Life Magazine in Vietnam

In 1965 British photographer Larry Burrows joined an American army helicopter flight over Vietnam. His 16 April Life magazine cover story was a prime example of both the horrors of war as a ‘rite of passage’ for young soldiers and a classical photo-essay, a genre that reached its peak in the mid-twentieth century with picture magazines such as Life. On 31 March 1965 he flew on one of seventeen UH-34D Sikorsky helios, Yankee Papa 13, shuttling South Vietnamese infantry to a landing zone outside Da Nang. The cover shot depicts Lance Cpl. James C. Farley at the helicopter's open door cabin one hand on the butt of his M-60 machine gun. At the DZ the Viet Cong have already brought the helicopters under heavy fire and one, Yankee Papa 3, has been disabled. Farley leapt down from his machine to assist the injured crew members from Yankee Papa 3 including co-pilot James Magel see here lying in the open doorway amid shell casings and debris. While Magel was safely evacuated his serious chest wound would prove fatal.

Falklands Sea Harrier FS1

Over @ britmodeller.com Nick Greenhall has posted some great potted histories of Falklands SHARs. Rather than lose them forever in the depths of the forums I've saved a couple for reference purposes here -TIA guys!

First up is black XZ457/14 of HMS Hermes’s Air Group pictured above in 1982.
On 1 May 1981 XZ457 armed with three Delayed Action 1,000lb bombs was flown by Lt Andy McHarg, ‘Tartan 3’, for the raid on the airstrip at Goose Green which took place at the same time as the raid on Port Stanley; the return of the SHARs from both raids being immortalised by the BBC reporter, Brian Hanrahan with his famous: “… I counted them all out and I counted them all back.”

On 21 May, Lt Clive Morrell destroyed A-4Q Skyhawk 0660/3-A-307 of 3 Escuadrilla with an AIM-9L and damaged A-4Q Skyhawk 0665/3-A-312 of 3 Escuadrilla with cannon fire, this A-4Q being lost while attempting an emergency landing; both pilots, Capitan de Corbetta Philipi and Teniente de Navio Arca, ejected safely. On 24 May, Lt Cdr Andy Auld destroyed two Daggers C-419 and C-430 of Grupo 6 with two AIM-9Ls; both pilots, Mayor Puga and Capitan Diaz, ejected safely.
By 14 June, XZ457 had flown 66 operational sorties, dropped three 1,000lb bombs, fired six hundred and eighty 30mm cannon rounds and three AIM-9Ls.
On 21 July it returned to Portsmouth on HMS Hermes with the addition of two white Mirage stencils above a white Skyhawk stencil below the cockpit on the port side. Both gun pods were overall Dark Green replacements from a Harrier GR.3. The camera panel on the starboard side was a MSG painted replacement (from ZA194). On 22nd July XZ457/14 was flown back to RNAS Yeovilton. XZ457/14 was the top-scoring SHAR from HMS Hermes.






ZA191/R/004 History
First Flight 4th December 1981, pilot Heinz Frick. On 2nd April 1982, ZA191 arrived on Hermes as --/718 of 899 NAS, with no VL base code or 899 badges on its fin just the ROYAL NAVY titles. After EDSG over-painting it became black 18, of Hermes’ Air Group.
1st May, ZA191 armed with three 600lb Cluster Bomb Units (CBUs) it was flown by Lt Cdr Rod Frederiksen, ‘Tartan Leader’, during the raid on the airstrip at Goose Green. Lt Cdr Frederiksen may have been the pilot who destroyed Pucara A-527 of Grupo 3 with one CBU.
9th May, Flt Lt David Morgan strafed the Argentine intelligence trawler Narwal.
16th May, Lt Simon Hargreaves strafed the Argentine supply vessel Bahia Buen Suceso, the aircraft being damaged by AAA in the starboard tailplane. A repair patch was applied, firstly a pale disc but by 19th July a square blue patch.
23rd May, Flt Lt John Leeming, with Flt Lt David Morgan in ZA192/92, strafed Augusta A-109A AE-337 until it crashed.
24th May, Lt Cdr Mike Blissett with Lt Cdr Neill Thomas in XZ496/27 loft-bombed the airfield at Port Stanley with VT 1,000lb bombs in a defence-suppression raid ahead of a low level attack by four Harrier GR.3s.
25th May, Lt Clive Morrell with Lt Cdr Neill Thomas in XZ455/12 loft-bombed Port Stanley airfield ahead of a Harrier attack.
31st May, Lt Clive Morrell flew this aircraft armed with two 1,000lb Paveway Laser Guided Bombs with Harrier GR.3 XZ989/07 flown by Sqn Ldr Peter Harris being used as the target designator. XZ455/12 flown by Lt Andy McHarg and XZ460/26 flown by Lt Cdr Rod Frederiksen accompanied them, both aircraft equipped with 1,000lb bombs. The target on Mount Usbourne was too close to British positions so a target in Port Stanley was selected. The results of the attack are not known, but indications are that it was decided that a Forward Air Controller (FAC) with a designator needed to be in place before the few valuable LGBs available could be used to best effect. This is the only LGB attack undertaken by a SHAR.
By 14th June, ZA191 had flown 71 operational sorties, dropping two LGBs and firing six hundred 30mm cannon rounds, sharing in the destruction of two ships and one helicopter. On 19th July it was flown from Hermes to RNAS Yeovilton before the ship docked at Portsmouth.

It later served with 899 NAS as 712 until 1983, moving to 800 NAS as 123 up to April 1987. It joined 801 NAS on 14th August 1989, coded 004. Less than two months later, on 4th October 1989, ZA191 hit HMS Ark Royal's mast during a flypast damaging the wingtip and RCV. Lt Simmonds-Short ejected safely over Lyme Bay leaving ZA191 to crash into the sea. It had flown for 1,717 hours.

One of the last photos ever taken of ZA191/R/004 shows her with the rest of 801 NAS outbound from RNAS Yeovilton to join HMS Ark Royal in the English Channel on 2nd October 1989. The nearest aircraft is another Falklands veteran ZA176. (Photo: Crown Copyright & article info credit Nick Greenhall)

Sukhoi T-50 -Raptor rival

The Sukhoi PAK FA (Russian: Перспективный авиационный комплекс фронтовой авиации, Perspektivny aviatsionny kompleks frontovoy aviatsii, literally "Future Frontline Aircraft System"), is a fifth generation fighter aircraft being developed by Sukhoi OKB for the Russian Air Force.

The current prototype is Sukhoi's T-50. The PAK FA when fully developed is intended to replace the MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-27 Flanker in the Russian inventory and serve as the basis of the Sukhoi/HAL FGFA project being developed with India. A fifth generation jet fighter, it is designed to directly compete with the American F-22 Raptor and American/British F-35 Lightning II. The T-50 performed its first flight January 29, 2010.



Russian news coverage of the first flight

hangar collapse in Washington

N89MX Global XRS of Micro Strategy
N400GX Global Express of DC Global
N585JC Gulfstream V of Hilton Hotels
N620K Global Express of Eastman Kodak

Jaguar on the road

Shortly before the M55 motorway was due for completion, arrangements were made in conjunction with the Ministry of Defence, and the British Aircraft Corporation, for a Jaguar GR1 , from Warton (Lancashire) to land on the road base of a section of carriageway near Weeton on the afternoon of Saturday, 26 April 1975. After fitting four of the RAF's latest cluster bombs on the plane, it then took off from the motorway. The purpose was to demonstrate the Jaguar's ability to land and take off in short distances. The motorway was opened to traffic in July 1975.

Dewoitine D.520 Armée de l' Air de Vichy - D.520 cockpit -edit June 2015

Below; Flottille F1 C (French naval air arm) machine were initially based in Algeria (Oran) late 1940. Nine of them flew to North Africa on June 25, 1940 and were 'organised' into two escadrilles 1AC and 2AC. Flew escort for two 'raids' on Gibraltar as reprisal for the attack on Dakar. Aircraft from 1 AC were briefly deployed to Syria and flew back to Morocco in late April 1942 which is where they were when the Allies landed in North Africa.

Following the defeat of France and the end of the Westfeldzug the French were allowed to resume/continue production of the D.520 with Mers-el-Kébir prompting the Germans to maintain a Vichy air force deployed to defend and protect French colonial interests in North Africa which were of no interest to the Germans. Production was used only to replace Vichy Armée de l'Air losses, with the remainder going to the occupation forces for fighter pilot training.

Some nice D.520 views as seen on master194.com. Note the 'midnight blue' cockpit colour.







More Dewoitine D.520 posts on this blog

Vichy Air Force D.520s of GC III/6 en route to Syria 1941
http://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.co.uk/2015/12/vichy-d520s-of-gc-iii6-en-route-to.html

 D.520s of the French resistance - le groupe Doret
http://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/dewoitine-d520-fighters-of-french.html

Dewoitine D.520 in the débacle
http://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/dewoitine-d-520-in-debacle-french.html

Tours airfield, June 1940
http://falkeeinsgreatplanes.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/dewoitine-d-520-in-debacle-french.html

Caproni triplane bomber

The Caproni Ca 40 series bombers were some of the largest triplanes to see service during WWI able to haul some 3,000 lbs of bombs in the external 'box' bay located in among the sixteen wheel landing gear arrangement.

Stark AS20 of 1942 -Rare Birds (6)

Not a captured aircraft, this machine was designed and flown under the German occupation and was painted with a swastika for flight evaluation only. André Starck started to design his first aircraft, the AS20, in 1938. It was to have the so-called Nénadovich biplane configuration with the tandem-mounted wings providing a continuous slot effect for exceptional c.g. travel and very low stalling speed. In 1941 construction commenced with the permission of the German occupation authorities. The first flight with André Starck himself as pilot took place on 23 October 1942. The aircraft reached speeds of more than 200 km/h. The flight evaluation resulted in some modifications. When the French pilot Finance failed in his 'escape bid' to Great Britain with the Holste MH20 (he had to make a forced landing) all flying of French-owned aircraft was prohibited by the German authorities. Minus its engine the AS20 was stored at Villacoublay where it still remained after the war.

A photo of this machine was published in the German magazine "Der Sportflieger" of 1942.

Haiti relief effort

Aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) an MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter prepares to launch as the ship arrives off the coast of Haiti. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage in Port-au-Prince.





Paratroopers of Bravo Troop, 1-73 Cav, 2nd Brigade Combat team, 82nd Airborne Division board a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Pope Air Force Base early Thursday morning Jan 14, 2010 to deploy in support of the earthquake that occurred in the capital of Port-au-Prince, Haiti earlier this week. The 2nd BCT is the 82nd Airborne Divisionís Global Response Force that has been training for real world emergency response missions. These are the first group of paratroopers going to Haiti to provide Humanitarian Aid




Airmen and C-130 Hercules aircraft from the Air Force Special Operations Command here landed in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, the evening of Jan. 13 and are continuing to provide disaster relief to area ravaged by a 7.0 earthquake.

MC-130H Combat Talon IIs and a C-130 from the 1st Special Operations Wing transported generators, vehicles, fuel, food and water, and communications packages, as well as specialty teams like special operations medical units and special tactics teams.

The Airmen will continue to support requirements as additional aircraft like the MC-130Ps Combat Shadows are en route carrying people and equipment.

In addition, two MC-130W Combat Spears from the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., are positioned at Hurlburt Field for additional support requirements


The helicopter flight crew unloads food and supplies from a U.S. Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopter from the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) at the airport in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The U.S. military is conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations after a 7.0 magnitude earthquake caused severe damage near Port-au-Prince on Jan 12, 2010.




A SH-60F Sea Hawk helicopter assigned to the Red Lions of Helicopter Anti-Submarine Squadron (HS) 15, delivers water and supplies to Haiti as part of rescue and relief efforts. Carl Vinson and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17 are conducting humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Haiti in response to the Jan. 12, 2010 earthquake disaster

Bird Dogs of the 220th Recon

Finally, a book giving the “Catkillers” the recognition they deserve. Often times, in Vietnam, I was asked what a US Marine was doing with an army unit. I arrived in Vietnam in July 1968, and was assigned to Headquarters, XXIV Corps, as a Marine Aerial Observer. Next thing I knew, I was in the office of the Commanding General, then-LTGEN Richard G. Stilwell.

The 220th Reconnaissance Airplane Company had just been made OpCon to XXIV Corps, and Gen. Stilwell told me I was the new liaison officer and had two weeks to develop a plan on how they would be used in northern I Corps. When I visited the Catkillers, they looked at me like I was from outer space, but it was a short-lived reaction. Working closely with “Andy” Anderson, I learned that individual ground units were being allocated so many hours of 220th support, with XXIV Corps Artillery claiming the majority of those hours. I briefed General Stilwell that we needed to change “hours” to “missions,” and from then on, ground units had to submit mission requests, stipulating the purpose, time of day, and how long they wanted coverage. The XXIV Corps Artillery people went nuts, to say the least.

My first mission with them was over North Vietnam, where anti-aircraft fire was coming from 57, 85 and 100mm guns. Along the Laos border, inside Laos, over Ashau Valley and Dakrong Valley, ground fire came from 12.7, 23 and 37mm weapons. It was over Laos where I learned that Bird Dogs can survive hits and keep flying.

The 220th soon became known throughout Northern I Corps, and there wasn’t a mission or assignment, regardless of weather or ground fire, that they backed off from, regularly returning with bullet holes in their aircraft.

“A Hundred Feet Over Hell” is about the Catkillers’ sincerity, heroism, and previously undocumented sacrifices, in all kinds of weather and under hostile fire; it tells of our flying over North Vietnam and Laos, night operations, and aircrews that were lost. As a United States Marine, I hold all members of the 220th RAC in the highest regard, and have the honor of being the only “Marine Catkiller.”

Read the stories that Jim Hooper has so painstakingly gathered, which give credence, respect and reality to the most caring group of US Army aviators, the Catkillers.


“Tank” Meehan, COL, USMC (ret)

Author Jim Hooper's web site

stunning MiG and Flanker

Su 27 photographed at Le Bourget by Nico Charpentier