Adler's Warbirds

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Interstate TDR-1 "Edna III"
SN: UNK

Current Location: National Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, USA

This was basically an early guided bomb. The aircraft was radio controlled, but also had a cockpit for a pilot, so that it could be ferried. The aircraft carried a 1000 lb warhead or a torpedo, and was controlled from a TBM Avenger. The TDR-1's entered service in September of 1944, and were withdrawn by October of 1944. The TDR-1 had cameras built into the nose, and the operator in the Avenger could view the target from a 5 inch television screen. This is the sole surviving TDR-1.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning
SN: 42-67762

Current Location: National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Washington DC, USA

The aircraft was delivered to the USAAF on 06 November 1943. The aircraft was converted to a 2 seat trainer. The aircraft was used to train civilian pilots who would evaluate new P-38's coming off the assembly line. The aircraft was reconfigured back to original single seat configuration and returned 15 May 1944. On 16 April 1945 Major Richard Bong flew this aircraft at Wright Field in order to conduct some tests. He never was able to do the tests, as the right engine "blew up before I had a chance to conduct the test." The aircraft continued to be used for various flight tests until it was retired on 27 June 1945.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Lockheed P-38L-5 Lightning
SN: 44-53254

Current Location: Salzburg, Austria

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

More to come later...

 

[Airframes]

More good stuff Chris. That TDR-1 is a new one to me - it has a Germanic look about it, reminding me of a FW 'Weihe'.

 

[at6]

There was something like the TDR-1 at the airport in Tulare, Ca around 1964 or 1965. Made of plywood with twin engines. The one I saw was badly deteriorated with one engine missing and the plywood was rapidly peeling away in layers. There was what appeared to be a salvage yard there at the time with a number of what looked like AT-6 center sections.

 

[rochie]

Great stuff Chris

 

[Gnomey]

Excellent shots Chris!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25J-35-NC Mitchell
SN: 44-86893

Current Location: Salzburg, Austria

Built at the Fairfax plant and delivered on 10 August 1945. The aircraft was used as a trainer and test aircraft until 1957.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25J-20-HC Mitchell
SN: 44-29366

Current Location: RAF Museum Hendon, London, England

Built by North American Aviation at their Kansas City factory. It was delivered 18 September 1944, and assigned to the 2144 Base Unit, AAF Training Command. Used as a trainer in various units until being retired in 1959. Also used as a civilian fire bomber, and in the movie "Catch 22".

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25J-30-NC Mitchell "Show Me"
SN: 44-31385

Current Location: Commemorative Air Force, Missouri Wing, St. Charles, Missouri, USA

Aircraft was delivered on 11 June 1945, and used as a trainer up until it was retired and put into storage at Davis Monthan AFB, AZ in 1958.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25J Mitchell "Russell's Raiders"
SN: 45-8811

Current Location: 45-8811

Aircraft was delivered in August 1945, and used as a trainer until 1958.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25J Mitchell "Safe Return"
SN: 44-29812

Current Location: National WW2 Museum, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Delivered in 1945, and used as a trainer in various units until 1958.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American B-25 Mitchell
SN: UNK

Current Location: US Naval Aviation Museum, Pensacola, Florida, USA

This aircraft is painted to represent the aircraft Doolittle flew during the Doolittle Raid. The actual SN and history of this aircraft however I am not sure of.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American P-51D Mustang "Big Beautiful Doll"
SN: 44-73979

Current Location: Imperial War Museum, London, England

Aircraft was delivered to the Royal Canadian Air Force and was damaged in a landing accident in 1950. It was then used as a ground instructional aircraft and eventually as a Base gate display.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang "Jumpin Jacques"
SN: 44-72035

Current Location: Hangar 11 Collection, Essex, England

Aircraft was built at North American's Inglewood facility in California, and delivered on 21 December 1944. The aircraft was assigned to 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force in Italy. She entered combat in March 1945, flying on bomber escort and ground attack sweeps over Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. She still carries the battle scars to this day, with bullet repairs in several places on the fuselage. It returned to the United States around September 1945, and was assigned to the 4112 Base Unit for overhaul and preparation to be assigned to the Air National Guard. In 1948 the aircraft was assigned 125th Fighter Squadron, Oklahoma ANG. It also served in the Nevada Air National Guard during the Korean War, but never left the United States. It was eventually retired from service in 1956.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

More to come later...

 

[Crimea_River]

Looking forward to it.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Wayne Little]

Great stuff Chris.