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Photographs in historical sections are derived from Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page and have been chosen on the basis of their “Public Domain” status as listed on their respective pages.
Photographs in aircraft historical sections have also been derived from United States Air Force, particularly their museum: https://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/.
Photographs in watercraft historical sections have been derived from the U.S. Naval History and Heritage command: https://www.history.navy.mil/.
Photograph caption information has been similarly derived from these Wikimedia Commons/USAF/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command respective pages; however, this information has been rephrased in an original manner for this website.
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A. An early production P-80A Shooting Star, location unknown, in flight, ca. 1946 or 1947. The Shooting Star is the author’s favorite plane. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A prototype of the Bell P-59 Airacomet, the YP-59A-BE Airacomet, flying near Muroc (now known as Edwards) Air Force Base in southern California, ca. 1943. The B-59 was the first jet fighter design considered for United States Army Air Forces ‘ (USAAF) use.(Photo: USAAF/U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs/U.S. Historic American Buildings Survey/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
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The SBD Dauntless – An SBD Dauntless in training dive off of Daytona, Florida, October 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The A-36 Apache – The A-36 Apache, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The B-25 Mitchell – The North American B-25G Mitchell. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-47 Thunderbolt – A USAAF P-47G Thunderbolt of the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. This plane bears the serial number 284287, the number of a P-47D belonging to the 56th Fighter Group, the 63rd Fighter Squadron in particular. This photo was taken on September 10th, 2007. (Photo: USAAF/U.S. Government Employee/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The B-29 Superfortress – A B-29A in flight, ca. 1945. This plane was on a long-range mission; location unknown. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F6F Hellcat – An F6F-5 Hellcat in flight. This Hellcat was based on the Navy’s USS Independence or CVL-22, a light aircraft carrier. Photograph taken in 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F4U Corsair – The Marines’ AU-1 Corsair flying, location unknown, in 1952. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The A-20 Havoc – The USAAF A-20G Havoc. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-51 Mustang – The North American P-51 Mustang — also known as the Mustang Mk.IA, flying over Inglewood, California in October 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Office of War Information/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-38 Lightning – The P-38D Lightning. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
The A-26 Invader – An A-26B Invader in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-86 Sabre – An F-86H in flight, 1950s, location unknown. The F-86H was flown by several Tactical Air Command (TAC) units after the Korean War (1950 – 1953), in this case it is being flown by the 554th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, based in Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-84 Thunderjet – An F-84G of the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing (formerly the 137th FBW) , based in Chaumont Air Base, Haute-Marne, France, in 1953. (Photo: USAF/U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F9F Panther – An F9F-2 Panther of the U.S. Navy, location unknown, c. 1949. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-80 Shooting Star – An early production P-80A Shooting Star, location unknown, in flight, ca. 1946 or 1947. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-105 Thunderchief – The F-105D in flight, location and date unknown. This particular plane was serial number 59-1719, reportedly shot down over Laos in January 1966. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-16 Falcon – An F-16 of the USAF 18th Fighter Squadron flies over Alaska in July 2007. It is positioning for re-fueling behind a KC-135 Stratotanker; note the presensce of the dark-colored LANTIRN pods below the ventral intake area. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-15 Eagle – An F-15C Eagle of the USAF 67th Fighter Squadron, operating out of Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington state, in April 2010. (Photo: Shannon Collins/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The SR-71 – An SR-71 A Blackbird of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, operating out of Beale Air Force Base, California, on June 1st, 1988. (Photo: defenseimagery[dot}mil, 1988/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-4 Phantom II – An F-4D Phantom II of the Kansas Air National Guard, location unknown, in 1986. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The LCVP – LCVP 18 of the U.S. Navy’s USS Darke (APA-159) carrying reinforcements off of Okinawa in April 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Hospital Ships – The USS Hope (AH-7), exact location unknown, on August 30th, 1944. This particular photo was taken from an airship, from U.S. Navy Squadron ZP-31. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritiage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The SBD Dauntless
A. SBD Dauntless unit over Param Island, Truk Atoll (the Caroline Islands), February 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An SBD Dauntless in training dive off of Daytona, Florida, October 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. SBD-5 Dauntless en route to bomb Japanese forces at Truk Atoll, February 1944. The craft was launched from the USS Lexington. Dublon (Tonowas) and Eten Islands are in the background. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The SBD Dauntless en route to attack Wake Island, October 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The Northrop XBT-2, location unknown, in July 1938. The XBT-2 was the prototype of what would become the SBD Dauntless. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The Douglas XBT-2, El Segundo, California. Photograph likely taken around 1939. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. A U.S. Navy SBD Dauntless alongside the USS Washington, contributing to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, November 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. The Japanese Shoho light carrier under attack by US aircraft including the SBD Dauntless, May 7th, 1942. (Photo U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. SBD-3 Dauntless formation of the US Marines. Photograph taken over Midway Atoll, likely 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. The Battle of Midway: SBD Dauntless (the SBD-3 variant in particular) on the USS Hornet, June 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An SBD Dauntless from the USS Ranger (CV-4) on a submarine-scouting mission off the coast of French-held North Africa, November 1942. (Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. The US Navy’s SBD Dauntless in practice diving attack, 1941. (Photo: U.S. Office of War Information, Overseas Picture Division, Washington Division/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. The SBD Dauntless at dive-bombing angle. Photograph taken around 1942. (U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/ Public Domain)
N. The US Army’s A-24 Banshee, the SBD Dauntless type assigned to units like the 8th Special Operations Squadron. (Photo: USAF/USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. SDB-3 Dauntless aboard the US aircraft carrier USS Hornet (CV-8), 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. SBD-5 from the USS Yorktown (CV-10). Photograph taken around 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The SR-71 Blackbird
A. The Lockheed SR-71 “Blackbird” in flight, date unknown, operating out of Beale Air Force Base, California. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An SR-71, location unknown, on its 1,000th sortie, January 13th, 1982. (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain).
C. A Lockheed A-12 aircraft in flight, location unknown, in the 1960s. The A-12 was a spy plane that was the predecessor of what would become the Lockheed SR-71. (Photo: USAF, Department of Defense, Defense Visual Information Center [DVIC}/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Lockheed U-2 reconnaissance plane, ca. 1966. The U-2 was a slower reconnaissance aircraft model that Lockheed sought to replace with the development of the SR-71. This U-2 operated out of Beale Air Force Base, California. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. Ten instances of the USAF Lockheed A-12 in Palmdale, California, date unknown. (Photo: USAF, 2007/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The Lockheed YF-12A, date and location unknown, an armed, two-seated, high-speed interceptor airplane in the mold of the A-12/SR-71 line. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. An SR-71 A Blackbird of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, operating out of Beale Air Force Base, California, on June 1st, 1988. (Photo: defenseimagery[dot}mil, 1988/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. A USAF SR-71A Blackbird in flight operating out of Beale Air Force Base, California, on August 2nd, 1981. This plane was part of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. (Photo: USAF/U.S. defenseimagery[dot]mil, 1981/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. The SR-71 in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Southern Region Headquarters/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An SR-71 that operated out of Edwards Air Force Base, California, in flight in the mid-1960s. Note the inlet cones on the front of each wing. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An SR-71 of the USAF 9th Strategic Wing, 3rd Air Force, taking off on January 1st, 1983. This plane operated out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Mildenhall, in the United Kingdom. (Photo: USAF/defenseinagery[dot]mil, 1983/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A USAF SR-71A in flight, location unknown, behind a KC-135Q Stratotanker in 1989. (Photo: USAF/defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. An SR-71 Blackbird in flight, location unknown, in a photo dated February 1, 1990 . (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. An SR-71 refules in-air from a KC-135Q Stratotanker on January 1st 1983. This SR-71 was of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An SR-71 Blackbird of the 9th Strategic Reconnaixxance Wing, in January 1990. (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain).
P. A USAF SR-71 of the 9th Reconnaissance Wing, date unknown, operating out of Beale Air Force Base, California. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. The front view of an SR-71 of the U.S. 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, in April 1988. (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. An SR-71 Blackbird of the 9th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing, date and exact location unknown, banks in the direction of California’s USAF Beale Air Force Base. (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain).
S. An SR-71A Blackbird taking off from Beale Air Force Base, California, in August 1981. (Photo: USAF/defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. A photo of USAF Lt. Col. Raymond E. Yeilding prior to his cross-country flight with co-pilot Lt. Col. Joseph T. Vida in an SR-71, March 6th, 1990. SR-71 pilots used pressurized suits and helmets for the Blackbird’s high-alititude flights. (Photo: US. Department of Defense, National Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. The SR-71A in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An SR-71 over clouds, exact location unknown, in a photo dated from February 1, 1990. (Photo: The U.S. Department of Defense, American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-15 Eagle
A. An F-15C Eagle during a training exercise over the Pacific Ocean, close to Okinawa, 1994. This plane wsa operating out of Kadena Air Base, Japan and was of the 18th Wing, 5th Air Force. (Photo: The Defense Visual Information Center, the American Forces Infotmation Service, U.S. Department of Defense, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain in the United States.)
B. An F-15C Eagle on September 12th, 2006, awaiting an in-air refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker of the 909tth Air Refueling Squadron. This particular plane was operating out of Kadena Air Force Base, Japan. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A USAF F-15C Eagle flies over Northern Iraq in December 1998, during a patrol operation. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The USAF F-105D Thunderchief in flight, location and date unknown. This fighter-bomber was built by Republic Aviation and was prevalent in USAF use in the early and mid-1960s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. A USAF McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II in flight over Vietnam during the Vietnam War, ca. 1967 to 1973. This particular plane was part of the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, 435th Tactical Fighter Squadron, shown here approaching a Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker for in-air refueling. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. Col John R. Boyd (1927 – 1997), a former USAF military pilot and Pentagon consultant who advocated for USAF use of smaller, lighter, more maneuverable fighter jets in the 1960s and 1970s. He is shown here as a pilot during his service during the Korean War (1950 – 1953). (Photo: USAF/U.S. Gov./Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The F-111 Aardvark, one of the USAF’s primary fighter jets in the latter Vietnam War, flies over the North Sea, date unknown. (Photo: defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. A MiG-25 Foxbat-E jet in flight, 1985, location unknown. The MiG-25 was a late-1960s Soviet plane produced by Mikoyan-Gurevich. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. The first F-15 prototype, location and date unknown, the McDonnell Douglas F-15A, specifically serial number 71-0280. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An F-15A Eagle at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, date unknown, in Dayton, Ohio. The F-15A, and its two-seated counterpart, the F-15B were produced from 1972 to 1979. (Photo credit: USAF/USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An F-15C Eagle of the 48th Fighter Wing (based out of RAF Lakenheath, UK) flies away from a KC-135R Stratotanker after refueling in-air, location unknown, in April 1999. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A USAF F-15C flying out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, Suffolk, England, in November 2015. This plane was part of the USAF 48th Fighter Wing. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. An F-15A Eagle of the 199th Air Fighter Squadron (Hawaii Air National Guard) flying, location unknown, in 2000. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. An F-15D of the USAF 325th Fighter Wing ascends in a vertical climb and releases flares in 2004. This plane was operating out of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F-15 Eagle of the 96th Test Wing, the 40th Flight Test Squadron in particular, operating out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, in October 2014. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. An F-15E Strike Eagle is being refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker over the Atlantic Ocean in September 2012. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. After an in-air refueling, location and date unknown, an F-15 Eag;le flies off. (Photo: defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. Examples of the different variants of the F-15 Eagle: two F-15C Eagles of the USAF 493rd Fighter Squadron in ht ebackground, and one F-15E Eagle of the 492nd Fighter Squadron, foreground, fly over Gloucestershire, England in July 2016. (Photo: US Department of Defense/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. An F-15E Strike Eagle of the USAF 4th Fighter Wing operates out of Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, August 2000. The F-15E Strike Eagle was an F-15 Eagle modified for ground-attack use, while retaining its air-to-air combat abilities. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-16 Falcon
A. An F-16C Fighting Falcon of the USAF 55th Fighter Squadron over the Gulf of Mexico, August 2003. (USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An F-16 of the USAF 325th Fighter Wing flies away from a KC-135 Stratotanker after being refueled, exact location unknown, in August 2016. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A formation of aircraft flying over Guam in February 2007 including a B-52 Stratofortress (left) directly flanked behind by two USAF F-16 Fighting Falcons. Directly behind the F-16s are two Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) F-2s (in brown/green) and two EA-6B Prowlers of the U.S. Navy. The B-52 is a USAF strategic bomber. The F-2s are Mitsubishi/Lockheed Martin-built planes based on the F-16 Fighting Falcon; the EA-6B Prowler is an electronic warfare naval aircraft and was a contemporary of the F-16. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. An RF-4C Phantom II of the USAF flies over Germany in May 1983. This plane was of the 123d Tactical Reconnaissance Group, the 165th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in particular. The RF-4C Phantom II was a reconnaissance version of the USAF’s McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, a fighter plane that predated the F-16 Fighting Falcon and was used extensively in the Vietnam War. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. Two F-15 Eagles of the 49th Tactical Fighter Wing flying back from a training mission, location unknown, in May 1980. The F-15 Eagle, like the F-16 Fighting Falcon, was developed to create a smaller, slower, more maneuverable USAF fighter jet. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain in United States)
F. An F-16C Fighting Falcon and an F-4G Phantom II of the USAF fly over the Eifel mountain range in Germany in December 1987. These planes were part of the USAF 52nd Tactical Fighter Wing and operated out of Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The YF-16 (lower left) and YF-17 (top right) in flight, location and date unknown. The YF-16 was the prototype of the F-16 Fighting Falcon; the YF-17 would be developed into the Navy’s F/A-18 Hornet. (Photo; USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. An F-16A of the USAF 474th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 429th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particulat, flies in May 1987. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. A formation of six USAF F-16A Fighting Falcons flying over the Pacific in a deployment to Kunsan Air Base, Korea. These craft belonged to the 8th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 35th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular, and are shown here in January 1981. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense. American Forces Information Service, Defense Visual Information Center, 1994/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain in United States)
J. An F-16C Fighting Falcon of the USAF 140th Fighter Wing, the 120th Fighter Squadron in particular. This plane belonged to the Colorado Air National Guard, exact location unknown; it is shown here in September 2003. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An F-16C Fighting Falcon of the USAF Thunderbirds demonstration team flies over Hill Air Force Base, Utah in June 2016. The Thunderbirds have used the F-16C and F-16D Fighting Falcons as demonstration planes since 1983. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. An F-16D of the USAF Thunderbirds, the 325th Fighter Wing in particulat, over Panama City, Florida in April 2015. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. A USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 8th Fighter Wing in flight out of Kunsan Air Base, South Korea in December 2018. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A USAF 325th Fighter Wing F-16 Fighting Falcon Thunderbird at an airshow over Panama City, Florida, in April 2015. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. A USAF F-16 Fighting Falcon of the 80th Fighter Squadron, a unit based in Kunsan Air Base, the Republic of Korea, (ROK). It is shown here in July 2015 taking off during joint exercises at the ROK’s Jungwon Air Base. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. The testing of a Pratt & Whitney turbofan engine, date unknown, in Robins Air Force Base, Georgia. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. A General Electric F110 is being tested, date unknown, at the USAF Arnold Engineering Development Center. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. An F-16 Fighting Falcon of the Royal Norwegian Air Force in September 2013. It is shown here flying above the Bodø Main Air Station in Norway. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. A Portuguese Air Force F-15A in flight, exact location unknown, in March 1999. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. A Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) Mitsubishi F-2A takes off from USAF Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. in June 2007. The Mitsubishi F-2 was a Japanese-built derivative of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, manufactured under license from General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. A USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon over Iraq in June 2008. It has been recently been refueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker; this F-16 was part of the 388th Fighter Wing, the 34th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An F-16 of the USAF 18th Fighter Squadron flies over Alaska in July 2007. It is positioning for re-fueling behind a KC-135 Stratotanker; note the presensce of the dark-colored LANTIRN pods below the ventral intake area. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-105 Thunderchief
A. The F-105D in flight, location and date unknown. This particular plane was serial number 59-1719, reportedly shot down over Laos in January 1966. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An F-105 Thunderchief of the USAF 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 44th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. The 44th operated out of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand from October 1969 to December 1970. This photo was taken around 1969 or 1970. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The YF-105A, the F-105 Thunderchief prototype developed by Republic Aviation. This photograph was taken sometime in the 1950s by the USAF. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Pratt & Whitney J57 turbojet. The intial versions of the F-105 used the 10,200-pound-thrust J57 as an engine; later versions used the 16,000-pound-thrust Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojet engine. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The Pratt & Whitney J75 turbojet engine. The J75 initially offered some 16,000 pounds of static thrust, later versions reached 17,200-pound-thrust capabilities. This photograph was taken in the 1950s, likely a photogrpah from the U.S. Navy. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The F-105D Thundercheif in flight, February 6th, 1970. This plane was a part of the USAF 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 354th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The cockpit of the F-105D Thunderchief, date unknown. Note the vertical “tape”-style dials on the panel, which in part replaced the round dials of earlier fighters. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. An F-105F (or G) Thunderchief of the USAF 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 6010th “Wild Weasel” Squadron in particular. It is shown here in 1971 taking off from Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, armed with “Shrike” and “Standard” anti-radiation missiles. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An F-105D in the early 1960s leaded with 750-lb bombs. The F-105D was capable of carrying 6,000 pounds of bombs externally. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An F-105D Thunderchief of the USAF 355th Fghter Wing in the mid -1960s. During the Vietname War, the 355th operated out of Takhli Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An F-105G Thunderchief flies on May 5th, 1970, location unknown. This particular plane is equipped with anti-radiation misiiles of the “Shrike” an “Standard” variety. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. Three USAF Republic F-105Bs, location and date unknown, on takeoff. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. A USAF F-105F in the foreground – note the two-seated arrangment – and an F-105D fly in front of Mount Fuji, Japan in the early 1960s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. F-105D Thunderchiefs participate in an in-air refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker in January 1966. These particular craft were from the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 334th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F-105D Thunderchief of the USAF 121st Tactical Fighter Squadron, location unknown, in 1975. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. Three instances of the US Air Force Reserve’s F-105B Thunderchiefs in flight off of Oahu Hawaii on January 25h, 1978. The F-105Bs here are flying in formation with two TA-4J Skyhawks of the U.S. Navy; the F-105s were part of the 508th Tactical Fighter Group. (Photo: defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain in U.S.)
Q. F-105F “Wild Weasel” Thunderchiefs of the USAF 388th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1972. These particular aircraft operated out of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. An F-105F airplane, location unknown, flying in the early 1960s. (Photo: USAF, U.S. Gov/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. An F-105G Thunderchief of the 116th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 128th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular, of the Georgia Air National Guard. The unit operated out of Steward Field, Savannah Georgia; the photo was taken on April 10th, 1981. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. An F-105G Thunderchief of the USAF 388th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. Note the two-seated cockpit. During the Vietnam War, the 17th Tactical Fighter Squadron operated out of Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand; this photograph was taken on December 29th, 1972. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. A USAF F-105G over Vietnam in August 1968. This Thunderchief belonged to the 355th Tactical Fighter Wing, the 333rd Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An F-105D Thunderchief of the 506th Tactical Fighter Group, the 457th Tactical Fighter Squadron in particular. This photograph was taken in October 1972 on Carswell Air Force Base, Texas. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. An F-105B Thunderchief of the USAF, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. F-105D Thunderchiefs of the USAF 18th Tactical Fighter Wing in 1965. At this time, they were deployed to Korat Royal Thai Air Force Base, Thailand. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. An F-105D Thunderchief of the USAF 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, in the early 1960s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. An example of the F-105G Thunderchief of the USAF 17th “Wild Weasel” Squadron in the 1970s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The A-36 Apache
A. The A-36 Apache, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A restored A-36 Apache, the “Margie H”, once piloted by Captain Lawrence Dye. National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. (Photo: USAF/USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. Assembly of A-36 Apaches at NAA factory in Inglewood, California, October 1942. (Photo: U.S. Office of War Information, 1942/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The North American NA-73X. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. Henry Harley “Hap” Arnold (1886 -1950), General of the U.S. Army Air Force. Photograph taken before 1949. (Photo: U.S. Army/USAAF//Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The USAAF’s A-24 Banshee, the Army’s version of the Navy’s Douglas SBD Dauntless. (Photo: Air Force Historical Research Agency [AFHRA]/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. An A-36 Apache in Inglewood, California, 1940s. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. P-51 Mustangs en route to England as part of the Lend-Lease Act, circa 1941. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An A-36 Apache, post-war, location unknown, repainted for air-racing purposes. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives/Wikimedia Commons/no known copyright restrictions)
J. A-36 with ground crew of 27th Fighter (later Fighter-Bomber) Group, Photograph likely taken overseas (Mediterranean Campaign) in 1943 or 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. Louisiana-based USAAF training group in front of an A-36 Apache, 1943. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. The A-36 under repair, 86th Fighter-Bomber Group (Dive), Italy, April 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. Dinjan Airfield, Assam, India. Photograph likely taken around 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. Three A-36 Apaches in flight. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives/Wikimedia Commons/no known copyright restrictions)
O. RAF instance of NAA Apache with dive brakes extended. (Photo: RAF ca. 1943/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. RAF version of the NAA Apache. Date unknown. (Photo: RAF, ca. 1943/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. Example of terrain of CBI (China-Burma-India) Theatre. Convoy traveling Burma Road, 1940s. (Photo: U.S. Army Center of Military History/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. A convoy, including African American soldiers, travelling on Ledo Road, Burma. A-36s were instrumental in defeating Japanese forces in the northern Burma region for the road’s reconstruction. Photograph likely taken in 1944 – 1945. (Photo: National Archices and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) sole instance of the North American Apache, EW998. Date unknown. (Photo: RAF [public domain], ca. 1943/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The B-25 Mitchell
A. A B-25C Mitchell flying over Inglewood, California. October, 1942. (Photo: Sherwood Mark, U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. The North American B-25G Mitchell. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. U.S. Army General William L. “Billy” Mitchell (1879 – 1936), pictured at the Bolling Field Air Tournament in Bolling Field, Washington, D.C., May 1920. Mitchell was a World War I aviator and an influential advocate of air vehicles in the US Armed Forces. He is pictured here with the Vought VE-7 Bluebird, a World War I-era training, observation, and fighter aircraft. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The B-25 Mitchell being produced in the North American Aviation factory, Kansas City, Kansas, October 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. B-25 cowling construction by worker in North American Aviation (NAA) plant. Inglewood, California, October 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. B-25 performing short takeoff at Eglin Field, Florida, 1942. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. A B-25 Mitchell over Tivoli, Italy. In this picture, the bomber had just destroyed an Axis supply depot. Photograph likely taken around 1944. (Photo: U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. B-25 Mitchells flying over the island of Bougainville. These planes were of the U.S. 42nd Bombardment Group, Thirteenth Air Force – and flew out of Stirling Island (Stirling Airfield), Solomon Islands. Photograph taken in 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. B-25 Mitchells on the deck of the USS Hornet (CV-8), in preparation for the Doolittle Raid, April 1942. (Photo: U.S. Naval Historical Photograph/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. B-25B Mitchell taking off from the USS Hornet (also known as CV-8) during the Doolittle Raid, April 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. A B-25 Mitchell formation of the U.S. 12th Bombardment Group, Twelfth Air Force, flying over the Western Desert (North Africa). Photograph likely taken in 1943 or 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. The PBJ-1D, flying in proximity of Emirau Island, Papua New Guinea, 1944. These planes were part of Marine Bombing Squadron (VMB-443) 443. (Photo: U.S. Marines/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. PBJ-1H Mitchell on the deck of the USS Shangri-La, November 1944. This particular plane was utilized to test if the carrier (CV-38) could accommodate PBJ-1 Mitchells for use. (Photo: U.S. Navy National Aviation Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. U.S. 12th Bombardment Group (part of the Twelfth Air Force) B-25 Mitchells, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. The B-25H Bones dropping bombs (1,000-pound) over northern Italy in 1944. Bones was part of the U.S. 82nd Bombardment Group, 12th Air Force. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. The B-25 Here’s Howe attacking Japanese ships in Simpson Harbour, New Guinea, November 1943. The Here’s Howe was part of the U.S. 90th Bombardment Group, Fifth Air Force. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. The NAA B-25 Mitchell assembly line, with B-25s nearing completion. Inglewood, California, 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. The B-25A flying, ca. 1941. Location unknown. (USAF/National Museum of the U.S. Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. The B-25B, location and date unknown. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. B-25D Mitchell, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. B-25G Mitchell flying out of the USAAF Tactical Center, Orlando, Florida, 1944. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. The B-25J Mitchell, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The A-20 Havoc
A. An A-20A Havoc flying off the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, May 1941. This plane was flown by members of the USAAF 58th Bomb squadron. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. Later model A-20s (G or H models) of the US 9th Air Force over France, date unknown. (Photo: USAF/National Musuem of the USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The A-20A Havoc, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Spaee Musuem/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. John K. Northrop (1895 – 1981), businessman and one of the designers of the Douglas A-20 Havoc. Northrop stands here with the experimental XB-35 bomber. Photograph likely taken around 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. A landing RAF Boston Mk. IV. This plane was part of the No. 342 Squadron, an RAF Free French unit. Vitry-en-Artois, France, between 1939 and 1945. (Photo: Royal Air Force [RAF]/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. Instances of the RAF Boston Mk. III in flight, date unknown. (Photo: Royal Air Force [RAF]/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain[UK])
G. An A-20 Havoc at the end of an assembly line, for U.S. Army testing purposes. Long Beach California, in October 1942. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration, 1942/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. A formation of A-20 pf the Ninth Air Force in a pre-invasion bombing run, Pointe Du Hoc, Normandy, France, May 1944. (Photo: USAAF/National Museum of the U.S Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. A-20 formation of the 410th Bombardment Group, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An A-20 bombing a Japanese ship in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, off the coast of New Guinea, March 1944. (Photo: U.S. Government/USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. The A-20G in flight. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A-20s bombing a railyard in Domfront, Orne, France, June 1944. (Photo: National Archives, USA/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. The Douglas A-20B Havoc. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Musuem Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A South African Air Force (SAAF) Boston Mk. III near Shandur, Egypt. This plane belonged to the No. 24 Squadron. Photograph likely taken between 1939 and 1945. (Photo: U.K. Government, RAF/SAAF, 1939 – 1945/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. The Douglas A-20A, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. The USAAF A-20G Havoc. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. The USAAF Douglas P-70 “Black Magic” (bottom) accompanies a YP-61 Black Widow (top) approaching Orlando Army Air Base in November 1943. The YP-61 was a prototype of what would become the USAAF’s P-61 Black Widow fighter-bomber. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The B-29 Superfortress
A. A B-29A in flight, ca. 1945. This plane was on a long-range mission; location unknown. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A formation of B-29s of the U.S. 497th Bombardment Group, 1945. (Photo: U.S. National Archives, U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The B-29 Superfortress, location and date unknown, undergoing assembly. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Consolidated B-32 Dominator. This series of plane was intended to serve as a back-up bomber type, in the US Army Air Forces, for the B-29 Superfortress. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress in flight, location and date unknown. The B-29 was 99 feet in length, had a wingspan of over 140 feet, and weighed 74,500 pounds. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. A Boeing B-29 assembly line in Wichita, Kansas, date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. Airman 2nd Class Kenneth W. Roberts of the USAF 98th Bomb Wing (which was based in Japan), checking .50 caliber tail gun turrets on a B-29 before flying a mission against North Korea (the Korean War), March 1953. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. Two mechanics (U.S. Air Force Corporal John J. Green and Corporal Robert L. Cover) inspect an engine on a B-29 Superfortress on a U.S. Air Force base in Okinawa on September 12th, 1950. In this photo, they are changing the aircraft’s turbosupercharger. (Photo: USAF/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. A B-29 Superfortress of the 500th Bomb Group, U.S. Twentieth Air Force, at Isley Field, Saipan, in 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. Chabua Airfield in Chabua, Assam, India, in 1944. This is an example of the type of large Allied air base used in transporting materiel from India to China over the eastern Himalayas, or The Hump. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. The crew of the “20th Century Unlimited” a B-29 of the 40th Bombardment Group, U.S. Twentieth Air Force at Hsinching (Xinjin) Airfield, Chengdu, China, July 1944. The crew had just finished a raid on Anshan, Manchuria; missions out of Chengdu to Japanese-held areas in Asia were common at this point of the war. The aircraft later exploded in the Marianas Islands, (West Field on Tinian), on October 17th, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. B-29s of the U.S. 468th Bomb Group, flying over Rangoon, Burma (Myanmar), dropping bombs, March 22nd, 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. A B-29 Superfortress in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/media[dot]defense[dot]gov/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A B-29 of the 40th Bombardment Group on a partially-completed airfield in China, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. A B-29 Superfortress of the 40th Bombardment Group lands at Tinian, Marianas Islands, in 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A B-29 Superfortress group of the 468th Bombardment Group over Japan, 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. Tokyo as it appeared on March 10th, 1945. The city had been firebombed by a total of 279 B-29s, killing over 83,000 people, primarily civilians, in an attack often deemed the most devastating singular air attack of the war. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. The “Little Boy” bomb in August 1945, in Tinian, the Marianas Islands, before being loaded onto the B-29 Superfortress the Enola Gay. (Photo: archives[dot]gov/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. The nose of the Bockscar, the B-29 that dropped the plutonium bomb “Fat Man” on Nagasaki on August 9th, 1945. (Photo: USAF/National Museum of the Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. The smoke from the atomic bomb over Hiroshima, Japan, August 6th, 1945. The plume of smoke pictured here reached a height of around 20,000 feet; the blast and resulting radiation killed an estimated 140,000 military personnel and civilians in 1945. B-29s of the U.S. 509th Composite group (particularly the Enola Gay) were responsible for the bomb’s deployment. (Photo: George R. Caron/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. The devastated remains of the Nagasaki Medical Hospital and College as they appeared on November 23rd, 1945. Nagasaki had been bombed by a plutonium device on August 9th, 1945, killing an estimated 80,000 people by both blast and radiation sickness. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. A USAF 98th Bomb Group B-29 in flight, location unknown, 1950. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. B-29s of the U.S. 39th Bomb Group bombing targets in Hiratsuka, Japan, July 16th, 1945. This unit was based in North Field (Anderson Air Force Base), Yigo, Guam. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. A USAAF B-29 of the 444th Bombardment Group, location unknown, in 1944. This B-29 was nicknamed “Dutchess”. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. A B-29 Superfortress, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. A B-29A Superfortress in 1948. This plane was part of the 24th Bomber Squadron, 6th Bomber Group — part of the 1948 Strategic Air Command. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. A B-29B of the 16th Bombardment Group, US Army Air Forces. This particular plane was the “Pacusan Dreamboat”, in a photograph from 1947. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. The KB-50J, operating with the 421st Air Refueling Squadron, in flight, location and date unknown. This was, in essence, a very heavily modified B-29D — note the fuel tanks on the wings. (Photo: USAF/National Museum of the Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. The “Silverplate” B-29 Superfortress known as “Bockscar” — the plane that dropped the plutonium bomb on Nagasaki, Japan, August 9th, 1945. It is pictured here at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, in July 2007. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AD. The B-50D Superfortress, a modified version of the B-29 Superfortress, in flight. Location and date unknown. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-38 Lightning
A. A P-38H Lightning in flight, ca. 1943. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A P-38G Lightning at Kukum Field (also known as Fighter 2 Airfield) in Guadalcanal, 1943. USAAF P-38s of the 18th and 347th Fighter Groups (within which contained the 12th and 68th Fighter Squadrons, respectively) operated out of this location. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. Lockheed’s YP-38, a P-38 prototype, in a full-scaled test wind tunnel. Langley Research Center, Hampton, Virginia, ca. 1941. (Photo: U.S. National Park Service/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. Benjamin Kelsey (1906 – 1981) the American air engineer and test pilot responsible for the 1939 flying of the XP-38 prototype from March Field, Riverside, California, to Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York. He is seen here exiting a P-36A in Wright Field, Ohio, in 1938. (Photo: USAAC/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. Lockheed’s XP-38A, a modified version of the YP-38, in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. A P-38 Lightning factory riveter at the Lockheed plant in Burbank, California, ca. 1940 – 1945. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. P-38 Lightnings in a Lockheed Aircraft Corporation mechanized conveyor belt line, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. P-38 Lightnings of the U.S. Eight Air Force (the 20th Fighter Group in particular) over France on June 29th, 1944. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. A P-38F Lightning in Iceland, November 1942. This plane was located at Camp Tripoli Airfield, and belonged to the 14th Fighter Group – the 50th Fighter Squadron, specifically. . (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. The F-5 Lightning, a reconnaissance variation of the P-38 fighter, in flight over France, post-May 1944. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. A P-38F of the U.S. Twelfth Air Force (the 14th Fighter Group in particular), North Africa, 1943. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A P-38L Lightning formation of the U.S. 15th Air Force (the 96th Fighter Squadron of the 82nd Fighter Group) in flight, Italy, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. USAAF Major Robert L. Faurot (1917 – 1943), standing next to a P-38 Lighting in New Guinea on January 20th, 1943. Known as the first American to shoot down a Japanese plane with a P-38 in the Fifth Air Force of the Pacific Theatre, Faurot was later killed in action on March 23, 1943 after being intercepted by several Mitsubishi Zero fighters. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. USAAF Major Richard “Dick” Bong (1920 – 1945) an airman and fighter ace. Bong had the highest aerial victories (with 40 claimed) of the United States Army Air Forces, flying the P-38 Lightning. (Photo: U.S. Federal Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. P-38s of the U.S. 15th Air Force (the 1st Fighter Group in particular) over Yugoslavia, 1944. (USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. Women Airforce Service Pilot (WASP) Ruth Dailey (1916 -2015) on a P-38 Lightning, location unknown, ca. 1943 -1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. P-38L-5 Lightning in flight, location unknown, in 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. P-38J Lightning, ca. 1944, flying over California. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. Lockheed’s XP-38, the prototype of what would later become the P-38 Lightning. Location and date unknown.(Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
T. Lockheed’s YP-38, the test version of the P-38 ordered by the Army Air Forces, flying in 1943. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. The P-38D Lightning. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
V. A photo of a parked, location and date unknown, Lockheed P-38G Lightning. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. A formation, location and date unknown, of P-38L Lightnings. (U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. The P-38M Night Lightning in flight, location unknown, ca. 1945. (Photo: The Airplane Phoo Supply of the USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The A-26 Invader
A. A United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) A-26B Invader in flight, location unknown, in 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An A-26 Invader, location and date unknown, in flight. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A B-26B Invader in Japan, 1950. This plane belonged to the 3d Bombardment Group, and is being fitted with a “Double Wasp” R-2800-27 Pratt & Whitney engine in this photograph. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Douglas Aircraft’s A-20G Havoc, the plane on which the A-26 Invader was based, location and date unknown.(Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. A B-26 Invader of the U.S. Fifth Air Force, the 452 Light Bomb Wing specifically, being fitted with a 100-pound bomb, location and date unknown. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense/U.S. Government/defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The reloading of an A-26 Invader’s machine guns. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. An A-26B of the USAAF in flight, ca. 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. A photograph, location and date unknown, of an A-26B Invader. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
I. Nose detail of an A-26C Invader. This particular plane was a part of the 492nd Bomb Group, pictured in Harrington, England, 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An A-26B Invader on the island of Mindoro in the Philippines, 1945. This plane was part of the 8th Bombardment Squadron, US Fifth Air Force, shown here on McGuire Field in the San Jose municipality. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An A-26B Invader in Okinawa, August 20th, 1945. This plane was part of the 3rd Bomber Group, 8th Bomber Squadron, and is shown here in Machinato Airfield. (Photo: James P Gallaher/ U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. Flying A-26 Invaders of the U.S. 9th Air Force (based in the European Theatre), 416th Bomb Group, 669th Bomb Squadron, in 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. Five US Air Force (USAF) B-26Bs follow a B-26C during a training mission over Japan, July 11th, 1950. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. B-26 Invaders flying over Korea, dropping 500-lb bombs, during the Korean War. Photograph taken ca. October 18th, 1951. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. A B-26 Invader of the U.S. 452 Bombardment Wing dropping napalm bombs during the Korean War. Korea, May 1951. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A B-26B Invader testing its arms in Korea on November 27, 1952. This plane belonged to the USAF 3rd Bomb Wing (Light). (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. A-26C Invaders, likely of French military over Vietnam, in 1954. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. A B26-B Invader in flight over Southeast Asia (likely Vietnam), ca. 1960 to 1964. This plane notably has Vietnam Air Force (VNAF) markings. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. An A-26B Invader in flight, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. A B-26B Invader bombing North Korea on May 29th, 1951. This plane belonged to the USAF 542nd Bombardment Wing. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. A B-26C Invader of the 3rd Bomb Wing, Fifth Air Force, releasing bombs over Korea in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. The Douglas JD-1 Invader. In this instance, the plane is carrying a target drone (the Ryan KDA Firebee) in an unknown location, ca. 1950s. (Photo: U.S. Navy/San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain/No known copyright restrictions)
W. The XA-26 piloted by Benny Howard in Mines Field, Los Angeles, California, July 10th, 1942. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. The A-26B Invader, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. An A-26C Invader of the New Mexico Air National Guard, ca. 1947 – 1952. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. The JD-1 Invader of the U.S. Navy Utility Squadron VU-7. This photograph was taken around the Naval Air Station, located in North Island, California, in the 1950s. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. The B-26K Counter Invader, location unknown, ca. 1964. (Photo: U.S. Department of Defense/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F9F Panther
A. An F9F-2 Panther of the U.S. Navy, location unknown, c. 1949. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An early production version (in fact the tenth production version) of the F9F-2 Panther being flown over the Patuxent River area, Maryland. This plane was being tested out of the U.S. Air Naval Test Center, also in Maryland. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A Navy F9F-2 Panther aboard the USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA-31) on November 27th, 1952. This Panther, which is being elevated to the surface of the aircraft carrier to be armed and fueled for an attack run, belonged to VF-72, or the Hawks — which itself was known as CVG-7, or Carrier Air Group Seven. (Photo: AF2 J.G. Johnson/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Grumman F7F Tigercat, location and date unknown. The F7F was a propeller-driven plane that was to serve as a basis for the company’s jet-powered XF9F-1. The jet engines in the XF9F-1 were to be located in the wings where the F7F’s propellers were. (Photo: The San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
E. The XF9F-3 Panther, in the foreground, and the XF9F-2 Panther behind it, in flight in 1948. The XF9F was Grumman’s Panther prototype, the difference between the two was that the XF9F-2 was powered by original (or license-built) Rolls-Royce Nene jet engines, and the XF9F-3 was powered by the Allison J33 jet engine. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. An F9F-2 Panther preparing to land on the USS Boxer (CV-21) in July 1952. This plane was of U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron 24 (VF-24). The USS Boxer was part of Task Force 77, note the extended arrestor hook and the two ships in the upper background. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. An F9F-5 Panther of the U.S. Navy’s Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1), the Fighter Squadron 111 (VF-111) in particular. This particular jet is flying above the Korean peninsula on June 14th, 1953. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. The Grumman F9F-8 Cougar, the swept-wing version of the F9F Panther. This plane was part of the U.S. Navy’s Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3), Fighter Squadron 53 (VF-53) in particular. This plane operated off of USS Shangri-La (CVA-38); this photograph was taken in 1956. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An F9F-5 Panther of the U.S. Navy in front of a volcano, location unknown, ca. 1954. This particular plane belonged to Carrier Air Group 2 (CVG-2), which operated at the time off the USS Yorktown (CVA-10). (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An F9F-2 Panther flying during the Korean conflict on August 1st, 1952. This plane operated for Carrier Air Group Seven, or CVG-7, and was part of Navy Air Fighter Squadron 71, or VF-71, in particular. At this time, VF-71 operated off the Navy carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CV-31). Other carriers present in this picture are the carrier to the right, the USS Essex ( also known as CV-9) and another carrier, the USS Princeton (also known as CV-37). (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. F9F-3 Panthers aboard the USS Valley Forge (CV-45) in July 1950. These aircraft belonged to the Navy’s Fighter Squadron 51, or VF-51, and were part of Carrier Air Group 5 (CVG-5). Panthers operating of the Valley Forge were active in the early era of the Korean War. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. U.S. Navy F9F-2 Panthers in flight during the Korean War, ca. May 1951. These planes belonged to Fighter Squadron 191 (also known as VF-191) and operated off the USS Princeton (also known as CV-37) from November 9th 1950 to May 29th, 1951. The USS Princeton is incidentally the carrier ship in this picture. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. U.S. Marine Corps F9F-2 Panthers of the VMF-314 (Marine Fighter Squadron 314) in 1953, flying over waters off of Korea. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A U.S. Marine Corps F9F-2 Panther attacking a ground target in North Korea, ca. August 1951. Targets at this time were marked by U.S. Air Force T6-G Mosquito reconnaissance aircraft, in this case of the Air Force’s 6147th Tactical Control Group. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. F9F-2B Panthers of the U.S. Naval Reserve over waters off the coast of Korea on July 27th, 1951. In the background is the destroyer the USS Tingey (DD-539). These F9F-2Bs were part of the Navy’s Fighter Squadron 721 (VF-721) and operated off of the USS Boxer (CV-21). (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. An F9F-2 Panther over a South Korean island on June 27th, 1952. This plane belonged to the U.S. Navy’s Fighter Squadron 24, or VF-24. VF-24 was part of Carrier Air Group 2 (CVG-2) operated off of the USS Boxer (CV-21), a US. Navy aircraft carrier. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. A Navy F9F-2 Panther over a Naval Air Station in the 1950s. This particular plane being flown out of the Naval Air Station of the Patuxent River in Maryland. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. In a photograph released August 2nd, 1950, location unknown, an F9F Panther is armed with six rockets. These six-inch weapons were carried via underneath wing pylons. (Photo: U.S. Navy/National Musuem of the U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. The Navy’s Blue Angels as they appeared on December 8th, 1952. These were F9F-5 Panthers, the second type of F9F (the other being the F9F-2) used by the naval air demonstration team. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. The U.S. Navy Blue Angels aerobatics demonstration team flying the F9F-2 Panther. ca. 1950. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. F9F-2 Panthers aboard the U.S. Navy aircraft carrier the USS Valley Forge over the winter of 1951 to 1952. These planes belonged to Air Task Group 1 (ATG-1) the Fighter Squadron 51, or VF-51, in particular. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. What appears to be a wooden model of the Grumman G-75, or XF9F-1, date unknown. The XF9F-1 was intended to be a two-seated night fighter with its jet engines located in the wings. (Photo: The San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
W. The XF9F-2 Panther in flight over Long Island, New York, 1948. This particular plane was test-piloted by C.H. “Corky” Meyers. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. An F9F-2 Panther of the U.S. Navy in the early 1950s (between 1950 and 1952) . This particular plane was part of the Navy’s Fighter Squadron 112 (VF-112) as part of Carrier Air Group 11 (CVG-11); and the Squadron operated off of the USS Valley Forge (CV-45) and the USS Philippine Sea (CV-47) during the Korean War. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. The F9F-3 Panther of the U.S. Navy over Patuxent River, Maryland, in the early 1950s (between 1950 and 1954, specifically). This particular plane was fitted with an adjustable gun turret in the nose, an experimental electrical/hydraulic attachment that was ultimately deemed too bulky for combat use. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. The U.S. Navy F9F-5 Panther of the Fighter Squadron 53 (VF-53) ca. 1953. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. A U.S. Marine Corps F9F-2 Panther aboard the USS Franklin D. Roosevelt (CVB-42), location unknown, between September and December 1950. This plane was part of Marine Fighter Squadron 223 (VMF-223). (Photo: U.S. Navy/Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-84 Thunderjet
A. P-84B Thunderjets of the USAF’s 14th Fighter Group, the 48th Fighter Squadron in particular. The 14th Fighter Group operated out of Dow Air Force Base, Maine; this photograph was taken in 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. F-84E Thunderjets flying over Korea, ca. 1951. This unit F-84Es belonged to the 27th Fighter Escort Group which during the Korean War operated out of bases in Korea and Japan. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A model of an F-84 Thunderjet in a National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) low-speed wind tunnel circa 1945. (Photo: NACA/NASA/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
D. A Republic P-47N Thunderbolt, exact location (perhaps Western Europe) and date unknown. Early in the F-84 Thunderjet’s development, it was suggested that a jet engine be fitted in the P-47’s airframe. This idea, however, never came to realization. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. A P-80C Shooting Star of the 132nd Fighter Squadron, part of the Maine National Guard, location unknown, in 1950. Unlike the F-84 Thunderjet, the Shooting Star used centrifugal compressor engines, which limited speed and performance in terms of acceleration. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The Republic XP-84, location and date unknown. The XP-84 was Republic Aviation’s prototype for what would become the F-84 Thunderjet. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum /Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
G. An F-84B Thunderjet of the USAF 37th Fighter Squadron, at Dow Field, Maine, ca. 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. F-84D Thunderjets of the 118th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in 1954. The 118th Fighter-Bomber Squadron were part of the Connecticut Air National Guard. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An F-84-E Thunderjet taking off in Korea, ca. 1952. This plane belonged to the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, the 9th Fighter-Bomber Squadron. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An F-84F Thundersteak of the USAF 91stTactical Fighter Squadron in 1957. The 91st operated out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Bentwater, UK, at this time. The F-84F was a swept-wing variant of the F-84 Thunderjet, produced after the straighter-winged F-84G. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An F-84G Thunderjet of the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group receiving in-air refueling over Korea in 1953. The F-84G was the first USAF jet fighter capable of in-air refueling. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. F-84E Thunderjets of the USAF 49th (or 474th) Fighter-Bomber Wing in flight over Korea, ca. 1951 to 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. A P-84B Thunderjet of the USAF 14th Fighter Group, the 48th Fighter Squadron in particular. This photograph was taken in 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. F-84Gs in takeoff during the Korean War, 1950s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F-84E Thunderjet, location and date unknown, using rockets to attack a target on the ground. (Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A group of F-84Es of the USAF 12th Fighter-Escort Wing being transported to Japan aboard the USS Sitkoh Bay (CVE-86) in August 1951.(Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. An F-84 Thunderjet is being refueled in-air, a practice that began with Operation High Tide, which started in spring 1952. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. F-84E Thunderjets of the USAF 474th Fighter-Bomber Wing over Korea in 1952. These jets appear to be loaded with bombs underneath their fuselages, in line with the F-84’s ground-attack duties during the Korean War. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. A group of F-84E Thunderjets of the Ohio National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Squadron, ca. 1955 to 1957. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. Republic F-84B (or D) Thunderjets of the USAF 78th Fighter-Interceptor Group in 1949. At this time, the 78th was operating out of Hamilton Air Force Base, California. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. United States Army Air Force (USAAF) F-84 Thunderjets en route to the 31st Fighter Group, which was based in Germany, in 1947. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An F-84G Thunderjet of the USAF 31st Fighter Escort Wing, taking off from Hickam Field, Hawaii, en route to Japan. The 31st, in this 1952 trip, originally flew from Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, and was led by Colonel David Schilling. (Photo: USAF/31st Fighter Wing History Office/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. An F-84E Thunderjet of the USAF 512th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. F-84 Thunderjet fighters, left, of the 48th Fighter Wing being refueled in-air over the Philippines in 1953. The larger planes on the right are KB-29M Superfortresses of the 43rd Air Refueling Squadron, bomber aircraft re-purposed for in-air refueling. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. An F-84 Thunderjet, location and date unknown, having its canopy cleaned. (Photo: E. Galbraith/ USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. F-84G Thunderjets of the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing in 1954. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. A P-84B Thunderjet of the USAF 49th Fighter Squadron in 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain).
AB. F-84C Thunderjets of the 306th Flying Training Group, operating out of Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. An F-84E Thunderjet of the USAF 36th Fighter-Bomber Wing in 1951. The 36th operated out of Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Germany at this time. (Photo: USAF/USAF Historical Research Agency/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AD. An F-84F Thunderstreak of the 169th Tactical Fighter Squadron, Illinois Air National Guard, in 1959. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AE. The RF-84F Thunderflash in flight, location and date unknown. The RF-84 Thunderflash was an F-84F Thunderstreak fitted with reconnaissance equipment. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AF. An F-84G of the 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing (formerly the 137th FBW) , based in Chaumont Air Base, Haute-Marne, France, in 1953. (Photo: USAF/U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-51 Mustang
A. The North American P-51 Mustang — also known as the Mustang Mk.IA, flying over Inglewood, California in October 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Office of War Information/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A P-51D of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force, 31st Fighter Group, 1944. The Fifteenth Air Force was based in southeastern Italy at this time. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A P-51 Mustang being constructed in Los Angeles, California. This was at the North American Aviation (NAA) plant, in 1942. (Photo: Alfred T. Palmer/U.S. Office of War Information/U.S. Library of Congress/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The Curtiss XP-46A, location and date unknown. The XP-46A was a prototype fighter believed to have inspired North American Aviation’s P-51 Mustang; however, NAA engineers may have developed many of the P-51’s features independently. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
E. North American Aviation’s NA-73X, location and date unknown. This was the first produced prototype of the P-51 Mustang. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. A Royal Air Force (RAF) Mustang Mk.I in a test-flight over Inglewood, California, in October 1942. The Mustang Mk.I was the first production model of North American Aviation’s Mustang. In this photo, the Mustang Mk.I has British camouflage and American insignia.(Photo: Mark Sherwood/U.S. Office of War Information/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. P-51 Mustangs, possibly A-36 Apaches, being sent to England as part of the Lend-Lease Act. Location and date unknown. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Adminstration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. A group of A-36A Apaches, the dive-bombing version of the P-51 Mustang. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/ Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
I. A P-51A, location and date unknown. This was the “Slick Chick”, said to be the second P-51A ever built. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. A P-51B Mustang, exact date unknown, of the USAAF 354th Fighter Group, the 355th Fighter Squadron in particular, located in RAF Boxted, England (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. The Royal Air Force’s (RAF) Mustang Mk. X, location and date unknown. Note the four-bladed propeller and extended lower nose cowling. (Photo: U.K. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A P-51B Mustang of the 355th Fighter Group, U.S. Eighth Air Force. Note the bubble-shaped “Malcolm Hood” on top to increase visibility from the cockpit. Location unknown, photograph taken during World War II. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. The prototype P-51D Mustang, location and date unknown. This prototype was actually a P-51B that had its features modified. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A P-51D Mustang, location unknown, ca. 1944 or 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. The P-51K Mustang, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
P. The P-51 H Mustang, location and date unknown. This late-model P-51 variant did not see combat in the Second World War. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. The Piper PA-48 Enforcer, a modified Cavalier (civilian-built) Mustang. Date unknown; this was at the U.S. Air Force Museum, in Riverside, Ohio. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. P-51D Mustangs of the U.S. Twentieth Air Force, 15th Fighter Group, the 45th Fighter Squadron in particular, performing escorting duties in June 1945. This mission was being flown out of Central Field in Iwo Jima. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. The Mustang Mk. III, location and date unknown, equipped with weapons for testing purposes. Note the RAF markings on the fuselage. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
T. An A-36 Apache, with crew, of the 27th Fighter Bomber Group – likely in the Mediterranean Theatre, ca. 1943 or 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. The North American A-36A Apache, location and date unknown. The A-36A Apache was a version of the P-51 Mustang fitted with flaps in the wings for dive-bombing purposes. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. A P-51C of the U.S. Fourteenth Air Force, 311th Fighter Group, in escort duties (for Douglas C-47 Skytrains) over China, on July 24th, 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. Two P-51A Mustangs of the 1st Air Commando Group, ca. 1944 or 1945. The foreground plane is “Mrs. Virginia”, flown by a Deputy Commander named Petty, the background plane is flown by Commanding Officer Phil Cochran. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. Three P-51Ds and one P-51B (second from front) of the 339th Fighter Group, the 505th Fighter Squadron in particular, of the U.S. Eight Air Force. The unit operated out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Fowlmere; this photo was likely taken around 1944 or 1945. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. P-51B Mustangs readying for takeoff, location and date unknown. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. P-51 Mustangs of the 31st Fighter Group of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force, in San Severo Airfield, Italy, in 1944. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. A P-51D Mustang of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, 361st Fighter Group, 375th Fighter Squadron in particular, flying over England on July 26th 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. P-51D Mustangs of the 31st Fighter Group, the 308th Fighter Squadron in particular. This unit was part of the US. Fifteenth Air Force (based in southern Italy) at this time; photograph taken in May 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. Major George E. Preddy (1919 – 1944) the top P-51 Ace of World War II. He is pictured here with his P-51D Mustang, “Cripes A’ Mighty 3rd” in 1944. Preddy was part of the 352nd Fighter Group, U.S. Eight Air Force, based in England — and is credited with a total of over 26 air-to-air kills during his military career. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AD. A P-51D of the U.S. Seventh Air Force, 15th Fighter Group, 78th Fighter Squadron in particular. This photograph is on the island of Iwo Jima, likely ca. 1945. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AE. Pilots of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force next to the P-51 Mustang “Skipper’s Darlins” in Italy, August 1944. These pilots were, right to left, Lt. Clarence P. Lester, Captain Andrew D. Turner, Lt. Robert H. Nelson, Jr., Lt. Carroll S. Woods, and Lt. Dempsey W. Morgan, Jr. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AF. A P-51D (or K) Mustang of the 332d Fighter Group. one with “Red Tail” markings, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AG. Standing next to his P-51 Mustang is Col. Herschel H. Green (1920 – 2006) in 1944. Green was a pilot considered a Mustang Ace, with a total of 18 enemy aircraft shootdowns in World War II. He was part of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force, in 325th Fighter Group, and flew P-40 Warhawks and P-47 Thunderbolts in addition to P-51 Mustangs. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AH. A P-51D Mustang operating out of Little Walden Airfield, England, during the Second World War. This particular plane belonged to the U.S. Eighth Air Force, 361st Fighter Group, the 376th Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: U.S. National Archives/U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AI. A group of P-51 Mustangs of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, 361st Fighter Group, the 375th Fighter Squadron in particular. This group of four planes was known as the “Bottisham Four”, operating out of Royal Air Force (RAF) Bottisham, in Cambridgeshire county, England – flying on July 26th, 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AJ. An F-51D Mustang over North Korea (Korean War in 1951. This plane is dropping napalm tanks on an industrial area; the plane was part of the U.S. Fifth Air Force, the 39th Fighter Interceptor Squadron of the 18th Fighter Bomber Wing. (Photo: National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AK. Two variants of the Mustang, the P-51D and the F-82 Twin Mustang, location and date unknown, in flight. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AL. A P-51 Mustang, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AM. The A-36 Apache, date unknown, likely at the U.S. Air Force Museum in Riverside, Ohio. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AN. The P-51A Mustang, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AO. The P-51B Mustang “Miss Pea Ridge” piloted by Mack Tyner. This was part of the U.S. Ninth Air Force, 354th Fighter Group, the 356th Fighter Squadron in particular, and is shown flying here in 1944. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AP. P-51C Mustangs at Madna Airfield, Italy, in July 1944. These P-51s belonged to the 52nd Fighter Group, the 5th Fighter Squadron in particular, part of the U.S. Fifteenth Air Force. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AQ. The P-51D Mustang “Marie” of the U.S. 15th Air Force, 52nd Fighter Group, the 2nd Fighter Squadron in particular, location unknown, in 1944 or 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AR. The NAA XP-82 Twin Mustang, a prototype of what would later become the F-82 Twin Mustang. It is show here flying over the Sierra Nevada in 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AS. The Piper PA-48 Enforcer. This was Piper Aircraft’s modified version of the Cavalier Mustang, itself a civilian-constructed version of the P-51 Mustang. Date unknown, this is at the U.S. Air Force Museum, in Riverside, Ohio. (Photo: USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The P-47 Thunderbolt
A. The P-47D Thunderbolt, also known as the “Razorback” type due to the appearance of its canopy. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A formation of three P-47N Thunderbolts, perhaps in the Pacific Theatre, ca. 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A model of the XP-47 in a wind tunnel, location unknown, 1942. (Photo: National Advisory Commitee for Aeronautics/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. Alexander Seversky stands in front of the SEV-3, location unknown, 1934. (Photo: USAAC/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. Alexander Seversky waves from a Seversky SEV-3 in the 1930s. The SEV-3 was amphibious and had a capacity of three people. (Photo: Unknown Author/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. An SEV-3 with amphibious pontoons at Wright Field (Riverside, Ohio, United States) in 1934. (Photo: USAAC/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The Seversky P-35, Seversky’s predecessor to the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
H. The Seversky XP-41, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAAC/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. Alexander Kartveli (1896 – 1974), a Georgian-born American engineer who, along with Alexander de Seversky, helped design aircraft with the Seversky Aircraft Corporation and Republic Aviation Company, including the P-47 Thunderbolt. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
J. The P-43 Lancer, a Republic aircraft that preceded the P-47 Thunderbolt. It is pictured here flying above Esler Field, Louisiana (United States) on March 9th, 1942. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. The Pratt & Whitney R-2800 engine. Reaching output capacities of at least 2,000 horsepower, this was the foundational engine on which the P-47 Thunderbolt — among other aircraft — was based. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A P-47B Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. The P-47C Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A later-model P-47D Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. Note the bubble canopy to increase visibility from the cockpit. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
O. A Staff Sergeant (on ground) and Captain (on wing) converse near a P-47D Thunderbolt, location unknown, of the 56th Fighter Group, U.S. Eighth Air Force, in 1943. The Staff Sergeant was John E. Barnes, the Captain was Walker “Bud” Mahurin. (Photo: Unknown Author/Imperial War Museums [UK])/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A P-47D Thunderbolt of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, 361st Fighter Group, the 376th Fighter Squadron in particular, location unknown, in 1944.. This plane was flown by Captain John D. Duncan; the plane was lost on August 3rd, 1944 when piloted by Lieutenant Roach Stewart Jr. (declared killed in action) of the 56th Fighter Group, 63rd Fighter Squadron (Eighth Air Force). (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. A P-47D Thunderbolt, “Chunky” having its propellers pulled by ground grew to foster its engine function. This photograph was taken at RAF Station 411, or High Halden, in Kent county, England, in June 1944. This plane belonged to the U.S. Ninth Air Force, 358th Fighter Group, the 365th Fighter Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. A formation of P-47Ds of the 348th Fighter Group of the U.S. Fifth Air Force on September 27th, 1943. This unit was then operating out of Port Moresby, New Guinea. (Photo: Australian Armed Forces/Australian War Memorial/Wikimedia Commons/Photo [015831] copyright expired and is public domain as per Australian War Memorial awm[dot]gov[dot]au/Photo Public Domain in the United States)
S. A P-47D Thunderbolt (named the “Miss Lorraine”) of the U.S. Fifth Air Force, 348th Fighter Group, the 341st Fighter Squadron in particular, on Morotai Airfield, Morotai Island, Indonesia, on January 8th, 1945. (Photo: John Thomas Harrison/Australian War Memorial/Australian Armed Forces/Wikimedia Commons/Photo [OG3384] copyright expired and is public domain as per Australian War Memorial awm[dot]gov[dot]au/Photo Public Domain in the United States)
T. P-47 Thunderbolts of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, the 78th Fighter Group, at the Royal Air Force (RAF) Duxford Aerodrome (located in Cambridgeshire County, England) in 1944. (Photo: Unknown Author/Imperial War Museums [UK])/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. Later model, and recently arrived P-47 Thunderbolts at the U.S. Seventh Air Force’s Agana Airfield in Guam, the Marianas Islands, on March 28th, 1945. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. A Thunderbolt Mk. I, the Royal Air Force (RAF) version of the P-47D Thunderbolt, location unknown, ca. 1944. (Photo: RAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. A formation of P-47B Thunderbolts in flight, 1942. The location is unknown; these planes belonged to the U.S. 56th Fighter Group. The 56th Fighter Group would fly under the U.S. Eighth Air Force (based in the UK) starting in 1943. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. The P-47D Thunderbolt, location and date unknown, firing rockets. (Photo: USAF/media[dot]defense[dot]gov/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. U.S. Army Air Corps (Forces) Colonel Neel E. Kearby (1911 – 1944), considered a P-47 Thunderbolt Ace, with a total of 22 air victories throughout his career. He fought in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Fifth Air Force; he is pictured here ca. 1943. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. P-47D Thunderbolts, along with P-51D Mustangs, positioned for maintenance in April 1945. This was at Lingayen Airfield on the island of Luzon, Philippines. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. The P-47B Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. The P-47C Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AC. The P-47D Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AD. The P-47M Thunderbolt, location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AE. The P-47N Thunderbolt, exact location (perhaps Western Europe) and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-80 Shooting Star
A. Three F-80 Shooting Stars over Korea, ca. August 1952. These fighters are each armed with two 500-pound bombs (under the mid-portion of their wings) and are headed toward what the UN Forces called “Bunker Hill” — the area near Panmunjom, North Korea. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. The production version of the P-80 Shooting Star, date unknown, at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton, Virginia, United States. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The P-80 Shooting Star, exact location and date unknown. (Photo: Aeronautical Systems Center [ASC[ History Office/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. Work is being done on an FP-80A Shooting Star, location and date unknown. The FP-80A was a photo-reconnaissance version of the Shooting Star. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
E. The Bell P-59 Airacomet, location and date unknown. The Airacomet was the first jet fighter produced in the United States. As the aircraft was not viable as a jet fighter, it never saw combat use. The P-80 Shooting Star produced by Lockheed, however, was able to surpass the Airacomet in speed and performance abilities. (Photo: USAAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. A P-80A Shooting Star of the USAAF 38th (or 307th) Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, in Germany, 1946. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The USAAF P-80A Shooting Star, location unknown, in 1946. (Photo: USAAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. An F-80C Shooting Star of the USAF 8th Fighter-Bomber group, the 80th Fighter Bomber Squadron in particular. This photo was in Korea from around 1950 to 1952. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. The XP-80A known as the “Gray Ghost”, in flight, location and date unknown. The “Gray Ghost” was one of two XP-80As produced. This plane was painted, the other plane was unpainted and referred to as the “Silver Ghost”. (Photo: USAF/edwards[dot]af[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. The USAF F-80 Shooting Star operatiing in a test pilot capacity. The F-80 was introduced to test schools in August 1947; this photo was taken circa 1947. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An early production P-80A Shooting Star, location unknown, in flight, ca. 1946 or 1947. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. The U.S. Navy’s TO-1 Shooting Stars in flight around San Diego, California, on August 11th, 1948. These planes belonged to Fighter Squadron VF-52, also known as the Knightriders. The TO-1 was the U.S. Navy’s version of the F-80C Shooting Star; 50 examples procured by the branch in the late 1940s. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. A P-80C of the 36th Fighter-Bomber Group, operating out of Suwon Air Base located in South Korea, 1950. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A P-80R at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio, date unknown. The P-80R was a version of the XP-80B converted by Lockheed for racing purposes. (Photo: USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. A P-80C of the 132nd Fighter Squadron, part of the Maine National Guard, location unknown, in 1950. P-80 Shooting Stars were assigned to U.S. Air National guard units in the late 1940s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. An F-80A of the 35th Fighter Squadron, in Itazuke Air Base, Fukuoka, Japan, 1950. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. An F-80C taking off on February 1st, 1951 in Korea. It is equipped with two napalm bombs under its wings, and fuel tanks under its wingtips. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. A Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, the main Soviet jet fighter of the Korean War (1950 – 1953). Though the P-80 Shooting Star was able to outperform Soviet propeller-driven craft, the MiG-15 was much faster than the P-80 — prompting the Shooting Star to be used for more ground-attack duties. This particular aircraft was delivered to the USAF by an enemy defector in 1953, thus it bears US Air Force Markings. (Photo: USAF/edwards[dot]af[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. F-80Cs in the 49th Fighter-Bomber Group, the 8th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in particular. The planes are equipped with what are considered “Misawa”-style fuel tanks. This photograph was taken in Korea in either 1950 or 1951. (Photo: B. Butcher/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. A demonstration team of P-80 Shooting Stars, location unknown, in 1959. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. A unit of the F-80B Shooting Star of the Florida Air National Guard in 1949. These planes belonged to the 159th Squadron. (Photo: Florida Air National Guard/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An F-80C Shooting Star takes off from a South Korean-based USAF airfield, 1950s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. F-80C Shooting Stars over Korea in August 1952. These particular planes were part of the USAF 8th Fighter Bomber Wing, the 36th Fighter Bomber Squadron in particular. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. An F-80C Shooting Star of the USAF 8th Fighter-Bomber Group, the 35th Fighter Squadron in particular. This photograph was taken in 1950 over Japan; Mount Fuji is in the background. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. A unit of the U.S. Navy’s TO-1 Shooting Star flying near San Diego in 1948. This particular unit was the Navy’s VF-52 Knightriders, flying the TO-1, the Navy’s version of the P-80C. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. An RF-80A Shooting Star of the 161st Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in 1950. This unit was operating out of Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina. A version of the P-80A, the RF-80A Shooting Star was equipped with two 225-gallon tanks underneath the wingtips. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. An RF-80A, a photoreconnaissance version of the P-80A Shooting Star of the 160th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron in Toul Air Base , Grand Est, France, in 1952. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. The XP-80, the prototype of what would become the P-80 Shooting Star, in the 1940s. This plane was nicknamed “Lulu-Belle”. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. A photograph, location and date unknown, of the XP-80A in flight. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AD. A P-80A at Ames Aeronautical Laboratory, Moffett Field , Santa Clara County, California, on July 22nd, 1946. (Photo: NASA on the Commons/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
AE. A P-80B Shooting Star at the U.S. Air Force Furstenfeldbruck Air Base, Bavaria, Germany, in 1948. This plane was part of the USAF 23rd Fighter Squadron. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AF. A P-80C, date unknown, at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. (Photo: USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AG. An F-80C Shooting Star in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1955. This plane belonged to the 159th Fighter Squadron of the Florida National Guard. ((Photo: Florida Air National Guard/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AH. A RF-80A Shooting Star of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in Korea, 1952. The RF-80A was the reconnaissance version of the P-80 Shooting Star, equipped with cameras. (Photo: USAF Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AI. The U.S. Navy’s version of the T-33 Shooting Star training aircraft, the T2V, location unknown, photographed on July 6th, 1953. This plane was part of the Navy’s Advanced Training Unit (ATU) 200. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AJ. The Lockheed F-94 Starfire, location and date unknown. The F-94 was derived from the T-33 Shooting Star. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
The F-86 Sabre
A. The F-86F Sabre in flight in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. The F-86A Sabre in 1951. (Photo: USAF/af[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The F-86A Sabre, location and date unknown, the first version of Sabre by North American Aviation. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
D. The FJ-1 Fury, developed and produced by North American Aviation. The FJ-1 was a U.S. Navy straight-winged fighter that served as a basis for the development of the F-86 Sabre. It is shown here, location unknown, in 1947. Including prototypes, only 33 instances of this craft were made. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The U.S. Navy’s FJ-1, left, flying next to the XFJ-2B, a swept-wing prototype fighter that would eventually become the Navy’s carrier-based FJ-2 (and -3) Fury, location unknown. Both were produced by North American Aviation; the FJ-2 and -3 differed from the F-86 Sabre in that they had folding wings and stronger landing gear, among other differences. This photo was taken in early 1952. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The Messerschmitt Me 262, also known as the Schwalbe (or “Swallow” in German). This was the first jet fighter that could operate in combat; it saw combat during the Second World War. Note the swept wings, this design would later become a feature of the North American Aviation- produced F-86 Sabre. This particular plane was the captured Werk-Nr. 111711, surrendered to the Allies by a German test pilot on March 31st 1945. It being tested here in the United States ca. 1945. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The XP-86 Sabre in flight, location unknown, in 1947 or 1948. The XP-86 was first flown on October 1st 1947, piloted by Unites States Army Air Forces Major George S. Welch. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. An F-86A of the 115th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, location unknown, in 1955. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. U.S. Air Force Reserve Pilot Col. Jacqueline Cochran stands on the wing of an F-86, circa May 1953. She is speaking with Brigadier General Charles E. “Chuck” Yeager and chief Canadair test pilot Bill Longhurst. Cochran was the first woman to break the sound barrier in a Canadair-built F-86. (Photo: Air Force Flight Test History Office/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. An F-86F Sabre of the 563rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, location unknown, in 1955. The F-86F was the most-produced main variant of the North American F-86 Sabre. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. USAF F-86 Sabre jets are being prepared for combat, location unknown, in June 1951. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. Three F-86F Sabre jets in flight. This photograph was of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing, over Korea, circa 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. An F-86 Sabre flies near a mountain range in North Korea in January 1951. This Sabre was part of the 4th Fighter-Escort Wing of the U.S. Fifth Air Force. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. F-86E Sabre jets in flight in November 1952. This was over the Korean peninsula; the planes have a single identifiable drop tank underneath their fuselages. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F-86A Sabre is being refueled by a KB-29 Superfortress over Rogers Dry Lake, California, date unknown. The KB-29 was a fighter-refueling B-29 Superfortress, the latter of which was a long-range bomber that F-86s escorted during the Korean War. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. An F-86F Sabre, location unknown, of the USAF 51st Fighter Wing, the 25th Fighter Squadron in particular. This particular plane was flown by Marine Corps Maj. John Glenn, who was an inter-service exchange pilot during the Korean War. Major Glenn (1921 – 2016) would later become an astronaut and U.S. Senator. This photograph was taken in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. Members of the USAF 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing, including from right to left, Captain Robert Pasqualicchio, Major James Gasser, Colonel Fred Ascani, Lieutenant Colonel Chuck Yeager, and Captain Coleman Baker. The 50th was stationed in Germany starting in 1953; this photograph was taken at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, in 1956. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. A photograph of F-86 Sabre jets in Korea in the 1950s. These planes belonged to USAF 4th Fighter Wing. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. An F-86F of the U.S. Air Force 21st Fighter Bomber Wing, the 72nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron in particular. This unit was assigned to Chambley Air Base, France; this photo was taken there in 1955. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. An F-86F Sabre at Bitburg Air Base, Germany, in 1955. This plane was of the USAF 36th Fighter-Day Wing. (Photo: USAF Historical Research Agency, Maxwell AFB Alabama/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. A formation of three F-86F Sabres being led by USAF Colonel Benjamin O. Davis Jr. of the 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing over Korea in 1953. Col. Davis was an African American U.S. Army Air Forces and USAF Commander and Pilot who flew F-86s in Korea, as well as P-51 Mustangs and P-47 Thunderbolts in World War II. (Photo: USAF Senior Airman Victor J. Caputo/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. An F-86H in flight, 1950s, location unknown. The F-86H was flown by several Tactical Air Command (TAC) units after the Korean War (1950 – 1953), in this case it is being flown by the 554th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, based in Bunker Hill Air Force Base, Indiana. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. An F-86D of the USAF 512th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron. The 512th consisted of, in part, the 406th Fighter Group, which had been flying the F-86D since 1956 and was absorbed by the 512th in May 1958. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. An F-86F Sabre in flight, location unknown, in the 1950s. This plane belonged to the 81st Fighter-Bomber Squadron, which operated in the 1950s out of U.S. Air Force bases in Germany. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. F-86 Sabre jets of the USAF 51st Fighter-Interceptor Wing over Korea on October 1st, 1952. This formation is “Breaking Left”, or making an abrupt evasive left turn. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. U.S. Army Air Forces Major General Claire Lee Chennault (1893 – 1958), a pilot and air commander known for leading the American/Chinese “Flying Tigers” volunteer fighting group. Chennault was a proponent of the “Finger-Four” flying formation, utilized by USAF
F-86 Sabre units in the Korean War. (Photo: U.S. War Department/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. An F-86E Sabre unit of the 51st Fighter Interceptor Wing. They were flying over Korea in this photograph, taken May 22nd, 1953. Note the staggered “Finger Four” formation, an offensive and defensive formation patterned after the four fingers of a hand. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. A reconnaissance RF-86F Sabre flying over Korea in 1953. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. The Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15, a Soviet-built fighter jet that was the F-86 Sabre’s main adversary during the Korean War. This particular plane had been delivered by a North Korean defector in September 1953; it is being tested here by a USAF pilot in Okinawa in October 1953. (Photo: U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AD. An F-86F of the USAF 72nd Fighter-Bomber Squadron, location unknown, in 1955. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AE. The TF-86 Transonic Trainer, the two-seated F-86 Sabre variant. Location and date unknown. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AF. The North American XP-86 Sabre, location unknown, the prototype of what would become the F-86 Sabre. Photograph taken likely in 1947 or 1948. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AG. An F-86A of the 115th Fighter-Bomber Squadron in flight in 1954. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AH. The North American YF-93A (or F-86C) prototype in flight. Location and date unknown; this prototype was based on the F-86 Sabre’s airframe. (Photo: USAF/National Museum of the Air Force/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AI. An F-86D Sabre of the 431st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, location unknown, in 1952. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AJ. An F-86F of the 539th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron in flight. This was also of the 4700th Air Defense Group, which operated out of Stewart Air Base in New York. Photograph taken in 1954. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AK. A formation of F-86Hs of the 121st Fighter-Interceptor Squadron (of the D.C. Air National Guard), location unknown, flying in 1960. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AL. FJ-2 Fury jets of the U.S. Marine Corps flying on June 11th, 1954. These planes were operating out of El Toro, California’s Marine Corps Air Station and were part of the Marine Fighter Squadron VMF-235. (Photo: Sgt. W.A. Butterbaugh, USMC/U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AM. The U.S. Navy’s VF-53 (Fighter Squadron 53) flying two FJ-3M Fury jets. The VF-53 was deployed to the Western Pacific in the late 1950s, it operated aboard the USS Kearsarge as part of the Navy’s Air Task Group 3 (ATG-3) starting on August 9th, 1957. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AN. The Australian-built Commonwealth CA-27, in a test flight in 1953, location unknown. (Photo: aarg[dot]org[dor]au/Wikimedia Commons/Photo Public Domain in Australia/Photo Public Domain in United States)
AO. A Canadair Ltd.-built Sabre of the Royal Canadian Air Force’s (RCAF) 438 Squadron, location and date unknown. The Canadair Sabre was a Canadian-produced version of the NAA Sabre jet. (Photo: RCAF 438 Squadron Archives/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AP. The Mitsubishi-produced F-86F of the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) flight demonstration team Blue Impulse in 1981 at Yokota Air Base, Japan. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AQ. F-86A Sabres of California’s 115th (or 196th) Fighter-Bomber Squadron, flying in 1954. U.S. Air National Guard units were often given the F-86 Sabre for use in the 1950s, sometimes operating as Tactical Air Command (TAC) units. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F6F Hellcat
A. F6F-3 Hellcats of the U.S. Navy VF-1 (Fighting Squadron 1). This unit was based on the USS Yorktown, a part of CVG-1, or Carrier Air Group 1, from May to August 1944. Photograph taken May 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An F6F-5N of the U.S. Naval Air Station of Jacksonville, Florida. Photograph likely taken around 1944 or 1945. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
C. A line of F6F-5s in production at the Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation, Bethpage, Long Island, New York, 1944. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
D. The F4F Wildcat of VF-41, or Fighting Squadron 41, in 1942. This was the plane which the F6F Hellcat was to replace. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The XF6F-1 Hellcat, 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The Grumman XF6F-3. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
G. An F6F-5 Hellcat in flight. This Hellcat was based on the Navy’s USS Independence or CVL-22, a light aircraft carrier. Photograph taken in 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. An F6F-5 Hellcat in Inyokern, California – at the Naval Ordinance Test Station, 1944 or 1945. This Hellcat is being fitted with eight HVAR rockets at five inches each. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. F6F-3 Hellcats aboard the USS Enterprise, or CV-6, during a training exercise in July 1943. These planes were a part of the Navy’s Fighting Squadron 10, or VF-10. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. A F6F-3 Hellcat, gear extended, in flight above Treasure Island, California, 1942. This plane was part of Navy Fighting Squadron VF-5. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. US Navy Commander Eugene A. Valencia Jr. (1921 – 1972). A member of Fighting Squadron 9, or VF-9, Valencia is regarded as a F6F Hellcat Ace, claiming a total of 23 kills by the end of World War II. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. Two tricolor F6F-3 Hellcats in 1943. The colors, from bottom to top, were insignia white, intermediate blue, and sea blue. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. F6F-3 Hellcats preparing for takeoff from the Navy’s USS Cowpens (CVL-25). This was in preparation for a raid on the Marshall Islands, January 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A F6F-3 Hellcat flying over a damaged Japanese destroyer. The destroyer, the Tachikaze, had run aground at Kuop Atoll in Truk Lagoon, the Caroline Islands, in early February 1944. This photograph was taken later in the month, after the craft had been strafed and struck by a torpedo. The Hellcat was part of U.S. Navy Carrier Air Group 9, or CVG-9, based on the USS Essex, or CV-9. Photograph taken around February 17th, 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F6F Hellcat in a training operation in Chesapeake Bay (USA). This was aboard the Navy’s USS Charger (CVE-30) escort carrier, May 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A Hellcat approaches the USS Lexington (CV-16) during the Battle of the Philippine Sea, June 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval Historical Center/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. F6F Hellcat about to land in water, ca. 1944. This was next to the Navy’s USS San Juan. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. F6F Hellcats flying over the island of Luzon, the Philippines, September 1944. These Hellcats were a part of the Navy’s VF-8, or Fighting Squadron 8, based on CV-17, also known as the USS Bunker Hill. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. An F6F Hellcat flying off the USS Kasaan Bay, or CVE-69, in the Mediterranean, as part of Allied Forces invading Southern France, August 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. F6F-5 Hellcat of VF-17, or Fighting Squadron 17, aboard the USS Hornet, or CV-12. VF-17 was part of CVG-17 or Carrier Air Group 17. This photograph was likely taken sometime between March through June 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. Royal Navy (RN) Hellcat fighters – also known as Hellcat F Mk. I fighters – of the Number 1840 Naval Air Squadron. This is out of Royal Naval Air Station at Eglinton, Northern Ireland, June 1944. (Photo: Royal Navy [UK]/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. F6F-3 Hellcats of US Navy Fighting Squadron 8 (or VF-8) in 1943. This squadron was later assigned to the USS Bunker Hill, or CV-17 between March and October 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. F6F-3 Hellcat from the US Navy VF-1, or Fighter Squadron 1, over California, in 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. U.S. Navy Captain David McCampbell (1910 – 1996). McCampbell reached a total of 34 claimed kills in the F6F Hellcat from June to November, 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy employee/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. The F6F-5 Hellcat in Patuxent River, Maryland, as part of the Naval Air Test Center’s testing aircraft. Photo taken on December 13th, 1949. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. F6F-3 Hellcat in flight above Patuxent River, Maryland, USA. This was above the Naval Air Test Center, February, 1944. (Photo: Paschke/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AA. F6F-5 Hellcats of the Navy’s VF-85, or Fighting Squadron 85, in 1945. VF-85 was based on the Navy’s USS Shangri-La (CV-38), an aircraft carrier. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AB. The aircraft carrier USS Intrepid (CV-11) in the Philippine Sea, November 1944. This naval carrier carried planes including the F6F Hellcat during the war. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
AC. F6F Hellcats and torpedo bombers aboard the Navy’s USS Independence, or CVL-22, 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F4U Corsair
A. Two F4U-1A Corsairs of VMF-113, or Marine Fighter Squadron 113, over Enewetak Atoll, Marshall Islands, July 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. An F4U1-D Corsair equipped with HVAR (High-Velocity Aircraft Rockets) and “Tiny Tim” rockets, Patuxent River, Maryland (U.S.), January 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. An F4U-1 being finalized in a factory, 1944, Location unknown. (Photo: Vought/ U.S. Government Centennial of Flight www[dot]centennialofflight[dot]gov/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The XF4U-1 Corsair, a Vought Corsair prototype, in flight in 1940. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. The U.S. Navy’s F3A-1 Corsair in 1943. The F3A-1 was manufactured by Brewster. Though the company produced about 700 F3A-1s, with some sold to the British, none of them reached units on the front lines. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
F. F4U-1 Corsairs of the U.S. Marines on the Russell Islands (part of the Solomon Islands), September 1943. These planes, part of Marine Fighting Squadron 123, VMF-123, were called in this instance to scramble. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. F4U1-D taking off from the USS Bunker Hill, or CV-17, February 1945. This plane was part of VF-84 or the Navy’s Fighting Squadron 84, and was participating in the invasion of Iwo Jima. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. F4U1-D Corsairs in 1945. These particular planes belonged to VBF-86, or Navy Bombing Fighting Squadron 86, which was launched from the USS Wasp, or CV-18 – as part of Carrier Air Group (CVG) 86 – in the spring and summer of 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An F4U-1 Corsair on the deck of the USS Copahee, a U.S. Navy escort carrier also known as ACV-12. The plane belonged with VMF-213, or Marine Fighting Squadron 213. Photograph taken March 1943. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. F4U-1 Corsairs on Guadalcanal, April 1943. These Corsairs belonged to VMF-124, or Marine Fighting Squadron 124. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps/National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. An F4U Corsair using rockets against a Japanese position in Okinawa, June 1945. (Photo: Lt. David D. Duncan/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A line of F4U-1 A and D Corsair fighters readying for takeoff on Majuro Atoll Airfield, Marshall Islands, August, 1944. These planes were likely to strike Japanese positions on other islands; they are loaded with 500-pound bombs. (Photo: U.S. Navy/National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. Navy F4U-B Corsairs of U.S. Fighter Squadron 54, or VF-54, on the deck of the USS Valley Forge, or CV-45. This photograph was off the coast of the Korean peninsula, October, 1950. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. A formation of Royal Navy (RN) F4Us in a training flight over Maine (United States), November 1944. (Photo: Royal Navy official photographer/Imperial War Museums[UK]/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F4U1-D Corsair in flight. Location and date unknown. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
P. F4U-1A Corsair formation of the U.S. Navy, VF-17 or Fighter Squadron 17, perhaps in the Bougainville island region, likely in March 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. F3A-1 Corsair of the U.S. Marines – the Marine Air Group (MAG) 91. The photograph was likely taken around 1945, location unknown. This Air Group was under the command of Lt. Colonel Joseph M. Renner. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. The flying F4U-1 Corsair, location unknown, ca. 1942. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. F4U-1A Corsair over Bougainville, March 1944. This was part of U.S. Navy’s VF-17, or Fighter Squadron 17. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. Major Chamberlain of the VMF-314 (Marine Fighter Squadron 314), U.S. Marines next to an F4U-1C Corsair. Note the four 20-mm cannons protruding from the wings. Photograph likely taken around 1945. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Thomas C. Colt Jr./Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. F4U-1D Corsair in Kadena, Okinawa, April 1945. This plane was part of VMF-322, or Marine Fighting Squadron 322. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. A U.S. Navy F4U-4 Corsair aboard the aircraft carrier USS Midway, in or en route to the Mediterranean, 1947 or 1948. (Photo: www[dot]midwaysailor[dot]com/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. The Marines’ AU-1 Corsair flying, location unknown, in 1952. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. F4U-1D Corsairs of the U.S. Marines aboard the Navy’s USS Hollandia, an escort carrier also known as CVE-97, off the coast of Okinawa. These planes were part of VMF-312, or Marine Fighter Squadron 312. Photograph taken in April, 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The F-4 Phantom II
A. A USAF F-4C Phantom II that operated out of Edwards AFB, California. This photo was taken in the mid-1960s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. A U.S. Navy QF-4N Phantom II after being refueled in-air off of Puerto Rico in July 1999. The QF-4 series was a type of F-4 Phantom II made into remote-controlled target drones. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy Journalist 1st Class David Rush/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. A Navy F4H Phantom in lfight on August 28th 1961. This particular flight was part of what was known as Operation Sageburner, in which a craft piloted by Lt. Huntington Hardisty and radar-operated by Radar Intercept Officer Lt. E.H. de Esch maintained a speed of 902.714 miles an hour under 125 feet for the duration of a 3-mile course. (Photo: National Museum of the U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The FH-1 Phantom of the U.S. Navy, location unknown, in February 1948. The FH-1 was the McDonnell F-4 Phantom II’s namesake and indirect antecedent. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. A U.S. Navy YF4H-1 Phantom II shortly after takeoff in September 1959, location unknown. The YF4H-1 was the pre-production version of the F-4 Phantom II; this particular plane first flew on May 27th, 1958. It crashed on October 21st, 1959 in a bid to break an altitude record, in “Operation Top Flight”. In the October 1959 crash, pilot “Zeke” Hoelsbeck was killed. (U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. A U.S. Navy F-4B Phantom II in flight over North Vietnam in April 1968. This plane was part of VF-114, a Naval Fighter Squadron itself part of Carrier Wing 11, or CVW-11. CVW-11 operated off of the USS Kitty Hawk from November 18th, 1967 to June 28th, 1968. (Photo: U.S. Navy/ U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. A U.S. Navy F4H-1F Phantom II being refueled by a Navy A3D-2 Skywarrior, exact location unknown, in 1961. This particular Phantom II was part of the Navy’s “Project LANA”, a transcontinental flight of five Phantom IIs, marking the 50th anniversary of U.S. Naval aviation. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain).
H. The U.S. Navy YF4H-1 Phantom II, location unknown, ca. 1958-1959. The YF4H-1 was the Naval prototpye F-4 Phantom II. (U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy National Musuem of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. An F-4E Phantom II of the USAF 3rd Tactical Fighter Wing in October 1980. This particular plane was operating out of Clark Air Base, Philippines, and is shown here flying out of Misawa Air Base in Japan (Photo: MSgt. Jim Wines, USAF/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. A QF-4 Phantom II operating out of Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in November 2008. The QF-4 Phantom II was developed to be operated as a remote-controlled drone. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. A USAF F-16C Fighting Falcon over Iraq in August 2007. The F-16 Fighting Falcon replaced the F-4, in a trend towards smaller and lighter fighter aircraft. (Photo: USAF, Tech Sgt. Thomas Ireland/USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A U.S. Navy F-4B Phantom II in flight, location unknown, in 1973. This particular F-4B was part of VF-51, which operated off the USS Coral Sea during the Vietnam War in 1973. (Photo: San Diego Air & Space Museum/Wikimedia Commons/No known copyright restrictions)
M. A U.S. Navy F-4J Phantom II in flight over the Caribbean Sea in 1968. This particular plane was assigned to the USS America, or CVA-66, during the Vietnam War. (Photo: PH2 W.M. Welch/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. An F-4F Phantom II of the 20th Fighter Squadron, Luftwaffe (Germany) with a second F-4F Phantom II over Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, in 1995. Note the external fuel tank under the fuselage and the number of pylons located on the wings. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. An F-4D Phantom II of the Kansas Air National Guard, location unknown, in 1986. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. A U.S. Navy F4H-1 Phantom II during a test flight, ca. 1958. The F4H-1 was also known as the F-4B, an early production version of the aircraft. (Photo: U.S. Navy Commander/Naval Air Forces Centennial of Naval Aviation site/U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. A U.S. Navy F-4B Phantom II takes off from the USS Ranger (CVA-61) aircraft carrier — located in the South China Sea — in March 1966. This plane belonged to Attack Carrier Air Wing 14 (or CVW-14), the Fighter Squadron 143 (or VF-143) in particular. (U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy History Naval History and Naval Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. An F-4D of the North Dakota Air National Guard, in the late 1970s. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. A U.S. Navy F-4J Phantom II in flight, location unknown, ca. 1972. This plane was part of Carrier Air Wing 9 (CVW-9), Fighter Squadron VF-92 in particular. It operated off the USS Constellation (CVA-64) during the Vietnam War. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
T. A USAF F-4 Phantom II formation operating out of Florida in February 2002. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
U. Two U.S. Navy F-4B Phantom IIs of Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15), the Fighter Squadron VF-111 in particular, location unknown, ca. 1972. The CVW-15 operated off the aircraft carrier the USS Coral Sea, or CVA-43. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
V. A MiG-21PF, also known by its nickname, “Fishbed”. This photograph was taken at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio in March 2005. (Photo: USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
W. An F-4B of the U.S. Navy, location unknown, launching a missile (the AIM-7 Sparrow, an air-to-air, radar-homing missile) in August 1964. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy Naval Aviation Museum/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
X. The Mitsubishi-produced F-4EJ of the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) taking off from Komatsu Air Base in April 1986. (Photo: James Ferguson, USAF/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Y. JASDF F-4EJ Kai Phantoms taking off from Misawa Air Base in September 2002. (Photo: John Collins [Photographer’s Mate, 2nd Class], U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Z. A U.S. Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet leads two JASDF F-4EJ Kai Phantom IIs in April 2016. (Photo: Commander Ryan Jackson, U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
The Parts of a Watercraft
A. The parts of a watercraft. Original illustration by WavesToJets. © WavesToJets, 2022.
B. The parts of a watercraft. Original illustration by WavesToJets. © WavesToJets, 2022.
C. The parts of a watercraft. Original illustration by WavesToJets. © WavesToJets, 2022.
The LCVP
A. LCVP 18 of the U.S. Navy’s USS Darke (APA-159) carrying reinforcements off of Okinawa in April 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. LCVPs of the U.S. Coast Guard en route to the island of Luzon, Philippines on January 9th, 1945. These craft were located in the Lingayen Gulf, bring the first wave of troops to the shores of the island during the Invasion of the Lingayen Gulf in January 1945. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard/U.S. National Archives and Records Administration/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. LCVPs of the U.S. Army Eighth Amphibious Force participate in an April 1944 landing exercise outside of Algiers, North Africa. These LCVPs were operating off of the USS Cepheus, a U.S. Coast Guard ship. (Photo: U.S. Coast Guard/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. Andrew Higgins, designer of the Eureka Boat and the LCVP, at a celebration of Higgins Industries’ 10,000th boat on July 23rd, 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Higgins Industries/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. American troops disembark from a Landing Craft Personnel, Large (LCPL), location unknown, in 1942. The LCPL was based off of Higgins Industries’ “Eureka” boat, redesigned as a troop transport. This LCPL was operating off the USS Zeilin (or AP-9, later APA-3). (Photo: Farm Security Administration/U.S. Office of War Information/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. Lieutenant General Victor H. Krulak of the U.S. Marine Corps. Krulak (1913 – 2008) was a military observer who saw military troop transports with ramps built into the bow in use. Krulak would share his experiences with Andrew Higgins of Higgins Industries, this would spurn the development of the LCVP. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. A diagram of the LCVP. Note the “tunnel” area where the propeller shaft is located. (Photo: U.S. Government/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. The shipyards of Higgins Industries in New Orleans, Louisiana, in June 1943. (Photo: U.S. Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
I. The photo known as “Into the Jaws of Death” by Chief Photographer’s Mate Robert F. Sargent (1923 – 1969). The photograph depicts troops of Company A of the 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division of the U.S. Army disembarking an LCVP at Omaha Beach, Normandy, France, on June 6th, 1944. The LCVP was operating off the U.S. Coast Guard’s USS Samuel Chase. (Photo: Robert F. Sargent/U.S. Coast Guard/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
J. LCVPs of the U.S. Navy coming ashore at Gela, Sicily in 1943, around July 11th -13th. These craft were operating off of the USS Joseph T. Dickman, or APA-13. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
K. LCVPs and Landing Craft, Mechanized (LCMs) circle around in a transport area off the shore of Iwo Jima on February 19th 1945. The camouflaged ship in the center is APA-159, or the USS Darke. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
L. A crossing of the Rhine River by LCVP carrying U.S. troops on March 23rd, 1945. (Photo: U.S. Army Signal Corps/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
M. Dwight D. Eisenhower (1890 – 1969) was U.S. General of the Army, Supreme Commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force and later U.S. President from 1953 to 1961. Regarding the Second World War, Eisenhower considered the LCVP a strategically important vehicle. (Photo: history[dot]navy[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
N. The amphibious landings at the Battle of Incheon, September 15th, 1950. Here, U.S. Marines aboard LCVPs are heading to Incheon’s coast, aided by a ROK Navy submarine chaser. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
O. Members of the U.S. 27th Infantry Regiment fight against North Korean forces at the Pusan Perimeter on September 4th, 1950. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
P. U.S. Marines approach the shores of Incheon, Korea, on September 15th, 1950. (Photo: Sgt. Frank C. Kerr/U.S. Marine Corps/defenseimagery[dot]mil/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Q. Landing craft of the United Nations approach the Incheon shore on September 15th, 1950. LCVPs were used in these landings, among other craft. The USS De Haven (DD-727), a U.S. Navy destroyer, is present in the foreground. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
R. The landings at the Battle of Incheon on September 15th, 1950. The island of Wolmi-Do is in the background on the left, Incheon beach, with smoke rising from bombardment, is on the right. A Landing Ship Medium, Rocket or LSMR, fires rockets as LVTs (Landing Vehicles, Tracked) carrying U.S. Marines approach their point of disembarkment. LCVPs, though not present in this picture, were similarly used in the landings at Incheon. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
S. Circling a transport area, LCVPs from the USS Union (or AKA-106) await the approach to a departing line off the coast of Incheon, Korea, on September 15th, 1950. (Photo: Our Collections, Photography, Numerical List of Images, NARA Series, 80-G Series, 80-G-420000, 80-G-423215, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, DC) https://www.history.navy.mil/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-420000/80-G-423215.html
T. LCVPs approach docking area at Incheon, Korea, on September 15th, 1950. These craft were from the USS Noble, or APA-218 (Photo: Our Collections, Photography, Numerical List of Images, NARA Series, 80-G Series, 80-G-420000, 80-G-420005, Archives Branch, Naval History and Heritage Command, Washington, DC) https://www.history.navy.mil/content/history/nhhc/our-collections/photography/numerical-list-of-images/nara-series/80-g/80-G-420000/80-G-420005.html
Hospital Ships
A. The USS Comfort, or AH-6, location unknown (likely in San Pedro Harbor, California) in April or May of 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
B. The USS Hope (AH-7), exact location unknown, on August 30th, 1944. This particular photo was taken from an airship, from U.S. Navy Squadron ZP-31. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Naval History and Heritiage Command/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
C. The USS Comfort, exact location unknown, on May 30th, 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
D. The USS Comfort, or AH-6, is shown here arriving at Hollandia, New Guinea on February 6th, 1945. The Comfort was the flagship of the Comfort class of hospital ships, crewed by the U.S. Navy, with medical staff from the U.S. Army. (Photo: U.S. Army/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
E. American Landing Ship Tanks (LSTs) with landing pontoons at an unknown location in the Pacific (likely Lingayen Gulf) in January 1945. Located in the Philippines, Lingayen Gulf was the site of an American amphibious landing operation on January 9th, 1945. The USS Comfort aided in hospital evacuation duties in March of that year. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
F. The USS Mercy, or AH-8, in San Pedro Bay, California, on August 15th, 1944. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy employee/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
G. The USS Solace, or AH-5, near Hawaii, ca. 1941. The Solace was involved in directly removing injured American forces during World War II, including during and after the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941. (Photo: U.S. Navy/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
H. The USS Comfort, location unknown, on May 30th, 1944. (Photo: history[dot]navy[dot]mil U.S. Navy Bureau of Ships Photograph BS 66300, from the collection of the National Archives and Records Administration, Still Pictures Division, College Park, Md. https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/comfort-ii.html)
I. A nurse examines damage after a kamikaze attack on the USS Comfort in April 1945. The attack occurred as the Comfort was stationed off of Okinawa on April 28th, 1945. (Photo: U.S. Navy/U.S. Navy All Hands Magazine/Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain)
Waves To Jets 