Help identifying aircraft

[dave5]

If anyone can help me identify the aircraft in this picture I sure would appreciate it. It is likely an Italian airfield during WWII but not 100% sure as the individual pictured ultimately escaped Italy and later served in the Allied forces.

 

[Crimea_River]

Very suspicious.

 

[Wurger]

The one in the background seems to be the Martin Baltimore. The one in the front also looks like the Baltimore but with the engine and the outer wing dismounted or cut off. But I agree the pic looks very suspicious. AI ?

 

[dave5]

I should have said that the original deteriorated picture was cleaned up using an AI cleaning tool. So, that may have slightly altered the tiny details of the aircraft. But, I am hoping that enough remains to identify the aircraft.

 

[Wurger]

OK. Could you upload the orginal shot?

 

[dave5]

Found another picture with the fun turret and it looks exactly like the Martin Baltimore. Thank you guys very much.

 

[Wurger]

My pleasure.

 

[Engineman]

Also, possibly an SM82 in the middle distance, half right.

Eng

 

[fubar57]

As it is AI altered, is the person standing by an early P-38 cockpit? I know the top clear part tilts back, the windscreen looks P-38ish

Amended

 

[Wurger]

As it is AI altered, is the person standing by an early P-38 cockpit? I know the top clear part tilts back, the windscreen looks P-38ish

Amended

IIRC, the P-38 up to the E variant had the top clear part of the cockpit hood of the side-open type hinged at the right side. But there wasn't the metal bar of the frame running through the middle of it from the front to the back. The one in the pic has that bar. What is more the frame of the front winscreen at the top had a cut for the top part. The side glasses of the windscreen had the rounded corners. The cover above the pilot's panel was longer for the P-38 and there should be the gunsight mounted. What is more the side glass panels of the P-38 were slided down and their top bars of the rame had the inscription "No Step". In the pic above it can be noticed that the frame at the area is fixed without the inscription.

 

[Crimea_River]

Not to mention the windshield wiper.

 

[fubar57]

Yep. Part of AI I think. It looks like it would peal off the bead site which also may be AI

 

[Barry Bromley]

Why all the suspicion? Looks like a line up of Baltimores to me.

 

[Crimea_River]

I agree they are Baltimores, which had the wiper. The photo appears to be a cut and paste, thats why I was suspicious.

 

[Barry Bromley]

Not sure why one would need to cut and paste. I think the pic has been coloured (possibly Photoshop with sharpening) for sure hence the sharper edges around the pilot. But everything is in order perspective wise. Not that any of this matters. It is still an interesting shot.