AIRCRAFT I.D. PLEASE

[fubar57]

The third photo of this set show a bunch of wrecked Allied aircraft. Anyone know the aircraft in the center, with roundel...

Trove of 'secret' wartime photos found in albums kept by lensman：The Asahi Shimbun

 

[wuzak]

Could it be a Percival Proctor?

Percival Proctor - Wikipedia

 

[Graeme]

Blunt front on the cockpit. Limited glass paneling.
And that carcass looks like the wing is hinged backwards?
Lotta Miles machines did that.

Miles Whitney Straight?

Miles Whitney Straight - Wikipedia

 

[GrauGeist]

I'd say that's a ringer, Graeme...good eye!

Also, that's quite a collection of aircraft in that scrap heap...several airframes of the Dutch Brewster B-339 (Buffalo), and an early B-17 with the pre-May '42 roundel.

 

[vikingBerserker]

To the immediate left of it is the tail of a Martin 139WH-3A.

 

[Wurger]

 

[buffnut453]

Apparently the location is Andir where the Japanese gathered from across the NEI all the wrecks of Allied airframes that could not be repaired. In Dutch use, it was home to an ML-KNIL technical training school, as well as an operating base for Glenn Martin bombers. A squadron of USAAF B-17s also operated from there during the conflict.

 

[fubar57]

Well done Graeme

 

[Crimea_River]

A side of bacon for Table #3!

 

[Capt. Vick]

A B-17 and three Brewster Buffalo's in the background as well...

 

[GrauGeist]

A B-17 and three Brewster Buffalo's in the background as well...

There's a B-339 to the left and right in the photo, but the aircraft in the center background, under the B-17's wing appears to be a Curtiss-Wright CW-21

 

[Capt. Vick]

That's what I thought initially...

 

[buffnut453]

There are 3 Brewsters in the background (B-3156 furthest to the left, then there's another with "O" on the fin visible through the skeletal rudder of the B-10, with the third Brewster visible under the port wing of the B-17). There's a 4th Brewster clearly visible side-on, with what looks like the serial B-397, in between the Miles Whitney Straight and the B-17. This latter airframe wears the rectangular red, white and blue national markings that were applied to ML-KNIL aircraft in March 1942, just before the surrender, replacing the previous marking of black-bordered orange triangles.

 

[shaun]

After the outbreak of World War II in 1939, the Air Ministry impressed 23 Whitney Straights into military service, for use as communications aircraft. Twenty-one of those served in the UK, one in India, and one in Egypt. One M.11A also served with the Fleet Air Arm from 1940 to 1943, and three with the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

 

[buffnut453]

The wing to the right of the Whitney Straight looks to be the outer wing panel from a WH-139. Note the 3 black numerals on the leading edge which were a repeat of the individual airframe number. Sadly, I can't make out the numbers clearly...perhaps "827" or "937" or something similar?

 

[vikingBerserker]

I don't think it is. The Martin bombers were assigned 500 series numbers. Once they had obtained over a hundred and started being number in the 600 series, they (the ones given numbers in the 600 series) were quickly given new ones in the 5000 series.

 

[Elvis]

Buffnut,

That panel with the "O" on it is not the vertical stabilizer from any Brewster.
Check out the plane behind the B-17 ("B-297"). The tail fin is clearly visible there and the shape of both are vastly different.
I also agree that the plane seen under the wing tip of the B-17 is not a Brewster, but a CW-21.


Elvis

 

[buffnut453]

Buffnut,

That panel with the "O" on it is not the vertical stabilizer from any Brewster.
Check out the plane behind the B-17 ("B-297"). The tail fin is clearly visible there and the shape of both are vastly different.
I also agree that the plane seen under the wing tip of the B-17 is not a Brewster, but a CW-21.

Elvis

I see what you mean about the fin/rudder on 'O'. There's certainly something odd going on. Perhaps there's another airframe in between the Brewster and the B-10 rudder, or perhaps the B-10 rudder skeleton is corrupting our perception of the fin/rudder on the other aircraft. However, look at the rear of the cockpit on that airframe. That feature is is 100% Brewster (it's also wearing the same fuselage band as B-3156 next to it, indicating they were from the same squadron).

As to the aircraft under the B-17 wing, that's also a Brewster. The fuselage is far too fat to be a CW-21. Also the CW-21 doesn't have the distinctive gap between the engine cowling and the fuselage or the row of cooling vents in the forward fuselage that was a distinctive feature of Brewsters. The pic below, from a similar angle, shows the cowling gap and vents to good effect:

But don't take my word for it. Peter Boer, who is THE world's expert on ML-KNIL, also identifies 4 Brewsters in this image.