Pictures of Cold War aircraft. (34 Viewers)
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Viking1066
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Fairchild A-10A Thunderbolt II Alconbury AIRH
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FJ-1s were soon relegated to reserve duties. These aircraft from NAS Oakland are shown on 26 August 1950 HERF
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Victor K.2 XL160 of 55 Squadron Marham leads this formation flypast at RAF Finningley. Victor K.2 XL512 of 57 Squadron follows 1977 AIRH
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WP807 visited Australia and New Zealand accompanied by WP206 1955 AIRH
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FJ Furies of utility squadron VU-1. 135784, 136107 and 136087 are FJ-3D drone controllers, 139474 is an FJ-4. The squadron was bus
y with a Regulus cruise missile test Hawaii 1960 AIRH
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Wearing an Irving parachute, a Swedish pilot mounts his Tunnan during the UN intervention in the Congo 1972 AIRH
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U.S. Navy Grumman US-2C Tracker (BuNo 133345) from composite squadron VC-3 Chukar Pups. VC-3 operated the US-2C as target tugs in the 1960s and 1970s WIKI
Escuadrilla Azul
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syscom3
Pacific Historian
Some P2V-2 "Neptunes" of USN Patrol Squadron 4 over the beautiful landscape of Alaska. The photos were made in 1948. The "Neptune" is a truly interesting aircraft type. Used in the maritime reconaissance, anti submarine and even ELINT & SIGINT roles, it played a vital part among USN (And in some cases also CIA) Operations during the Cold War era. It`s roots reached even back to war times, as the US aviation company Lockheed presented a study for a improved long range maritime patrol aircraft in 1941. This study, which was continued in 1942 and early 1943, leaded also to some interest from US Navy side. This interest evolved in early 1944 even to a official USN contract for the development of this new aircraft type. Designated as the XP2V-1 .
The first prototype took off for its maiden flight in May 1945, followed shortly afterwards by a second one. The XP2V-1 was a conventional designed, straight winged aircraft, powered by two Wright Cyclone R-3359-8 engines. The results of the first test flights were extremely positive. The plane was easy to maneuvre and had good flight characteristics. Defensive armament included six 0.50-caliber machine guns which were mounted in three turrets. The XP2V-1 was able to carry a huge payload of up to 8000 pounds in it`s large bomb bay and on hardpoints under the wings. This included bombs, torpedoes or depth charges. The first P2V-1 "Neptunes" entered USN service in late 1946.
The "Neptunes" on these photos were the second production version, designated P2V-2. This improved version included several major changes. The whole fuselage was enlarged, including the nose. The small gun turret in the nose section was completely removed and replaced by six 20mm machine cannons, mounted in the nose of the aircraft. It got new more powerful engines, the ability to use booster rockets for the take off process, a small radar dome under the fuselage, close to the bomb bay (It housed the naviation system of the aircraft) and some minor changes among the avionics and electronics. The P2V-2 was a heavier, more powerful and effective version of the "Neptune". It entered US Navy service in 1947.
But the "Neptunes" on the photo were a special sub-version of the regular P2V-2. Just three of them were converted in that way and got a glassy nose section and were used for mapping purposes over Alaska. This three "Neptunes" of VP-4 conducted dozens of mapping flights over Alaska between late 1947 and 1948.
Viking1066
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FJ-2s of VMF-122 over MCAS Cherry Point 1950's USMC
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