Recent content by John D. Voss

I discovered a photo of a OS2U-2 Kingfisher (in landplane configuration) with the expression "USS Tangier" painted on the aft fuselage. The photo footnote states that there were THREE A/C assigned to the USS Tangier. The aircraft appears to be finished in an O/A color ...possibly light gray...

RE: BFTS # 4: The expression "BP" utilized for Falcon Field aircraft stood for "British Phoenix". The expression for BFTS# 2 (Lancaster, CA} was "BL" which stood for "British Lancaster".

Alex: I am still looking for a crisp photo of a BFTS4 Vultee BT-13 Valiant. [email protected]

The French Navy also operated some Douglas SBD's in their Indo China War. I am curious as to the final dispostion of these aiircraft...returned to France or deep sixed?

SBD-2's at Guadacanal ?The USMC was no doubt using EVERYTHING they could get their hands on!!!!

Some of the Skymaster's (aka C-54) were VIP configured A/C and were handed over for usage by Winston Churchill (e.g.EW-999), Charles deGalle, et.al. A number were used transporting VIP's to the Yalta conference. At war's end the A/C were returned to the USN/ USMC.

It's my understanding that ithis well-worn PB4Y-2 ended up in Central America with the Honduran Air Force.

Any idea as to where these photos were taken? Looking at the background I would say "somewhere in California"...

The highly modified nose indicates to me that the aircraft was last used by the USCG and was known as the PB4Y-2G.

Another "Tidbit" on the Hellcat. It was to have been constructed in Canada by Vickers and designated as the "FV-1". As you all probably know the PBY Catalna was constucted by Vickers too and was designated as the "PBV-1"

BTW, the Grumman F6F Hellcat was given a British name of "Gannet" but it was never formally adopted.