Picture of the day. (2 Viewers)

[Smokey Stover]

Think its safe to say these chaps like their pipes...

 

[Smokey Stover]

A 5.5-inch gun crew from 75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, in action in Italy, September 1943. Check out the heavily bandaged thumb of the soldier at far right. (Image: IWM)

 

[Smokey Stover]

Sneaky flight

. The Japanese airforce evaluate a captured B-17D

 

[vikingBerserker]

Excellent!

 

[syscom3]

Mid air collision between two B-17's. 34th BG near Koblenz Germany. March 1945.

I have never seen this picture before.

"After the bomb run on 23 March 1945, Ol' Scrapiron dropped from the 4th Bomb Wing formation and joined the 34th Bomb Group formation returning to England from its mission to Geisecke. Near Koblenz, one of the 34th aircraft (43-38971) was struck by flak, losing its wing. The damaged aircraft first rolled into a plane from the 487th, which remained flying, before colliding with Ol' Scrapiron. The plane from the 447th with the Bruckman crew onboard was broken apart at the waist.

Tail gunner Byron Schlag was the only member of the crew able to bail out, after riding the tail section down to 8,000 feet -- at times losing consciousness from lack of oxygen. Amazingly, Ed Shibble survived the fall (though sustaining serious injuries), trapped in the ball turret until it broke free of the aircraft as it crashed through some trees. The two gunners were captured. The rest of the crew perished along with the entire crew from the 34th.

From MACR 13617:

At 1347 hours, 27000 ft. altitude, the A/C flying No. 11 position of the 34th Group was hit by flak and peeled off to the left. After glancing off A/C of the 487th Group, No. 11 struck A/C #582 who went into a tight spin. The right wing folded and there was one explosion within the A/C in mid-air. #582 then hit the ground in a wooded area and exploded again. 2 chutes were observed. Coordinates were approximately 5040-0740. This report corroborated by 93rd Wing, 34th Bomb Group and 487th Bomb Group."

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Not ever seen that one either Syscom. Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

A 5.5-inch gun crew from 75th (Shropshire Yeomanry) Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery, in action in Italy, September 1943. Check out the heavily bandaged thumb of the soldier at far right. (Image: IWM)View attachment 483871

I may be wrong, but it looks like he only has three fingers on that hand also.

 

[Shinpachi]

Here is the engine sound of the captured B-17D by the altitude 1,000M(3,000ft), 3,000M(9,000ft) and 5,000M(15,000ft). Recorded by IJA Air Defense School in Chiba Prefecture for education in April 1943.

B17D
NDL Digital Collections - 敵機爆音集：ボーイングB17D重爆機、高度1000m、3000m、5000m

If interested in more captured planes,
Lockheed Hudson
NDL Digital Collections - 敵機爆音集：ロキード・ハドソン重爆機、高度1000m、3000m、5000m

Brewster Buffalo
NDL Digital Collections - 千葉陸軍防空学校監修、防衛総司令部・陸軍航空本部推薦 敵機爆音集：バッファロー戦闘機 高度千米、三千米、五千米

Curtiss P-40
NDL Digital Collections - 敵機爆音集：カーチスP40戦闘機、高度1000m、3000m、5000m

 

[syscom3]

Not ever seen that one either Syscom. Very interesting, thanks for sharing.

What an amazing shot that was.

 

[Gnomey]

Good shot guys!

 

[Wurger]

Really very interesting. THX for posting.

 

[Wurger]

 

[michaelmaltby]

 

[michaelmaltby]

 

[Smokey Stover]

Bell P-39 Airacobra's before sending from Edmonton to the USSR:

 

[Smokey Stover]

I may be wrong, but it looks like he only has three fingers on that hand also.

You might just be right. Being a gunner/loader, there's a good chance of not being able to play the piano again....

 

[Wurger]

 

[Smokey Stover]

View attachment 483983

Nice pic Im rather embarrassed to admit i dont recognize this tank, is it Russian..?

 

[Smokey Stover]

The Kyushu Q1W "Tokai" (translating to "Eastern Sea" and codenamed "Lorna" by the Allies) was an anti-submarine bomber utilized by the Empire of Japan in the last year of World War 2. The type was produced in limited numbers and fielded from land bases despite its use by the Imperial Japanese Navy.

 

[michaelmaltby]

Superb demolition