clean USN aircraft.

[hern07]

Has anyone else noticed how clean USN carrier aircraft usually are? It seems the only exceptions are photos of ac that are dated to the day of a battle. It is my theory that the plane captains had plenty of time between battles or raids to keep their in good shape. Of course during a long engagement such as the battle of Midway they got pretty dirty fast.

 

[renrich]

I think it depends on whether the AC are operating from carriers or fields. If you see AC operating from fields like in the Solomons, they look pretty grubby but from carriers they look cleaner. Not much dirt at sea.

 

[hern07]

Definitely, I've seen some from Henderson Field that were filthy. I remember as a modler the temptation was to over weather. In the famous picture of the two SBD's over the Mogami and the Mikuma the two planes were very dirty. But this was after two days of intense combat.

 

[gjs238]

Some of those USAAC guys kept their rides real filthy, see link to pic
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/P47-D12thAFO.jpg

 

[fastmongrel]

Some of those USAAC guys kept their rides real filthy, see link to pic
http://i262.photobucket.com/albums/ii120/Duggy009/P47-D12thAFO.jpg

Wonder if someone forgot the oil filler cap

 

[Edgar Brooks]

Flying over the sea involves flying through an atmosphere full of corrosive salt, which means that the aircraft need a washdown, with clean water, immediately afterwards.
Edgar