Navy photo's - Pacific ops

[mkloby]

Will be digging through a very packed garage for more photo's;
14 relocations in my life has caused a little pandemonium with
tracking where my stuff lies.

I can imagine - I'm only on 4 and I still don't know where sh*t is!

 

[twoeagles]

This is one of my favorite photo's. It's so evocative of the vastness
of air and sea, and how insigificant even an aircraft as large as a Hellcat
really is. Islands are almost a defect in an otherwise perfect world of
air and water. Note the airstrip in the lower right - I do not have a
location for this photo. The vertical shading is in the actual picture, not
a result of my scanning!

 

[twoeagles]

In early 1945, VF-16 "Fighting Airedales" changed to a fighter - bomber
unit, VBF-16 and left the Lexington for the Bon Homme Richard (Bonnie Dick)
CV-31, brand new and just commissioned in November, 1944. The group
met the carrier in the Caribbean to pratice the "bombing" part of their
mission before returning to the PTO...Here they are in Trinidad, where
my Dad says they enjoyed terrific rum. He is the fellow on the far right,
and sure gives one an idea of how big a Hellcat is!!! (I still have that ball
cap he is wearing in this photo).

 

[Gnomey]

Excellent photos keep them coming.

 

[twoeagles]

What the best dressed Navy fighter pilots were wearing in early 1943...
I asked my Dad if he really flew like this and he said that in general, yes,
only never with such a lovely job of the silk scarf! Sadly, his flight jacket
was passed to my older brother who was a recip mechanic and plane
captain on AD's aboard the JFK 1968/1969, and the damn fool traded it
in for a new jacket! I have never forgiven him.

This rather cheesy formal portrait was made for the folks back home...

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

the airfeild in the bottom right really does put that shot into perspective!

 

[syscom3]

Not too many islands in the central Pacific had a triangular shaped airfield.

I think Roi/Namur had one.

I will check my airfield database and see if we can identify the island.

 

[yxguy]

This is such a great thread...thanks for the effort!

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well if anyone'll find it sys will.........

 

[Wildcat]

Awesome pics mate! a great tribute to your Dad.

 

[twoeagles]

Old shipmates will know what this is:

 

[Micdrow]

Ahh yes I came so close to that one but because of the action in Liberia we had to turn around. I got my card some where though for going through the Suez canal.

 

[Dukesman]

This is an excellent thread. We need more like this one. Thanks for sharing all of these wonderful photos.

 

[renrich]

Great stuff, thank you so much. It really helped to have monster balls, don't you think!

 

[Mike64]

I will post some of the photo's from my Dad's collection here, adding as
I get them scanned. He normally flew the Hellcat with the strike camera
and was last to come in on raids.

The first photo is of their "new" F6F-5 Hellcats. The caption written on back
of this photo says "Link flying my plane. I took the picture while flying
a TBM. Refuse to have my picture taken in a TBM". Snob fighter pilot!
This was probably early 1945 and he would have been 23 years old.

Great stuff, Eagles

 

[timshatz]

Outstanding shots TwoEagles. Know it must take time to get it together but they are greatly appreciated.