Military Pics & Videos

[janice6]

On 4/6/2022 at 9:57 AM, Swampfox762 said:

One of my groups efforts was to design and test a concept "Photonic Mast".  That is a submarine "periscope mast" that was completely fiber optic with an assortment of different spectral cameras at the top, and a fiber optic rotary joint penetrating the hull with a single optical fiber. 

The reduction of the single optical fiber through the hull provided for a significant increase in the operational depth of the submarine since the old periscope mast was so large in diameter where it penetrated the pressure hull. 

The operational depth rating of a submarine is due to the "hole in the pressure hull" where the periscope optics penetrate the hull.

This is a very big deal!!!!!

[Schmidt Meister]

Helicopter Ejection.

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Mercedes-Benz LG-1519 - 6x6 - Modified With "Boomerang" Suspension

 

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Military bicycle with spring wheels. Early 1900's during the WWI rubber shortage.

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USMC CH-53E HMH-466 - Desert Storm

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Vought OS2U Kingfisher landing in a battleship’s wake to be recovered, circa late 1930’s.

[pipedreams]

More bang for your buck

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[Schmidt Meister]

168 new M2A2s and M3A3s Bradleys sent to Busan, South Korea on the USS Watson headed to the 2nd Infantry Division Reinforcement. 2011.

[Schmidt Meister]

B-29 Superfortress 44-69972 - "Doc"

Manufactured by Boeing Aircraft at Wichita, Kansas and delivered to the United States Army Air Force in March 1945, the B-29 Superfortress 44-69972 was sent to Birmingham, Alabama for its first major modification. In May 1945, it was assigned to the Third Air Force. One year later, it was placed in storage at Pyote Army Air Force Base, Texas, where numerous B-29s were housed between WWII and 1950.
The aircraft was pulled out and readied for action in the Korean War. It was modified for Radar Calibration and flew Radar Defense Evaluation Flights on the East Coast of the United States from July 1951 until February 1955. Later, the 17th Tow Target Squadron received the B-29 and converted it to a Tow Target aircraft for the Air Defense Command, Yuma County Air Force Base, Arizona.
For its final mission, B-29 Superfortress 44-69972 was transferred from the United States Air Force to the United States Naval Weapons Center, China Lake Naval Air Station, Ridgecrest, California, 14 March 1956, to be used as a ballistic missile target for air combat training.
In 1987, an army of volunteers led by Tony Mazzolini and backed by the United States Aviation Museum mobilized their forces for a incredible mission, recovering a World War II B-29 Superfortress Bomber and restoring it to flying condition.
The aircraft was the last remaining B-29 available for restoration. This B-29 had spent 42 years exposed to the elements of the desert on China Lake's electronic warfare range. It had survived intact, unlike its sister ships, which were used for ballistic missile drone and ground targets.
In 2000, the B-29 made its way to Wichita for restoration. Volunteers in Wichita, Kansas have now brought the massive airplane close to completion and are getting ready to return the bomber to the skies.
On July 18, 2016, the B-29 known as Doc took to the sky for the first time since 1956. The bomber now tours the United States as a flying museum, and along with 'FIFI' is one of only two airworthy B-29s on the planet.

[Schmidt Meister]

B-24 Liberator (Serial Number 42-52534) “Witchcraft”

The B-17 and the B-24 Liberators were the workhorses of the US Army Airforces during WWII, being used in every theatre of the war. Both were used for the intensive strategic bombing on German cities, but the Liberator was also an important aircraft in the Battle of the Atlantic where it was able to close the Mid-Atlantic Gap with its long range.
Overall, 12,000 B-24s served with the USAAF, peaking in September 1944 when there were 6,043 operational.
One of the B-24s most notable aspects is its long and thin ‘Davis wing’, mounted high up on the fuselage. This type of wing gave the B-24 good range qualities, and enabled a high cruise speed as well as a heavier bomb load.
Like the B-17, the B-24 was armed with a large amount of .50 caliber machine guns, located in the waist and turrets. Unlike the B-17 however, the ball turret was retractable as there was minimal ground clearance below the aircraft. This could be used to reduce drag for longer range, or in case of engine failures.
It was the first US heavy bomber to feature tricycle landing gear.
The B-24 wasn’t as durable against enemy fire as the B-17. On top of this, it had a maximum altitude 4,000 ft less than the B-17, and carried less defensive armaments. This lead to crews prefer the B-17, but General Staff favoured the B-24 for its heavier bomb load.
One notable Liberator was B-24 ‘Witchcraft’. Witchcraft was built in 1944, before flying to England in March of 1944 to join the 467th Bomb Group. She flew the first mission of the 467th. Over the the next year, with various different crews, Witchcraft completed 130 combat missions.
Over these missions, she never once turned back, and no crewman was injured or killed. She flew her last combat mission on April 25 1945, which was none other than the last mission flown by the 467th.
Unfortunately her incredible career couldn’t save her, and she was scrapped in late 1945. Today, one of the only flying B-24 Liberators is painted as Witchcraft.

[Schmidt Meister]

The XH-17 "Flying Crane". The first helicopter project of Hughes Aircraft Company. It still holds the world's record for flying with the largest rotor system. It was scrapped due to inefficiency. From first flight to being scrapped, 10.1952-12.1955.

[Schmidt Meister]

USAF B-1B Lancers and USMC F-35B Lightning II Fighters are joined by F-15J JASDF (Japan Air Self-Defence Force) Fighters in Japanese Air Space in response to NK IRBM (Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile) Launch - 8.28.2021.

[Schmidt Meister]

USAF 4th and 5th Generation F-15C, F-15E, F-35A, RAFL (Lakenheath) Typhoon in an echelon formation. Exercise Point Blank 19-2 over the North Sea. 6.27.2019

[Schmidt Meister]

Retirement ceremony for the UN-1N Iroquois (Huey) after 43 years of outstanding service. Replaced by UH-1Y Venom. 2014

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J & G Thomson in Govan, Glasgow built the iron-hulled ship, City of Adelaide for the Australasian Steam Navigation Company. She was launched on 22 December 1863 and completed in 1864. Her registered length was 246.0 ft (75.0 m), her beam was 28.3 ft (8.6 m) and her depth was 16.6 ft (5.1 m). Thomson's also built her marine steam engine, which had two cylinders and was rated at 200 horsepower.
Her owners registered City of Adelaide at Sydney. Her United Kingdom official number was 49261 and her code letters were WCHB.
City of Adelaide ran regular passenger services between several destinations including Melbourne, Sydney, Honolulu and San Francisco.
In 1871 the ship was refitted, and her masts were reduced from three to two to increase her passenger accommodation. She served for a further 14 years before being retired in 1885. After the merger of the Australasian Steam Navigation Company with the Queensland Steam Shipping Company, in 1887, City of Adelaide continued in service with the successor company Australasian United Steam Navigation Company.
n 1890 to WA Ritchie of Sydney bought her and had her converted to a four-masted jackass barque by removing her boilers and engines and adding two new masts. In 1895 GJ Robertson of Sydney bought her. In 1902 Howard Smith Company of Townsville bought her and turned her into a coal hulk.
In 1912 the ship caught fire and burnt for some days before flames were extinguished. In 1915, by George Butler, the son of the first European resident of Magnetic Island, bought her burnt hulk. He had the hull stripped, and an attempt was made to float the ship to Magnetic Island’s Picnic Bay, where she would be scuttled as a breakwater for a jetty. However, as the ship was being towed from Townsville to Picnic Bay she ran aground off Magnetic Island's Cockle Bay.
In World War II the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) used the wreck for target practice for bomber crews from the nearby Garbutt Airfield. On 22 October 1942, six RAAF Bristol Beaufort bombers of 100 Squadron made a coordinated mock torpedo attack on Townsville Harbor, followed by a coordinated practice bombing of the wreck. The mock attack on Townsville Harbor was a success, after which the six bombers climbed to about 1,000 feet (300 m) and flew in a vee formation towards Cockle Bay.
Several of the aircraft dived at the wreck in a bombing run, during which one of the aircraft appeared to strike one of the masts of the sunken ship, before crashing into the shallow sea about 700 metres (770 yd) from the ship. The plane's fuselage disintegrated on impact, instantly killing three RAAF officers and a United States Navy officer aboard the bomber.
The wreck is about 300 metres (330 yd) off the shore of Cockle Bay. On 24 December 1971 Cyclone Althea struck the coast of northern Queensland near Magnetic Island, causing the part of the wreck’s iron hull to collapse. However, the wreck remains an artificial island, hosting a diversity of plant and animal life.

[pipedreams]

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C-130 "Fat Albert" Jet Assisted Take Off (JATO) - At NAS Miramar Air Show

 

 

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A CH-54A Sikorsky Tarhe heavy lifting 2 UH-1 Hueys - c.1968 - (Tarhe - Wyandot Indian Chief Nicknamed 'The Crane') The Civilian Version is S-64 Skycrane.

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4 F2H-3 McDonnell Banshees of VF-31 over USS Midway (CVA 41) in the Mediterranean Sea - 1954. This picture was taken during a time when AF aircraft were undergoing a paint scheme change.

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A C-130 Lockheed Hercules dropping cargo using the LAPES (Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System). I used to really enjoy watching them dropping equipment in Panama.

[kerbie18]

On 6/19/2022 at 1:44 PM, Schmidt Meister said:

A C-130 Lockheed Hercules dropping cargo using the LAPES (Low Altitude Parachute Extraction System). I used to really enjoy watching them dropping equipment in Panama.

Do they let people ride in the tank? That would be fun. Weeeee!

[Schmidt Meister]

1 hour ago, kerbie18 said:

Do they let people ride in the tank? That would be fun. Weeeee!

I watched them drop a pair of Jeeps and the corner of the platform hit a hole and we picked up pieces of Jeep all over a 5 acre field. You don't want to ride in the tank, lol.

[DWARREN123]

They at one time long ago tried a open box with soldiers in it. A way to get non-airborne soldiers on the ground fast.

It did not work well!

[Schmidt Meister]

James Arness, of Minneapolis Minnesota, registered for service with the US Army on June 30, 1942 at the age of 19 years old. He served as a rifleman in the 2nd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division.
On January 22, 1944 Corporal Arness landed on the Anzio Beachhead during Operation Shingle. On February 1, James and his squad were caught up in an intense fight in a vineyard. After the enemy was pushed back by the Second Platoon, James was left with multiple severe injuries to his leg, rendering him immobile. The damage to his right leg required numerous surgeries and months of recuperation. This damage would stay with James for the rest of his life. Corporal Arness was honorably discharged from the US Army on January 29, 1945. He was honored with the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart for his service. James' younger brother, Peter Graves of Mission Impossible fame, also served as a Corporal in the United States Army Air Forces during the war.
After the war James went on to have a successful career as an actor. Most memorably as the character "Matt Dillon" on the series "Gunsmoke."
James Arness passed away on June 3, 2011 at the age of 88. He lies in rest at the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. Lest We Forget.

2nd picture - James Arness (R) and brother Peter Graves (Mission Impossible)