Adler's Warbirds

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk "Little Jeanne"
SN: 42-105915

Current Location: Paris, France

Built in 1942 at the Curtiss Plant in Buffalo, New York. It was originally intended to be delivered to the Republic of China Air Force, and was painted in it's markings. It was however was repainted to USAAF markings and assigned to the 5th Air Force, 49th Fighter Group, 7th Fighter Squadron, and operated out of New Guinea being flown by a Robert Warren. The aircraft was abandoned and remained at the field until 1974.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk
SN: AK875

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

Built at the Curtis Plant in Buffalo, New York and delivered to the RCAF as a Kittyhawk 1A on 11 March 1941. It served in No. 111 Squadron. The aircraft was based in Alaska as part of the defense against a Japanese invasion of the region. The No. 111 Squadron transferred to England, shortly thereafter and left it's aircraft in place. This aircraft was considered surplus in 1946, and eventually returned to the United States and into private ownership.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk
SN: 42-106101

Current Location: RAF Museum Hendon, London, England

Aircraft was built at the Curtis Plant in Buffalo, New York and transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force on 23 October 1943. On 30 March 1944, the aircraft was assigned to the No. 80 Squadron on New Britain., where it flew Convoy Protection Patrols. On 29 April 1944 it was moved to Tadji, Aitape where it took place in the allied landings at Hollandia. On 14 May 1944 the aircraft was damaged in a landing accident, and was written off for spares in November of 1944.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

More to come later...

 

[Crimea_River]

Marvellous stuff.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Nice!

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely shots Chris!

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss P-40N Warhawk
S/N: 42-105867

Current Location: Commemorative Air Force, Fredericksburg, Texas, USA

Served in WW2 in the Canadian Royal Air Force.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss P-40B Tomahawk
S/N: AK255

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

This aircraft was delivered to the Soviet Air Force in 1942. It's history is unknown, but it was recovered in 1990.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver
S/N: 8347

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

This aircraft was built at the Curtiss Factory in Columbus, Ohio and was delivered to the US Navy on 19 May 1945. It was assigned to Bombing Squadron (VB) 92, the "Battling Beasts," aboard the U.S.S. Lexington (CV-16) in the Pacific, but arrived to late to see service in WW2. In January 1946 it was assigned to VB 11 at Santa Rosa, California. On 7 February 1946 it was reassigned to Attack Squadron (VA) 3A at San Diego, California. Finally it was assigned to Aviation Training Unit (VA-ATU) #4 from April 1947 through March 1948 at NAS Jacksonville. The aircraft was then retired.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Douglas C-47A Skytrain
SN: 42-100825

Current Location: Airborne Museum Sainte-Mère-Église, France

Built at the Douglas factory in Long Beach, California and delivered on December 16th 1943. On the night of June 5th to June 6th 1944, this aircraft participated in the Airborne assault into Normandy as part of Operation Neptune by carrying paratroopers of the 101st Airborne. On 7 June 1944, it towed a glider from the 325th GIR of the 82nd Airborne over Normandy.

On 15 August 1944, paratroopers from the 517th PIR jumped from the aircraft into Northern France. On September 17th & 18th during Operation market Garden in Holland it towed gliders of the 82nd Airborne in the Groesbeek – Nimègue region. The aircraft flew its last mission on 24 December 1944, as part of Operation Varsity, the largest airborne operation. In 1946 it was then sold for commercial use.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Douglas AC-47 Spooky
S/N: 43-16369

Current Location: The American Flight Museum, Topeka, Kansas, USA

The aircraft 43-16369 was originally built as a C-47B, and was delivered to the USAAF in August of 1944. It's record has been lost, but it is believed to have been sent to the 9th Air Force in Europe. It was sold as surplus to the US Department of Agriculture in 1964. The aircraft was retired in 1980. It remained as static display until 2000, when it was converted into an AC-47 and restored to flying status.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Douglas C-47B Skytrain
S/N: 42-93096

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

The aircraft was built at the Douglas Aircraft Manufacturing plant in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and delivered on 8 April 1944 to the USAAF. The aircraft was assigned to the 8th Air Force and arrived in England on 28 May 1944 and then transferred to the 9th
Air Force. On the night of June 5th to June 6th 1944 the aircraft was used in Operation Neptune, and carried Pathfinders from the 8nd Airborne into Normandy. The aircraft also dropped 101st Airborne troops into The Netherlands during Operation Market Garden, and dropped supplies into Bastogne during the Battle of the Bulge. During the resupply mission into the Bastogne, the aircraft sustained battle damage from German anti-aircraft fire, but was able to be repaired and returned to service. This aircraft was used on the 24 December 1944 during Operation Varsity.

Following WW2 the aircraft was used during the Berlin Airlift, and then eventually transferred to the Finnish Air Force. The aircraft was used in the movie "A Bridge To Far". In 2006 the aircraft was put on display at the National WW2 Museum in New Orleans.

It is not often that you get a picture of the aircraft during the war as well. Below is a pic of this very aircraft before taking off for Normandy on June 5th.

Credits are in the link posted here, as well the names of the paratroopers in the pictures.
Chalk 17 Lands In New Orleans

 

[fubar57]

Love the C-47

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

R4D-5L Skytrain "Que Sera Sera"
S/N: 12418

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

This aircraft was used by Naval Transport Command during WW2, and in 1946 was equipped with skis and participated in Operation Highjump. The aircraft took off from the Aircraft Carrier USS Philippine Sea (CV-47), and for 24 days flew photographic missions of the Antarctic Coast.

On 31 October 1956, the aircraft took part in Operation Deep Freeze, piloted by Lieutenant Commander Gus Shinn, and under the command of Rear Admiral George Dufek, made the first landing on the ice at the South Pole, carrying the first Americans to set foot on the spot and the first expedition to reach it since 1912.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

More to come later...

 

[Wayne Little]

Fantastic.

 

[T Bolt]

Great pictures Chris

 

[Airframes]

Good stuff Chris.