Picture of the day. (9 Viewers)

[rochie]

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https://twitter.com/TrevClark1958

A pilot of 30 Sqn. Royal Air Force is helped into the cockpit of a Republic P-47 Thunderbolt Mk.II by one of his ground crew team, who have already started the engine. This photo was taken in January 1945, at Jumcha in Burma, now known as Myanmar. No credit available.

always love seeing that picture, such a great shot

 

[Gnomey]

Good shots guys!

 

[Capt. Vick]

P-51 pilot Maj. Merle Gilbertson with flak damage to canopy.

Flora, North Dakota's Maj. Merle J. "Jackie" Gilbertson had a combat career that spanned nearly the entire time the 20th Fighter Group was active during the war. He joined the 55th Fighter Squadron at March Field on 9 February, 1943 and after training was sent overseas.

He was one of the 20th Fighter Group pilots who flew with the 55th Fighter Groups during November of 1943, to gain combat experience, and on 28 December he flew on the first official mission of the 20th.

On New Year's Day, 1944 he was made a Flight Commander and he held this position until 26 August when he was promoted to Squadron Operations Officer. He held this post until the end of his first combat tour on 26 September 1944.
Gilbertson returned to the States for a much-needed rest but by 1 January, 1945 he was back amongst the ranks of the 77th Fighter Squadron as their Operations Officer and on 6 January he was back in combat flying the P-51.
On 9 February, 1945 a FW-190 exploded in front of his aircraft while he was strafing Eperstedt Airfield, which shattered his canopy. Though he suffered minor injuries he went on to destroy 3 more aircraft on the ground before returning to base. He was involved in the Frantic VI Mission to Russia. He flew his 100th mission on 21 April, 1945, the day of the last official mission for the 20th.
Gilbertson flew a total of 434:35 combat hours, 310:10 on his first tour and 124:25 on the second. During that time he downed 2 1/2 Me-109s and shared a third of a victory of an He-111. He also destroyed 3 Fw-190s and 1 ui/se on the ground as well as damaging a Do-217 in the air and an Me-110 on the ground. He was awarded the Air Medal with 10 clusters, the Distinguished Flying Cross with one cluster, the Purple Heart and a Silver Star.
2.83 air kills 4 ground kills.
He died in 1950 at the age of 30. Buried in Maddock North Dakota.

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Died at 30...

 

[syscom3]

TBM Avengers, FM Wildcats, and in the foreground FG-1D Corsairs of VMF-512, on Casablanca-class escort carrier USS Sargent Bay (CVE-83), June 2, 1945.

 

[Lucky13]

What is it in life, that makes you get attach to things, things to which you have no connection to whatsoever, my case in point....USS Yorktown CV-5 (CV-10), must be 30+ years now that I've besotted by the grand old ladies, weird it is anyway!

 

[michaelmaltby]

... I feel your pain, Lucky ... besotted is irrational

 

[Capt. Vick]

She was a beautiful ship

 

[Wayne Little]

Cool Pics..

 

[michaelmaltby]

Histomil.com
wehrmacht_soldiers_1941_kowno_eastern_front-jpg.583725

 

[Lucky13]

Commissioning of USS Yorktown on 15 April 1943....

 

[syscom3]

Hellcat pilot

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

Generalfeldmarschall Rommel and other high-ranking officers inspect defensive preparations on the beaches of the Atlantic Wall. No photo credit available.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

DUKW amphibious trucks of the British 21st Army Group lined up ready for loading onto tank landing ships at a south coast port, England, June 1944. No photo credit available.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

An American 8-inch gun M1 fires at Japanese positions on Luzon Island in May, 1945. No photo credit available.

 

[Aaron Brooks Wolters]

USS Wasp (Essex-class) underway from the Puget Sound Navy Yard, Bremerton, Washington, United States for tests following repairs, 2 Jun 1945. Note new Measure 21 paint scheme, all over sea blue. Source ww2dbaseUnited States Navy National Museum of Naval Aviation

 

[Wurger]

 

[Snautzer01]

this is much better, much safer


WWII Orig Photo USAAF 344th BG B-26 with Damaged Tail/Tail Gunner Position | eBay

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Muchhhhhhh safer....

WWII Orig Photo USAAF 483rd BG Crashed B-17 from Mid Air Collision | eBay

 

[Lucky13]

USS Bogue CVE-9 at sunset....somewhere....sometime.

Source: NavSource

 

[michaelmaltby]

Histomil.com
8befc7a6eedb2738f2f238e9b7a29016-jpg.583846

 

[syscom3]

B-24 landing with brake failure uses chutes for braking.