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Ling-Temco-Vought V-507 Vagabond REDD
Ling-Temco-Vought V-507 Vagabond REDD.png
 
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GMC 353 Bofors (1944)

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GMC-353 Bofors of the Free French 2nd Armoured Division, Battery 1, 22nd Colonial AA group, Alsace early 1945.

The 22° Groupe colonial de Forces Terrestre Antiaérienne was the anti aircraft asset of the French 2nd Armoured Division (about half of the division originated from the Free French, the other half from the Vichy Army in Africa). Its peculiar autocannons, unique to the division, were 40 mm Bofors guns mounted on GMC CCKW 353 truck, based on the previous experience in Tripolitaine and Tunisia where the Bofors was considered effective but to slow to unlimber and fire. The modification under supervision of the Etablissement Principal du Service du Matériel at Casablanca concerned 32 vehicles (4 batteries of 8 guns). Tests were effective without any excessive strain on the materiel. During all the service, these autoconnons were very effectively used including as ground support guns, the main drawback being the lack of armor protection.
The group's tall was 17 planes shot down, 6 damaged and 800 POWs during ground combats.
antocannons
 
I might be wrong (I'm no expert on tall ships!) but I think that last pic is not the Kaiwo Maru? It's flying the Stars and Stripes…
It's maritime custom to fly the flag of a nation when in their waters. I believe it is from the foremast on sailing ships. There's a beautiful illustration of RMS Titanic in which the Stars and Stripes are flying from its foremast. In the early '70's, I was a sea scout. When we "dieseled" up the Hudson River and into Canadian waters, we flew the Canadian National Ensign from the starboard spreader of our (only) mast. The U.S. National Ensign was flown from the required position, the stern flagstaff.
 

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