Vought OS2U Kingfisher - "Avions" magazine issues 195 & 196

The Vought OS2U Kingfisher was a US catapult-launched observation and rescue floatplane, a compact mid-wing design with a central float and small stabilising floats. Performance was modest, because of its light engine. The OS2U could also operate on fixed, wheeled, tail dragger landing gear. The OS2U was the main shipboard observation type used by the US Navy during WWII and 1,519 of the aircraft were built. It served on battleships and cruisers of the US Navy, with the US Marine Corps in Marine Scouting Squadron THREE (VMS-3), with the US Coast Guard at coastal air stations, at sea with the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy and with the Soviet Navy. US Navy Kingfishers based in Alaska were regularly deployed on dive-bombing or low altitude bombing sorties carrying 159 kg bombs due to lack of more suitable types in this theatre during the Japanese landings of June 1942. On 15 July 1942 two Kingfishers of VS-9 participated in the sinking of U-576 off Diamond Shoals, North Carolina.

Issues 195 & 196 of leading French aviation magazine "Avions" feature an extended two-part series on the Vought OS2U Kingfisher by Rene Francillon, chock full of fabulous colour photos and artwork by Thierry Dekker. A selection of the photographs in the articles courtesy of editor/publisher Michel Ledet. Click to view large..

Below;   about to embark for a training sortie from the Pensacola NAS training school during 1942. Note the adhoc boarding 'plank'. The pilot, left, is in full flying kit, while the ground crews are more appropriately attired for the hot Florida sunshine. Note the two Consolidated P2Y-2 of VN-4-D8 in the background - USN photo via RF

Corpus Christi (Texas) NAS Kingfisher in the standard camo scheme circa 1942 (Blue Grey and Light Grey) with areas of orange yellow on the wings denoting training aircraft. Note the wingtips in blue-yellow-red. Just visible is the red safety stripe on the central float to highlight the passage of the prop blade...

Above; OS2U-2 "32" preparing for a training sortie from the Pensacola NAS training school during 1942. The instructor crouched on the wing gives his final instructions to the student pilot.

Polikarpov R-5 Daily ebay photo find #11

courtesy of Ebay.de seller Marco (koelsch333), these images appear to depict an enclosed passenger cabin variant of the Polikarpov R-5 (ARK-5), note too the underwing containers or Kassetta. These images are taken from the album of a veteran of the (German) 254th ID, see the link below if contemplating a bid.

The R-5 was a 1930's Soviet biplane in the Wapiti mould, an unequal-span two-seater constructed largely of wood with fabric covering. The R-5 reconnaissance light bomber first flew in prototype form in 1928. Pilot and observer/gunner were seated close together in tandem open cockpits - the pilot beneath a cutout in the upper wing trailing-edge. The type saw action in Mongolia against the Japanese, fought with the Republicans in the Spanish civil war and against the Finns during the Winter war. Service continued well into WWII where it was employed as a night time nuisance raider. Click on the images to view large.

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Foto-russischer-Doppeldecker-Polikarpov-Beute-Flugzeug-Nebel-Raketen-254-ID-/310792366731?pt=Militaria&hash=item485cab2a8b

 The BMW VIb in-line engine of the prototype was replaced by the 507kW Soviet-built M-17B in production aircraft. The R-5 could operate on skis or twin-floats (the latter designated R-5A or MR-5), as well as on the more normal axle-type fixed undercarriage. Standard armament was a fixed 7.62mm PV-1 machine-gun and a DA-1 weapon of the same calibre operated by the observer. Up to 250kg of bombs could be carried on underwing racks.

Many variants of the R-5 were used in the Soviet Union. These included the single-seat R-5T torpedo bomber; the heavily armed R-5Sh ground-attack aircraft; and the SSS of 1934 with 533kW M-17F engine, spatted landing gear and new ShKAS machine-guns. Civil versions were the P-5 and P-5A, the latter with cabin accommodation for four passengers, and an enclosed pilot's cockpit.

Some 7,000 of all versions of the R-5 were built. Military operations included the Spanish Civil War (31 R-5s serving with the Republicans), the campaigns in 1938-39 against the Japanese in the Far East, the 'Winter War' against Finland, and the fighting against Germany from 1941. At the time of the German invasion most R-5s had been relegated to training and liaison duties, but several hundred returned to first-line duties to equip light night-bombing 'nuisance raid' units alongside the ubiquitous Polikarpov U-2.

The Assassin - Su 17 fighter-bomber

From the publisher's blurb;

" The first Soviet aircraft with variable geometry wing, a fighter-bomber that remained in the ranks for a quarter century. As a result of deep modernization of the legendary Su-7B (in addition to improving take-off and landing characteristics, the new third-generation strike aircraft received airborne computer, laser target illumination system, teleindikator for guided weapons, etc.), the Su-17 received its baptism of fire during the Arab-Israeli War of 1973 and then fought all over the world - from Lebanon, Angola and Peru to Iraq, Yemen, Chad, and the last of its combat use cases recorded last year in Libya and Syria. But the type's "finest hour" was the Afghan war - joining the battle after the Soviet invasion, "Seventeen" fulfilled the full gamut of fighter-bomber sorties, whether direct fire support, the destruction of pre-identified targets, "free hunt" or mined from the air and its intelligence modifications were the "eyes" of the 40th Army. Despite significant losses (in the midst of war - for 20-30 aircraft per year, mostly not from MANPADS, whose effectiveness is greatly exaggerated, and from the hand of small arms fire, the ANC and anti-aircraft installations in the mountains), the Su-17 proved itself in Afghanistan as an extremely reliable machine - its engines functioned without interruption on the poorest quality fuel even during dust storms, and lined and emergency aircraft could return to action after heavy damage ... 

This new book compiled by leading Soviet aviation historians pays tribute to this distinguished veteran that is less known to the general public than the more "representative" MiG-29 and Su-27, but its formidable silhouette was the last many thousands of "spirits" saw in the bloody dust thrown up from its bombing assault strikes.." 

Eksmo | 2013 | ISBN: 5699625321 | Russian language | 178 Pages but no colour 

Ebay.de photo find # 10 - NVA East German MiGs and Mil 4

MiG 21 getting airborne with the aid of Starthilfrakete and a selection of brand new MiG 17 & MiG 19s (1962) and Mil 4 on an exercise during 1964

At the time of posting available at the following link on ebay.de
http://www.ebay.de/sch/beryll204/m.html?item=181256719792&pt=Militaria&hash=item2a33be0db0&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Ebay.de Daily Photo find #9 Selection of German Doppeldecker including LVG CVI (?), Jungmann and Heinkel Kadett

Selection of (mostly) German Doppeldecker including LVG CVI (?), Bu 131 Jungmann and Heinkel Kadett

http://www.ebay.de/sch/m.html?item=310788798341&maxbid=15%2C00&autorefresh=true&_ssn=richlint-2011&rt=nc

More foreign MiGs and Sukhois

Currently available from ebay.co.uk  Matrix Slides

08 wt SU-24MR 11 RAP/Soviet AF leaving Welzow 1993

Mig-21MF 2701 blk Czech AF 1991

SU-7BKL 6509 blk Czech AF

Mig-21 1114 blk Czech AF 1991

Mig-23 6474 Libyan AF 2009

SU-25K 29 red 368 Rgt/Soviet AF 1993

Syrian Mig 21s

http://zpravy.idnes.cz/foto.aspx?r=zahranicni&c=A130610_183115_zahranicni_ert&foto=AHA4b9e7b_Airplane.JPG

Captured De Havilland Rapide with Balkenkreuze

A selection of captured types from a Wehrmacht photo album available on ebay.de includes rare images of a De Havilland Rapide complete with Balkenkreuze captured in France. The inscription on the reverse of the Rapide pics reads St. Germain (Lassey) and other shots in this series depict German types such as the Hs 126 and He 72 as seen in one of the images below..

 

Phantom Pharewell - Wittmund Germany June 2013 German Air Force JG 71 Richthofen F-4F's retiring this weekend

The GAF retires its F-4F this coming weekend in a ceremony at JG 71's base at Wittmundhafen - 37+01 was the first in service and flew a few passes at Volkel last weekend. It will fly for the last time on 29 June.. the tail fin inscription in German reads " ich melde mich ab.."  (lit. 'signing out')

And the final flight at Wittmundhafen captured by PlanesTV
"..JG-71 says Pharewell to its McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantoms with a blistering flying routine at Wittmund. A rare A-4 Skyhawk and the F-4's Typhoon replacement make a guest appearance. DVD coming soon from PlanesTV.."

Viggen at Volkel - Royal Netherlands Air Force 100th anniversary of military flying at Volkel Air Force Base

Starting a series of posts from Volkel and Le Bourget 2013 courtesy of Jet & Prop's resident photographer Nico Charpentier...As usual click on the image for a full-screen view..

Contrary to what you might have imagined from the youtube videos there was some blue sky for the Volkel air show (June 2013) for the centenary of the Dutch AF. Here the Swedish Air Force Historic Flight's SAAB 37 Viggen. The display was part of the Royal Netherlands Air Force 100th anniversary of military flying at Volkel Air Force Base, 14 June 2013. The skies were a little grey on Friday, a bit of blue on the Saturday...