Matt308
Glock Perfection
Anyone know the story behind this pic? Port wing damage and damage to the bifurcated fuselage spine doors aft of the turret.
Air-to-air collision perhaps?
Air-to-air collision perhaps?
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TBM-3 White 113 of VT-82, USS Bennington (CV-20), February 1945
This Avenger was subject to one of the most dramatic aircraft photos of World War 2. Heavy flak damage resulted in the loss of nearly half the port wing, in addition to a five foot section of fuselage decking immediately aft of the turret. However, the VT-82 pilot skillfully retained control of his doomed TBM long enough to make a successful water landing. Standard early 1945 colors were gloss blue overall with the Bennington 'Christmas tree', or arrowhead, repeated on the upper starboard wing, overlapping the aileron.
Yeah single .50cal. And the damage to the upper fuselage behind the turret would likely not have taken too much to occur. These were bifurcating doors that collapsed down towards the centerline to allow for a greater range to the turret gunner. Thuse they were not not structurally reinforced to withstand great aerodynamic force, nor weapon damage.
On February 18,1945 his squadron was to attack shipping and waterfront installations at Chi Chi Jima.
As they were approaching the waterfront installations they came under heavy anti-aircraft fire. The pilot in the flight behind Robert's, Jesse Naul, saw Robert's plane get hit by the anti-aircraft fire and his right wing was blown off. He said Robert's plane went into a spin and crashed into Lt. King's plane. The propeller on Robert's plane took off about four feet of the left wing and damaged the fuselage on Lt. King's plane. Jesse said he saw no parachutes from Robert's plane as it went down and crashed into the sea. He said Robert's crew John Louis Gerig and Gilbert Reynolds were presumed lost and later listed as Killed in Action.
Starting to lose control of his plane, Lt . King ordered his crew to bail out. As he started to lose altitude he was able to regain some control of his plane and was able to make it back to the task force and made a water landing and was rescued. His crew Grady Alvah and James Wesley were captured by the Japanese and never heard from again. The Japanese on Chi Chi Jima executed any airmen they captured. After the war the commanding officer and members of his staff paid for their crimes.
There is a memorial at the Punch Bowl National Cemetery in Hawaii to honor all those lost at sea during World War Two. On it you can find Robert's name. May he rest in peace with all the others.
This happened over the island of CHI CHI Jima.The U.S. had just taken Iwo Jima. Chi Chi Jima was a threat to the B-29's flying to Japan. The U.S. started to make bombing runs on the island with. Corsairs, Avengers, and Helldivers. The fly boys were informed to take out the satellite towers on the two mountain peaks. The wing of this aircraft was blown of by the flak guns the Japanese had on the island. An aircraft above the avenger was hit by flak and they collided with each other both planes went into a spin but the plane in the picture was able to regain control. The pilot stayed in the plane trying to regain control and the radio operator and gunner bailed. The 2 boys were captured by the Japanese and exicuted. You can read the whole story behind the island of CHI CHI JIMA in a booked called Flyboys.Anyone know the story behind this pic? Port wing damage and damage to the bifurcated fuselage spine doors aft of the turret.
Air-to-air collision perhaps?
It had three in some models, The gondola position had a .50You don't say...
...and who said the Avenger turret only had one .50 cal.? It clearly had 2 silly!
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