Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (2 Viewers)

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Okay, I guess that there are very few gray hairs that were flying into West Germany in the 70s and 80s+. At that time Germany was divided into East, communist Russia puppet, and West democracy. The border was hostile. Aircraft flying into East German airspace, accidentally or not could expect to be forced down or shot down. Frankfurt was rather close to the East German airspace. Close radar surveillance was maintained in this area. If radar control detected an aircraft heading toward the border, or getting near the border, they would broadcast 'BRASS MONKEY, BRASS MONKEY, BRASS MONKEY" on guard. All aircraft within this area were required to immediately turn west.
 
An incident described by my late friend about his neighbor's son occurred in 1946. The Lieutenant Pitre flew a P-51D and was flying wing on patrol in the newly set up Berlin corridor. It was common to see a pair of Yaks flying a parallel course on their side. The story goes that one day a Yak slowly moved over behind Pitre and shot him down. His parents were notified he was in a fatal flying accident. Several years later a fellow pilot of their son's visited and explained the story unofficially. In those days there was no avenue for the facts if they differ from the official documents. This is why my late buddy always loved the P-51.
 
Grumman F-14A-75-GR Tomcat (BuNo 159428) from Fighter Squadron VF-33 Starfighters in flight. VF-33 was assigned to Carrier Air Wing 1 (CVW-1) aboard the aircraft carrier USS America (CV-66) for a deployment to the Atlantic Ocean from 30 May to 8 July 1982.

 
A U.S. Navy McDonnell F-4B Phantom II of Fighter Squadron VF-111 Sundowners drops 227 kg Mk 82 bombs over Vietnam during 1971. VF-111 was assigned to Attack Carrier Air Wing 15 (CVW-15) aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) for a deployment to Vietnam from 12 November 1971 to 17 July 1972.

 
Boeing NB-52A take off with X-15 No. 3 (S/N 56-6672) on July 17, 1962, when Major White flew to an altitude of 314,750 feet.
The NB-52A was named "The High and Mighty One" at this time. Note the X-15 mission markings on the fuselage just forward
of the wing. The horizontal ones are for unpowered flights and the near vertical marks for powered flights.

 
President John F. Kennedy presents the 1961 Robert J. Collier Trophy to four X-15 pilots, on behalf of the National Aeronautic Association (NAA), on the West Wing Lawn, White House, Washington, D.C., 18 July 1962. Standing behind President Kennedy are the recipients (L-R): Major Robert M. White (U.S. Air Force), A. Scott Crossfield (North American Aviation), Joseph A. Walker (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), and Commander Forrest S. Petersen (U.S. Navy). Also pictured: Air Force Aide to the President, Brigadier General Godfrey T. McHugh; Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Lyman L. Lemnitzer; Representative George P. Miller (California); Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force, General Curtis E. LeMay; General Omar Bradley; Secretary of the Air Force, Eugene M. Zuckert.

 
An air-to-air left side view of two U.S. Air Force F-4E Phantom II aircraft banking to the right, in Germany, on 20 July 1982. The aircraft, assigned
to the 526th Tactical Fighter Squadron, 86th Tactical Fighter Wing, are each carrying four AIM-7 Sparrow missiles and four AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles.

 

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