Recent content by Ray921

Thanks for moving my query to a place deemed more relevant -- frankly I couldn't figure out where in the forum to post it.

Pages 86-87 of Donald Sweet’s book The Forgotten Heroes list nine distinct flight crews of Rescue Squadron VH-3 flying “Dumbos” (Martin PBM Mariners) and on pp. 143-153 are rescues they made between April and August 1945. However, PBM pilot Lt. Robert Storrs Dorton, while attached to VH-3...

Thank you for the interesting replies you've taken the time to write up. In one source I read that there were mirrors on both the left and the right sides, though that source didn't give as much detail as you've given, and it's possible that mirror location was dictated by the instructor.

I understand that in the Stearman Kaydet trainers, the instructor sat in the front seat and the student in the back seat. A gosport permitted the instructor to speak to the trainee, but the trainee communicated with the instructor in the front seat by gestures. (1) Was there a mirror...

Thanks. This time (when I searched on fewer terms) I found your post on Lockheed drop tanks. I had no idea aluminum was then a more critical material. I'll need to research Alcoa and Reynolds for their production histories. Thanks again. You've provided another unexpected fact. I'm...

1) Where can I find the article you posted elsewhere explaining how the Lockheed steel drop tanks were made? 2) Do I understand your second statement to mean that some F4Us -- but not carrier-based F4U-1Ds in 1945 -- used non-metallic drop tanks? 3) Would it have been more difficult or...

Thanks for the help. Was the standard drop tank for the Corsair F4U-1D the Lockheed-type drop tank used for Hellcats?

1) Does anyone know for sure whether there was any iron used in the fabrication of the drop tanks on F4U-1Cs and F4U-1Ds in 1945? I ask this strange question after reading a report saying that, since fuel in the drop tank bypassed the carburetor's fuel filter, rust formed in the drop tanks...