DC-6s are still flying on a regular basis in Alaska with cargo airlines. They sound like nothing else in the air, and I heard one fly over a few nights ago. During the summer months, you can see a DC-6, DC-3 or C-46 fly by almost daily.
50s aircraft that originated during World War II
- Thread starter NTGray
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-And then there is (what might be) the last gasp of the P/F-80 series: the Skyfox which could have been the poor man's A-10.
-I recall seeing something in the late '50s after the P6M Seamaster was cancelled, a proposal to give the Navy some retired B-47s to use as jet propelled PB4Ys, Given the Stratojet's issues and the still extant DoD internecine warfare... excuse me, I mean wholly professional well intentioned rivalry (revelry sometimes??) I suspect that whoever put forth the proposal either had his tongue in cheek or foot in mouth.
-I recall seeing something in the late '50s after the P6M Seamaster was cancelled, a proposal to give the Navy some retired B-47s to use as jet propelled PB4Ys, Given the Stratojet's issues and the still extant DoD internecine warfare... excuse me, I mean wholly professional well intentioned rivalry (revelry sometimes??) I suspect that whoever put forth the proposal either had his tongue in cheek or foot in mouth.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
I seen this aircraft at Mojave a few times many years ago. About 10 years ago a young kid joined the flying club I was in, his grandfather was one of the Skyfox Company founders. "Johnny" formed a local band here in Denver that got some local play time on the radio. Their name? SKYFOX!
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
This something I've wondered about for quite awhile. The IJN/IJA feud is legendary. Is there anything like it in our current armed forces? Is that internecine insanity ever brought up in training or at the academies? I can't say it cost Japan the war because they just weren't going to win, no matter what they did.
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- #65
I don't honestly believe that the American military ever really reached that level of internecine warfare, but there have been times when things got bad. Just look up "Revolt of the Admirals" sometime. But I'm pretty sure that during the War the U.S. Navy usually remembered that Japan was the Navy's #1 enemy, and the U.S. Army was only #2.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I don't think the revolt of the admirals was quite at the same level. At least, I find that a bit understandable. I like to think that the level of cooperation is akin to what I read about Admiral Halsey. He fostered camaraderie when assuming command of a theatre. Reminding his expanded staff who the enemy was. Pranks and joshing are indeed part of our national heritage. As long as it skips the whole assassination thing.
swampyankee
Chief Master Sergeant
- 4,030
- Jun 25, 2013
During and for a while before WW2, the IJA and IJN had, literally, no civilian oversight with the possible exception to the emperor. In other words, there was no one who could give the generals and admirals the occasional, much-needed dope slap. After all, if the US Army and Navy (and later, Air Force) had to actually convince the legislature that they were money well-spent. Sometimes the bar for convincing was (and is) far too low, but in Imperial Japan, the legislature had very limited authority over the military budget and the bar for convincing was merely a painted line on the floor.
- Thread starter
- #68
Admiral Spruance (5th Fleet) was respected by the Navy's top brass, but Admiral Halsey (3rd Fleet) was loved by the sailors. One time two sailors were talking about Halsey, and one of them said, "I'd follow that old son of a bitch to hell and back." Then they looked up, and there was Halsey, eavesdropping. He stared at them for a moment, then said, "Oh, I'm not that old" and smiled at them.
Thumpalumpacus
Major
I didn't realize it was of that era. That's badass,
Thumpalumpacus
Major
It wasn't a factor when I was in.
Coming home from Chanute, I had a very long layover in StL due to bad brakes on the cross-country pick-up from Boston. Oh-dark-thirty, a couple of beers in me, had a Marine, also in his Class-As, come up to me and say, "let's park it in the corner, airman, for one-hour watches." We both knew the score, laid our duffels out, and took turns sleeping and watching.
We in the service always ragged each other branchwise, but when push came to shove there was no feuding at all at the enlisted level. We knew it was a shit sandwich and worked together to make it happen. The political crap was above our paygrade.
My hitch was as a junior officer in the Navy. Worked closely with the Marines and the Air Force and occasionally with some Army folks. Lots of joking around and fun, but everybody pulled together as a team for the work. Politics was above my pay grade too.
windhund116
Senior Airman
- 360
- Jul 3, 2017
I suppose you could say that the Douglas DC-47 had its origin from the DC-3 root, in the 1930s. Some modified form of the original saw combat up through the Vietnam War. I think there are still DC-3s flying around the world, somewhere. 
That has to be one of the oldest designs, still flying --- for commercial functions (not simply museum pieces).
That has to be one of the oldest designs, still flying --- for commercial functions (not simply museum pieces).
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SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The DC-3/C-47 is still in harness and STILL earning its keep. That plane can never be overrated, IMHO.I suppose you could say that the Douglas DC-47 had it's origin from the DC-3 root, in the 1930s. Some modified form of the original saw combat up through the Vietnam War. I think there are still DC-3s flying around the world, somewhere.
That has to be one of the oldest designs, still flying --- for commercial functions (not simply museum pieces).
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
While not having it's origins in the direct WWII timeline, the specifications that ultimately resulted in the B-52 originated from a request issued in November 1945...
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I'd love to see the original, 1945, drawings of the B-52 proposal. A straight wing B-52. That's something I'd like to see.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The design started to take shape in '46 with the Model 462, which was a huge, straight wing, six engine (turboprop) proposal.
The process then went through several iterations (mainly because the Army Air Force and then Air Force kept changing requiremens) resulting in the Model 464 with quite a few sub-variants.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Hi Ho
Off to Wiki, I must go.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Thanks for your post, GrauGeist. Look what I found when looking up B-61.
When I was kid and already a spotter, I remember seeing a P2V7 possibly from the French Navy Flotille 23F or 25F flying over the Ouistreham beach of D-Day fame in 1971.
The last French Neptune was retired in 1984.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Same here, mon frere!
Where I was growing up there was a U.S. Naval Reserve Air Station.
They flew Neptune P2V's. And A-4 Skyhawks. I loved the sound of those planes!
