alvarez would not soon forget. About midnight that day the destroyers USS Maddox and USS Turner Joy were under attack from North Vietnamese patrol boats in international waters sixty miles off the coast of North Vietnam. Alvarez unit, the VA-144 Roadrunners, had been scrambled to assist the destroyers, but terrible weather conditions prevented any action. Washington decided to retaliate against these attacks by authorizing the first bombardment of North Vietnam on August 5, 1964. On that day twenty-two aircraft from the USS Ticonderoga attacked North Vietnam military targets at 1:15 PM. Only one aircraft was damaged during this first wave, and its pilot successfully made it back to an airfield in South Vietnam. The USS Constellation would provide a second wave involving 10 Skyhawks, 4 Skyraiders, and a single F-4 to provide fighter cover. Alvarez target was the harbor at Hon Gai, where his mission was to destroy any military patrol boats in the harbor. The lumbering Skyraiders were launched early, and Alvarez was the first of the ten Skyhawks off the Constellation. The Skyhawks rendezvoused at 20,000 feet before climbing to 30,000 feet for the seventy-five minute flight to the target area. Alvarez A-4 was equipped with a belly pod of 19 rockets. The Skyhawks streaked in over the harbor at 500 MPH in a shallow dive. Four torpedo boats and a larger coastal patrol ship were in the harbor. Alvarez made two passes over the harbor, and as he was passing over the southern edge of the town he saw a yellow flash to the port side of his windscreen accompanied by a popping sound. Seconds later the A-4 shook violently, and all the warning lights came on. The cockpit began to fill with smoke and the stick froze. With a final radio transmission, Im getting out! Ill see you guys later!, Alvarez pulled his ejection ring. Within seconds he was in the water. Picked-up minutes later by some very nervous fisherman, Everett Alvarez would become the first pilot shot down and captured over North Vietnam. It would be eight-and-one-half years later that Alvarez would be released, having endured hardships which would have broken anyone of less than the highest faith and courage. Everett Alvarez retired from the Navy in 1980, and was later a Deputy Director of the Peace Corps, and Deputy Director of the Veterans Administration. |
Angels and Knights by Stan Stokes. In 1946 Navy brass selected Lt. Cdr. Roy Butch Voris, a fighter pilot with WW II experience, to organize a flight exhibition team. The twenty-six-year-old Voris wasted no time in forming his team, and developed an exciting low altitude acrobatic demonstration utilizing the F6F Hellcat fighter. Recognizing the need for a minimum of distractions, Voris selected only bachelors for his embryonic flight team. When the group put on their first demonstration, Voris commanding officer called them a bunch of crazy S.O.B.s who were going to kill themselves. Nonetheless, the show was impressive and the Navy moved ahead. Lacking a name for this new group a contest was held, but no names were submitted which the pilots all liked. One day Voris #2 - Wick Wickendall - saw an ad for a night club called the Blue Angel in a magazine. From that day forward the name Blue Angels was official. The team quickly transitioned to the faster F8 Bearcat, but when the Korean War began, the group was temporarily disbanded, and its pilots formed the nucleus of VF-191 Satans Kittens. Following the war Voris was asked again to reactivate the team, this time utilizing the Panther jet. In 1955 the Angels transitioned to their first supersonic aircraft the F-8 Cougar. In 1957 they switched to the F-11, and in 1969 they began flying the F-4 Phantom II. Plagued with maintenance difficulties the group dropped the F-4 in 1974 in favor of the diminutive A-4 Skyhawk. In 1985 the Blue Angels began utilizing the McDonnel Douglas F/A-18 Hornet, one of the most capable fighter and attack aircraft in the world. Flying at speeds in the 400-500 MPH range with only 36 inches of separation during most of their shows, the pilot are subject to G forces equal to eight times the weight of gravity. However, the Blue Angels perform without the use of G-suits. The Blues are made up of an all volunteer group. Pilots typically have 8-10 years of fighter experience (1500 or more hours), are carrier qualified, and have had time as instructors. The Blue Angels follow an intensive training program. They fly six days a week, with only a 2-3 week break in November of each year. The Blue Angel pilots and their ground support crew spend about 300 days a year away from home. The support team, which flies from show to show in a specially modified C-130 nicknamed Fat Albert, is of vital importance. A Blue Angels show has never been canceled due to a maintenance or equipment problem, and no spectators have ever been injured during a demonstration. In 1992 the Blue Angels were given the opportunity of visiting the former Soviet Union to become the first American flight demonstration team to perform over Moscow. This was a significant event as it truly signified the change taking place in the former Soviet Union, and the new post Cold War relationship which was evolving. Lead by Cdr. Greg Wooldridge, the Blue Angels took Moscow by storm. A series of exchange flights took place with the Russian pilots having their first exposure to American-built aircraft, and the Blue Angels having opportunity to fly in SU-27s and Mig-31s, two of the hottest Russian aircraft. As depicted in Stan Stokes highly-detailed painting entitled Angels and Knights, a Blue Angel F/A-18 and a Russian Knight SU-27 make a low altitude pass over Red Square, in a symbolic gesture signifying the end of the Cold War. |
Midway: The Turning Point by Stan Stokes. The Battle of Midway in June of 1942 marked the turning point in the War in the Pacific, and the Douglas SBD Dauntless was the aircraft which provided the punch in this decisive victory for America. The SBD, which earned the nickname Slow, But Deadly, entered service with the USN and USMC in 1940. Powered by a 1,000 HP, 9-cylinder, Cyclone radial engine the SBD was capable of a maximum speed of 250 MPH. The Dauntless could stay airborne for a long time with its 1,300 mile range and slow cruising speed, and it was capable of delivering a 1,200 pound bomb load. Because of its slow speed the SBD needed armament to discourage attack by enemy fighters. Two forward firing machine guns and either one or two rear firing guns mounted in the gunners cockpit behind the pilot, gave the SBD enough firepower to make it a challenging target for enemy fighters. The Japanese plan for invading Midway, a strategically-located small island about 1,100 miles northwest of Hawaii, involved the use of a decoy fleet which would feign an invasion of the Aleutians, while the main fleet consisting of approximately 100 ships and four aircraft carriers would carryout the invasion. Based on intelligence reports the US Navy was ready for Adm. Yamamoto this time. The American force totaled 25 ships including the carriers Hornet, Enterprise, and Yorktown. Air power was about even, because the U.S. could count on nearly 100 land-based aircraft on Midway itself. About 1/3rd of the U.S. air power was represented by SBDs. During the first exchanges, American attacks on the Japanese invasion fleet with both land-based and carrier-based aircraft were repulsed with substantial losses. These low-level torpedo attacks focused the attention of both Japanese fighter pilots and AA gunners on the horizon. Lacking effective radar, the Japanese fleet would prove to be unprepared for a high altitude attack by swarms of SBDs on June 4, 1942. The timing proved perfect as the Japanese carriers were laden with fully fueled and armed aircraft being readied for a second wave. As depicted in Stan Stokes dramatic painting the 1,000 pounder of Paul Lefty Holmbergs SBD penetrates the carrier deck of the Soryu while Holmberg pulls out of his dive. Right behind Holmberg is another SBD of VB-3 from the USS Yorktown. SBDs from the Yorktown and its sister ship the Enterprise destroyed three Japanese carriers in a matter of minutes during this battle. While the Yorktown was later lost in the Battle, all four Japanese carriers were eventually destroyed including many of Japans most experienced naval aviators. The rugged and effective Dauntless, the only USN aircraft to remain in service through the entire war, was responsible for destroying more enemy shipping than any other aircraft during WW II. |
Fast Cats by Stan Stokes. The F8F Bearcat and the F7F Tigercat were the final family members in Grummans fabulous series of prop driven USN fighter aircraft. The F7F Tigercat evolved from the work of a three-man design team at Grumman, which included Bob Hall, Dick Hutton, and Gordon Israel. The Navy gave an OK to the development of a prototype in mid-1941, however it would not be until April 1944 that the first production Tigercat was delivered. The Navy planned to use the first two hundred F7Fs as night fighters, but due to unsatisfactory carrier suitability trials; the decision was made to scale back the order and equip only shore-based Marine squadrons with this aircraft. Performance tests of the first production F7Fs were impressive. The F7F was almost 80-MPH faster than an F4U Corsair in level flight at sea level. As WW II wound down, the USN changed its plans for the F7F. Newer variants were developed with the most common being the F7F-3N. The 3N was the first F7F to pass carrier qualification on the USS Shangri La in February of 1946. The final variant was the F7F-4N that included a taller rudder, a stronger wing and fuselage, and improved landing gear and tailhook. During the Korean War these aircraft were utilized in the night fighter role. The F8F was the successor to the successful F6F Hellcat fighter which was the US Navys primary fighter during most of WW II. Grummans test pilot, Bob Hall recommended to Grummans President that the successor to the F6F be small and lightweight and faster than anything flying at that time. In competition with both Curtis and Boeing, the Grumman design utilized a 2,100-HP Pratt and Whitney radial engine driving an enormous propeller more than twelve feet in diameter. The prop was so large that the Bearcat needed very tall landing gear. During its early testing the Bearcat was capable of speeds in excess of 440-MPH. The F8F was ordered into production in mid-1944, and the Navy wanted all the Bearcats it could get before November of 1945, which was the presumed date for an invasion of Japan. One interesting design feature of the initial production Bearcats was a break-away section at each wing tip, which was designed to break-off if overstressed, in order to prevent a catastrophic failure of the complete wing. Also unique was the utilization of a bubble canopy, the first on a Navy aircraft. On February 17, 1945 LCDR Robert Elder flew the F8F in its first carrier suitability trials on the USS Charger. Despite terrible weather conditions, Elder made fifteen successful arrested landings. The F8F passed these trials with flying colors. Too late to see action in WW II, the F8F would also see service in Korea, in both the reconnaissance and night fighting roles. In Stan Stokes painting an F8F accompanies an F7F-4N during the carrier qualification of the F7F-4N on the USS Franklin Roosevelt (CV-42) in 1946. |
T-Birds by Stan Stokes. In his very nostalgic mid-fifties painting appropriately entitled T-Birds, highly-acclaimed aviation artist Stan Stokes portrays a 1955 Ford Thunderbird on the tarmac next to a T-33 T-Bird jet trainer, while four USAF Thunderbirds roar by over head flying their F-100Cs. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird was Fords response to the introduction in 1953 of the Corvette by General Motors. The Thunderbird incorporated a powerful V-8 engine compared to the Corvettes 6 cylinder power plant, and with its contemporary styling the Thunderbird outsold the Corvette in 1955. Late in 1955 Ford made the distinctive porthole removable hardtop available, solving the poor visibility problem encountered with the original hardtop. The 1955 Ford Thunderbird is generally acknowledged to be one of the ten most significant American automobiles introduced in the 20th century. The T-33 was the USAFs first jet trainer designed from the start as a training aircraft. Nearly 6,000 T-33 T-Birds were produced and this reliable aircraft remained in service for more than forty years. The T-33 first flew in 1949 and production by Lockheed continued until 1959. The T-33 was derived from the F-80 Shooting Star, and became Lockheeds second biggest selling aircraft, second only to the P-38 Lightning. The T-33 was approximately 38 feet in both length and wingspan and was capable of speeds of around 550 MPH. There were very few military pilots in the U.S. between 1955 and 1980 which did not have some time in a T-33. The two seat T-33s, as depicted in Mr. Stokes painting, were often utilized for VIP flights for journalists prior to USAF Thunderbird performances. The F-100, also nicknamed the Hun, debuted in 1953. The F-100 was designed from the onset as a supersonic fighter. Initial flight testing revealed instability at supersonic speeds, and modifications were made to the initial production models which included larger wingspan, and larger fin and rudder areas. The F-100Cs shown in the painting were flown by the USAF Thunderbird precision flying team for several years. The C model was the fastest of all Super Sabres, although the D model was produced in the largest numbers with nearly 1,300 being produced. The Super Sabre was equipped for aerial refueling, a novelty at the time, but something which became mandatory for future generations of jet combat aircraft. |
Ace in a Day by Stan Stokes. A new U.S. Navy fighter squadron designated VF-11 was organized in August 1942. The new squadron received several combat tested pilots, and many newcomers, including Vernon E. Graham, a Colorado native. After two months of training in San Diego the new squadron deployed to Maui, where, under the command of Charles Fenton, the squadron commenced a comprehensive training program. While in Hawaii several of VF-11s pilots came up with a squadron insignia which depicted two Grumman F4F Wildcats blasting a rising sun into the Pacific. Thus VF- 11 became known as the Sun Downers. The Sun Downers first combat tour would be land-based, flying out of Guadacanal with the Marines. This was a bit upsetting to some member of the squadron as the Marines were flying the state-of-the-art F4U Corsair, while VF-11 was equipped with the older Grumman F4F Wildcat, an aircraft somewhat inferior in dog fighting capability to the Japanese Zero. During the first several weeks of its first combat tour the Sun Downers had more than their share of misfortune. Several aircraft were lost without enemy opposition. This was all to change in a hurry for the young Vern Graham. Graham had flown about thirty missions without incident. Returning from a long escort mission Graham and his formation of sixteen Wildcats responded to a request for help from four Marine Corsairs which had encountered nearly forty Japanese Zeros while on patrol near Russell Island. Only eight of the Wildcats had sufficient fuel to engage the enemy. Disregarding his critical fuel situation, Graham and his wing man got involved in assisting the Marines. Graham bagged his first Zero with a diving attack while his adversary was more preoccupied with the Corsair he was tailing. Minutes later a second Zero succumbed to a high side attack, and a third exploded in mid-air during a head-on pass. Graham bagged two more prior to his engine quitting due to lack of fuel. Without power Graham was a sitting duck, and in no time two Zeros were on his tail. Fortunately, Grahams Marine buddies bagged one and chased the other off. In serious trouble, Grahams only hope was to glide his Wildcat to Russell Island where an emergency airstrip was available. Not knowing that one of his wheels had been shot away during the engagement, Grahams Wildcat flipped over during the emergency landing. Knocked unconscious with a fractured skull, Graham was cut from the wreckage of his F4F, and sent to a military hospital. With five confirmed aerial victories during this single mission, Graham had achieved the unusual distinction of becoming An Ace in a Day. Vern received the Navy Cross and returned to the States to recover. He would later return to active flying after requalifying in the F41J Corsair. During its first combat tour the Sun Downers attained 55 aerial victories. Four of the new squadrons pilots became aces, and five of the squadrons forty pilots (C.G. Boswell, C.G. Cary, L.W. Childs, T.L. Hull, and G.W. Ricker) were killed in action. It is in their memory that this limited edition print is dedicated. |
Mauled by a Marauder by Stan Stokes. The B-26 Marauder, dubbed the widow maker by its detractors, was developed by the Glen L. Martin Company beginning in 1939. The first B-26 was completed in November of 1940. The early models had very high wing loading, and were tricky to fly. Added armament increased weight even further leading to an alarming rate of accidents during training. Increasing engine power, wingspan and rudder height solved many of the problems. The B-26 was capable of speeds in excess of 320-MPH, and with a normal crew compliment of six and a bomb load of 4,000 pounds the aircraft, had a range in excess of 1100 miles. Despite the controversy surrounding the B-26, the aircraft served admirably during WW II, and in fact had the lowest loss ratio of any American aircraft. The 386th Bomb Group was organized on December 1, 1942 under the command of Lt. Col. Lester J. Maitland. The 386th, known as The Crusaders, trained at MacDill Field near Tampa Florida. The accident rate during training of earlier B-26 units was alarmingly high, leading to the phrase one a day in Tampa Bay. With improved training methods for both flight and maintenance crews, and with improvements to the B-26s engines and electrical systems, the accident rate began to decline, and the 386th attained 10,000 flight hours of training without an accident. The Crusaders went to Lake Charles, Louisiana for the second phase of their training. On April 20, 1943 the Crusaders completed their training and crews were dispatched to either Selfridge Field in Michigan or the Martin plant in Omaha to pick-up their B-26Bs and Cs for the long flight to England. The 386th had an incredible combat record, flying 409 combat missions against Axis targets such as bridges, railroad yards, and other tactical targets. Most bombing missions were done at an altitude of 10,000-13,000 feet. On 11/29/43 the Crusaders flew a mission which was very memorable for the crew of Sexation. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, appropriately entitled Mauled by Marauders, the Sexation was attacked by several German Fw-190 and Bf-109 fighters. With the loss of one engine, significant wing damage, and hydraulic system failure, Sexation was a sitting duck. However, Bill Norris, the tail gunner on the B-26, kept the fighters at bay, shooting down 3 enemy fighters and one probable on the mission. This made Norris the top gun of the 386th. The crew was able to nurse the aircraft back to England where they made a belly landing. Both Norris and the aircrafts commander, Pete LaFramboise, received the Silver Star for this mission. This print is dedicated to the memory of Col. Maitland and the 191 Crusaders who made the ultimate sacrifice for their country during WW II. |
Second Wave to Baghdad by Stan Stokes. The F-117A was developed by the Lockheed Advanced Development Projects team, better known as the Skunk Works. This was a top secret program, and the aircraft flew for several years before its existence was known to the public. Early work on the project began in 1977 with the development of two 60% scale aircraft. Under the code name Have Blue the two prototype scale aircraft were built in a matter of months at Lockheeds Burbank facility. The first test flight was made in early 1978 by Bill Park. The Have Blue aircraft proved undetectable by any airborne radar in existence other than that on an E-3 AWACS. The F-117A was authorized into production in 1978. It is one of the most unique looking aircraft in the world because it was designed as a stealth aircraft. It is made of geometrically flat panes with sharply swept wings. The facing of the aircrafts fuselage results in the disbursement of much of the radar energy which strikes the F-117A. Radar absorbing materials are used throughout and the propulsion system was ingeniously designed to dramatically reduce the aircrafts infrared footprint. The F-117A is a fairly large bird for a single seat aircraft with its 65 ft length and 43 ft wingspan. It reportedly handles well with flight characteristics similar to other delta wing aircraft like the F-106. The F-117A is capable of high subsonic flight (646 MPH) and has a range of approximately 1000 miles. The aircraft is equipped for aerial refueling. The F-117A is powered by two GE F404-F1D2 engines which are non-after burning versions of the engines used in the F/A-18. The bomb capacity is a total of 4,000 pounds. Designed to operate as a covert aircraft providing surgical first strikes against heavily defended radar and communications centers the F-117A was put to the test during Operation Desert Storm. The 37th Tactical Fighter Wing, under the command of USAF Col. Alton C. Whitley, Jr., flew the first strike missions against Baghdad, hitting important communications and control centers, radar sites, and antiaircraft batteries. Utilizing laser guided 2,000 LB bombs, about thirty F-117As participated in the first nights attacks. Despite an enormous amount of anti-aircraft fire, the F-117As under Whitleys command carried out their missions flawlessly, and not a single aircraft was lost to enemy fire. The Stealth fighters blinded the eyes and crushed the nerve centers of the Iraqi Air Forces during these missions, making it possible for other aircraft to carry out their missions with less likelihood of Iraqi opposition. A total of 1,271 sorties were flown by F-117As with a success rate of 80% during the war. One of the more impressive attacks was captured on film and showed a deep penetration laser guided bomb being guided through the top of an elevator shaft on the roof of the ten-story building which housed the Iraqi Air Forces headquarters. The bomb penetrated deep into the structure before detonating and blowing out all four walls of the structure. While the F-117A is no longer a secret weapon, its effectiveness may hopefully serve as a deterrent to future possible conflicts. |
Wings Over Waikiki by Stan Stokes. The Consolidated PBY Catalina, the sea going flying workhorse of the US Navy during WW II, is with no doubt the most successful flying boat ever produced. Produced for more than ten years, it was built in greater numbers (3,300) than any other flying boat in history. In the early days of aviation flying boats made a lot of sense because of the relatively limited number of prepared airfields. Any estuary, river, or lake could become an airfield for an aircraft designed as a flying boat. Consolidated Aircraft got into the flying boat business rather late in the game. In 1928 the company won a bid to produce a prototype of a new high-wing monoplane flying boat for the Navy which would utilize aluminum in its fabrication. The XPY prototype was successfully flown in early 1929, but the Glen L. Martin Co., one of the pioneers in flying boat production, won the production contract. Not deterred by this setback, Consolidated utilized the expertise it had developed on this project to introduce a commercial 28-passenger flying boat called the Commodore. This aircraft was utilized by a number of airlines including Pan Am. Concurrent with work on the Commodore the Consolidated design team set about developing an improved version of the XPY. This design (the P2Y-1) had an enclosed cockpit, and was designed to handle either two or three engines. A total of 47 P2Ys were put in service. As production commenced on the P2Y, Consolidated began work on another improved flying boat which would be considerably larger than the P2Y. The prototype of this new aircraft (the XPY-3) utilized retractable wing floats. In 1935 Consolidated won the initial production order for the first PBY-1s in 1935. In 1936 another fifty aircraft were ordered as the PBY-2 derivative. A PBY-2 based in Hawaii is depicted in its pre-war markings over Diamond Head, in Stan Stokes painting entitled Wings Over Waikiki. This version lacked the fuselage window blisters which would be used on later variants. The PBY-2 had a wing span of 104 feet, and was nearly 64 feet in length. Powered by two 850-HP Pratt and Whitney R-1830-64s, the PBY-2 had a maximum speed of 178-MPH, and a range of more than 2,000 miles. The British ordered more than 100 PBYs in 1939. They called the aircraft Catalina. Also in 1939 a number of Catalinas were modified into amphibians by adding a retractable tricycle undercarriage. This added more than 2,000 pounds to the weight of the aircraft, but also improved its versatility. In the first few days following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, many of the PBYs deployed throughout the Pacific were damaged or destroyed. The PBYs were vulnerable to enemy fighter attack when in the air. Despite these early setbacks, the Navy learned to make good use of the PBY as the war progressed. One of the most effective uses of the aircraft was in night search and attack missions, where the aircraft were generally painted all black. These Black Cats operated from island bases and seaplane tenders and effectively hampered night time movement of enemy supplies. The Catalina also flew many Dumbo missions during the war rescuing downed allied aviators. Many thousands of lives were saved during these missions. |
Tail End Charlie by Stan Stokes. E.W. Bruce was a B-24 Liberator commander with the 704th Bomb Squadron, of the 446th Bomb Group of the Eighth Air Force. His squadron was based at Bungay in East Anglia. On the morning of January 29, 1944 a hush falls over the bomb crews in Bruces squadron as the intelligence officer unveils the mission map for the days activities. An all out maximum force raid on Frankfurt. When formation positions are assigned the tail-end-charlie spot goes to Bruce piloting the Hula Wahine. Low clouds are expected at 5000 feet, and the bombing run will most likely be made with radar. Hopefully the weather will keep the Lufwaffes fighters on the ground. Bruces group is at the end of the formation, so he is the last plane of several hundred on the bomb run. The group increases air speed and altitude as it approaches Frankfurt. Within minutes of the target Bruces B-24 loses the supercharger on its No.2 engine. They begin to trail the formation and lose altitude. Suddenly the supercharger fails on the B-24s No 3 engine. Shifting to full power on the No 1 and No 4 engines, a condition they can maintain for only a few precious minutes, Bruces crew delivers its payload over the target. Seconds later the turbos give out on the two remaining engines, and Bruce puts his B24 into a fast power dive. He needs to get down to low altitude feet so his engines will function. As the B-24 hurtles towards the earth at 300MPH two Me-210 fighters close in fast. The Liberators right waist gunner, Sgt. McLaughlin opens fire and sets one of the 210s afire, while the other leaves the scene with a P-38 on his tail. The B-24 makes it safely to the relative comfort of cloud cover and a course is set back to England. After several minutes the Liberator leaves the protective cloud cover, and Bruce elects to fly at tree-top level to avoid detection. Sgt. Jones, the left waist gunner yells bandits at 8 oclock! All hell breaks loose for a few moments. Sgt. McGuire, the engineer and top gunner, is injured as well as both waist gunners during the attack. Bruce unsuccessfully attempts to radio for potential friendly fighter support. The B-24 flies on around the outskirts of Liege, and closer to home. Minutes later they have a bandit at 6 oclock. The tail gunners guns are not firing properly, and an Fw-190 opens up with everything its got. The Liberator flies on in a virtual sea of tracers. Time seems to slowdown, as Bruce sees a thatched roof, half-timber farmhouse dead ahead. The B-24 is dead center with the upstairs bedroom window, as the 190s tracers tear across the farmhouse roof. Bruce puts the B-24 into a steep bank, and misses the farmhouse by a few feet. The prop wash blows chickens and chicken feathers everywhere. For a moment it feels more like a pillow fight than a life and death struggle. The 190 breaks off to make another run. Bruce turns directly into him, and the surprised 190 pilot wings over and flies parallel again. On his next pass, Bruce banks steeply and rolls out fast. Its now a free for all - somebodys going to die. The 190 approaches again without firing. Possibly out of ammunition, the 190 appears to be attempting to ram the B-24. Bruces bombardier/nose gunner, Lt. Pretty, opens up on the Jerry. The B-24s bullets tear into the 190s engine, across the fuselage and into the cockpit. The 190 spins out of control and goes down. Bruce manages to get his bird back to England, and puts her down in a belly landing at Depling. The crew is awarded a Silver Star, a DFC, two Air Medals, and four Purple Hearts for the mission; a routine day for a Tail-End Charlie. |
Mission to Buin Harbor by Stan Stokes. Born in Brooklyn, New York in 1916, Ken Walsh enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1933. He initially served as an aircraft mechanic and radioman, and was accepted for pilot training in 1936. He graduated in 1937 receiving his Wings of Gold at Pensacola, Florida. Walshs initial assignment was with VO-7M (later to be designated VMS-1) at Quantico, Virginia. He later served with various scouting and observation squadrons attached to the USS Yorktown, USS Wasp, and the USS Ranger. In mid- 1941 Kens ambition of becoming a fighter pilot was realized when he was transferred to VMF121. With more than 1600 hours of flying time, Walsh was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in 1942 and was assigned to VMF-124, the first Marine squadron to be equipped with the Chance Vought F4U-1 Corsair. He flew combat missions with VMF-124 from February to September 1943 in the campaign to retake the Solomon Islands. During this period he attained twenty confirmed aerial victories. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on August 15 and August 30 of 1943. On the 15th Walsh repeatedly dove his Corsair into a large enemy formation which outnumbered his own division by six-to-one. Although his aircraft was badly shot~up, Ken managed to down two Japanese dive bombers and one fighter. On the 30th his aircraft developed engine trouble on a vital escort mission of 27 B-24s accompanied by 30 Corsairs to Kahili Aerodrome on Bougainville. Walsh landed his aircraft at Munda, and within minutes had borrowed another which was on scramble alert. Flying at maximum speed at 30,000 feet, Walsh reached the target area as a flight of fifty Japanese fighters prepared to dive on the B-24s and F4Us. He dove through the enemy fighter force bagging two Zeros, and then joined up with his squadron mates in the vicinity Kahili. As the bombers broke formation Walsh and his fellow Marine pilots engaged in a frantic dogfight, during which Ken managed to down two more Zeros, before being forced to ditch the borrowed Corsair. He was later picked up by a Higgins boat. On June 5, 1943 Walsh, as depicted in Stan Stokes painting, flew fighter escort for Navy Air Group Eleven (CAG-1 1), on a mission to Buin Harbor, Bouganville. A strike force of 15 Douglas SBDs and 12 Gruniman TBFs were to be escorted. Walshs assignment was to make sure that no enemy fighters attacked the T13F flown by Weldon Hamilton, the Air Groups Commander. As Hamilton made his bomb run, Walsh shot down a Japanese Zero attacking his own wingman. As the strike force departed the area a Mitsubishi Pete attacked Hamilton, and Walsh closed quickly and destroyed the attacker. After his combat tour, he became a Training Command Flight Instructor at NAS Jacksonville. He returned to combat in 1945 with VMF-222 flying F4U4 Corsairs initially out of the Philippines, and later, Okinawa. He scored his final confirmed aerial victory, his 21, on June 22, 1945, when he downed a Kamikaze. Following the War, Ken served with The Bureau of Aeronautics in Washington. He flew combat-cargo and air evacuation of wounded personnel missions during the Korean Conflict with VMR- 152, a squadron he would later command. In 1958 Ken was promoted to Lt. Colonel, and he was transferred to Japan in 1959 to serve as Aircraft Maintenance Officer for the First Marine Aircraft Wing. Ken Walsh retired from the USMC in 1962 following more than 28 years of continuous military service to his country. He was the first Corsair ace and third highest scoring Corsair ace of WWII. Ken Walsh passed away suddenly on July 30,1998. We will all miss him. |
Big Tailed Beast by Stan Stokes. On July 24, 1945, Air Group 87 on board the USS Ticonderoga was informed that the Hyuga, anchored off a small island near Kure, Japan, would be its target. The ship, a WW I vintage battleship which had been modernized in 1936, and later converted to part battleship and part sea plane tender, would be a formidable objective with its impressive firepower and the fact that its location would place the attackers in the line of fire of numerous shore batteries. The ship was 704 feet in length, displaced 39,000 tons, and carried a compliment of Aichi E16A1 Zuiun reconaissance aircraft which were code named Paul by the Allies. Lt Cdr. Kanaga would lead the squadrons Curtiss SB2C Helldivers on the attack. Each of the twelve Helldivers would carry a 1,000 pound bomb in the internal bomb bay, a 260 pound fragmentation bomb under one wing and a droppable wing tank under the other wing. The drop tank weighed substantially more than the 260 pounder so it was anticipated that the Helldivers might be a bit unstable on takeoff. The first aircraft launched, that of Lt. Al Matteson, went into a immediate hard right turn given the uneven wing loading, and hit the water hard. The other Helldivers managed to become airborne, and eventually joined up for the outbound leg of the mission. The plan was for the Helldivers to dive bomb the Hyuga while torpedo bombers made glide bombing attacks, as the water was too shallow for use of torpedoes. In Stan Stokes painting entitled Big Tailed Beast, an SB2C-4E piloted by Lt. H. Paul Brehm pulls out over its target. Anti-aircraft fire is fierce, and the Hyuga is partially obscured by the incredible amount of smoke being generated by its AA guns. Lt. Brehm has decided to make his dive without dive flaps, hoping to make himself a faster moving target for the Hyugas gunners. During Brehms dive, the SB2C of Lt. Vaughn, which was immediately in front of him, went straight down, crashing next to the Hyuga in a great splash of white foam. Brehm released his bomb and pulled out very low over the target. He momentarily blacked out, and his windscreen fogged over. Brehm and his gunner W. Tommy Thompson, could feel the jolt from their 1000 pounder as it scored a direct hit. Returning to their Task Force low on fuel and in bad weather, Brehm was forced to ditch his Helldiver, but he and Thompson were rescued within minutes by the USS Chauncey. The mission was successful, but was not without cost as more than half the attacking Helldivers failed to return safely. The Curtiss SB2C was the last combat aircraft produced by Curtiss-Wright for the US Navy. The aircraft entered service in late 1943 supplementing the Navys SBD Dauntless dive bomber force. More than 7,000 of these large single engine aircraft were produced, with the most widely produced variant being the SB2C-4. Helldivers were capable of carrying a 2,000 pound bomb load, and could also be modified to be used in the torpedo bombing role. Referred to as The Big Tailed Beast by many of its pilots, the Helldiver had a top speed approaching 280-MPH, but also had the reputation of being one of the most difficult carrier based aircraft to land. As a result, many of the Helldivers lost during the War were victims of landing accidents. |
America's First Flat Top by Stan Stokes. Although the US Navy had been an early leader in supporting naval aviation, during WWI the Navy had emphasized float planes, and with the end of the War, America found itself well behind the British who had several aircraft carriers in service. In April of 1919 the Navy decided to convert a new collier, the USS Jupiter, into a flush deck aircraft carrier, the navy's first. Redesignated as the USS Langley (CV-1), the ship was commissioned in March of 1922. The Langley was the Navy's only carrier until 1928, and would serve in this role until 1936. With the introduction of faster and larger naval aircraft, the Langley's small size and slow speed would result in a decision to change her mission to seaplane tender. The Langley displaced only 13,000 tons, had an open hangar deck, and no island. The ships two stacks were swiveled outwards during air operations, giving pilots a small but unobstructed flight deck. Two catapults were incorporated in the initial design, but were later removed. CV-1 had a turbo electric drive system which allowed the ship a top speed of 14 knots in either direction. This was deemed important so aircraft could be launched in either direction in the event the deck became damaged. The designers initially planned for the Langley to have an air group of only eight aircraft, but this was later increased to as many as forty-two. Most of the Langley's aircraft were stowed on the flight deck, with the practice of stowing aircraft on the hangar deck not becoming common until later. In 1942 CV-1 was utilized to ferry P-40s to Java. She was lost during this mission. The Boeing FB-5 of VB-3 shown in the background in Stan Stokes' wonderful painting was one of the naval variants of Boeings PW-9 series. Boeing built a total of nearly 600 aircraft in this family, making it one of the most widely produced aircraft in the between Wars era. The FB-1 was the first aircraft in this series ordered by the Navy in 1924. The FB-2/3/4 variants included modifications for carrier use and a more powerful 510-HP Packard-IA engine. With the additional power, a taller rudder assembly was deemed necessary to provide adequate flight stability. The Navy ordered twenty-seven FB-5s and began taking deliveries in 1927. The upper wing of the FB-5 variant was moved forward while the lower wing was moved backwards. In addition a slightly more powerful Packard engine was utilized. As the FB-5 takes off from the Langley, a Curtis F6C-2 Hawk passes over the ship. The F6C-2 was a variant of the F6C-1 Hawk which was modified to withstand arrested landings. While only four of these models would be produced, the Navy would go on to purchase sixty of the F6C-3 and F6C-4 variants. |
Early Top Guns by Stan Stokes. Prior to 1950 Chance-Vought had solidly established itself, along with Grumman, as one of the two leading suppliers of aircraft to the US Navy. Following WW II, however, the Texas-based company was less successful with its XF6U Pirate and later with its F7U Cutlass. In September of 1952 the Navy issued a requirement for its first supersonic, carrier-based, air superiority aircraft. Russ Clark and the design team at Vought submitted a proposal utilizing some radical design concepts. Most unique was a high mounted wing which could move 7 degrees in incidence. To make the craft more pilot friendly during carrier landings droops were designed into the leading edges of the wings. The cockpit was also located as far forward as possible providing excellent visibility. A Pratt & Whitney J57 was the proposed power plant. The Navy selected the Vought proposal from the eight submitted. In March of 1955 the first of the more than 1,200 Crusaders which would be built, made its inaugural flight, and went supersonic. The Crusader, often called the Gunfighter, was an unqualified success. It restored some prestige to the Navy, which had been criticized by Air Force supporters for not having any aircraft capable of taking on Migs in Korea in aerial combat. The F-8 set many speed records, including a cross country, carrier-to-carrier, trip in 3 hours and 28 minutes. At the time of the Vietnam War, the F-8 was a proven aircraft. Despite being relegated to a secondary mig-killing role, the F-8s downed 19 Migs in Vietnam. Their victory ratio was 6-to-1, which was superior to any other aircraft. F-8 pilots were well trained in air combat maneuvering skills, whereas pilots on more modern aircraft had been taught to rely on long range air-to-air missiles. Recognizing this need the Navy began transferring F-8 instructors to its F-4 program as a way to teach F-4 pilots dog fighting skills. This was the beginnings of the Navys Top Gun School. As depicted in Stan Stokes painting, a USMC F-8 piloted by Gen. Drax Williams chases a pair of Mig-21s during an A-6 escort mission during the Vietnam War. |
New Breed Bombers by Stan Stokes. The Boeing B-47 Stratojet was the first swept-winged, jet bomber that was built in any meaningful quantity. It became the backbone of the Strategic Air Commands bomber fleet for much of the 1950s. More than 2000 B-47s were produced. The origin of the B-47 can be traced back to a request in mid-1943 by the USAAF asking several aircraft manufacturers to commence studies of the feasibility of producing a multi-engined jet aircraft for photographic reconnaissance and or medium bombing missions. By November of 1944 formal requirements were issued for a jet-powered aircraft capable of 550-MPH, a ceiling of 45,000-feet, and a range of 3,500 miles. Boeing aircraft had been experimenting with jet engines for its B-29, but had encountered problems during wind tunnel tests. In 1944 Boeing was awarded a study contract designated XB-47 for a Model 432. The 432 was a highly modified B-29 with a cluster of 4 jet engined mounted inside the fuselage. Martin, Convair, and North American all received contracts for studies on other competing aircraft. In 1945 George Schairer, Boeingss chief aerodynamicist visited German research facilities. The Germans had done research proving the advantages of swept wing design for high-speed aircraft. Boeing modified its design to a swept-wing version, and at the urging of the USAAF eventually removed the in-fuselage jet engines in favor of externally mounted engines. Work on the B-47 protoypes began in 1946. The aircraft would have a crew of only three. Pilot, co-pilot/gunner, and bombadier/navigator. The pilot and co-pilot would sit tandem in a fighter style plexiglass bubble cockpit whereas the navigator/bombadier would sit in the nose behind a transparent nose cone. The B-47 had a thin wing, and all its fuel was carried inside the fuselage. Managing fuel during flights was important to prevent the aircraft from becoming unstable. Because of its high speed it was expected that the B-47 would only be attacked from the rear. Hence the only defensive armament incorporated in the design was a pair of remotely-controlled, radar-managed, machine guns in a rear turret. The first prototype flew on December 17, 1947, only two months after Chuck Yeager broke the sound barrier. In September of 1948 the Air Force placed its first order for production B-47s. In early 1949 one of the prototypes set an unofficial continental speed record of 602-MPH. The first production B-47A flew on June 25, 1950. In Stan Stokes painting a pair of the new breed of bombers pass over some interesting scenery in the western portion of the United States. |
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