Aircraft
French Airforce 1918 I
Close Quarters, by Russell Smith (SPAD XIII & Fokker DVII) Air superiority enabled the French to resist the attacks of late May and early June, but the sheer effort of maintaining their position was taking an enormous toll of men and machines. ‘Most of our victories came during 1918 but we also suffered heavy losses,’ admitted Paul Waddington (SPA154). ‘We…
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Royal Navy Aviation in The Final Months of WWI
HMS Argus in November 1918, while preparing for the planned attack on the German High Sea Fleet in its harbours, with Sopwith T.1 torpedo-bombers on the flight deck. The ‘splinter’ paint scheme was designed to confuse enemy range-finders, but had the negative effect of making the ship more obvious. HMS…
Cessna A-37 Dragonfly
The first A-37B at Edwards AFB in 1968. Of the 577 A-37Bs built, 134 were delivered to the USAF and served in frontline units until 1975. The final examples were retired from USAFRES and ANG service in 1992. The Dragonfly served the USAF until the early 1990s, including use in…
“Black May” – Biscay Bay in May 1943 Part I
‘Caught on the Surface’. The sinking of U-461 by RAAF Sunderland “U” of 461 Squadron RAAF, in the Bay of Biscay in July 1943. [As depicted by aviation artist Robert Taylor.] Wooding, Neil; Halifax GR MkII Ser 1A JP296 of 58 Sqdn Coastal Command; Yorkshire Air Museum; http://www.artuk.org/artworks/halifax-gr-mkii-ser-1a-jp296-of-58-sqdn-coastal-command-116235 Halifax GR…
“Black May” – Biscay Bay in May 1943 Part II
As for new attacks on the Biscay bases, which the Admiralty’s earlier Memorandum advocated, the U-boats and their essential services were sheltered under impenetrable concrete, Harris reminded the Committee, and the 10,000 tons dropped recently on the bases at Lorient and St.-Nazaire had, as the Admiralty themselves conceded, no appreciable…
Black May” – Biscay Bay in May 1943 Part III
Aircraft carrying six or fewer D/Cs on hunting patrols or sweeps, such as Derange, should drop the whole load in one stick; aircraft carrying more than six should drop sticks of six. Aircraft on convoy or other escort duty should drop sticks of four, leaving D/Cs for a possible second…
Black May” – Biscay Bay in May 1943 Part IV
On the 17th, Halifax “D” of 58 Sqdn. released six D/Cs on U-628 (Kptlt. Heinz Hasenschar), the shadower boat of the Battle for ONS.5, which was returning to base. The U-boat was not damaged. One attack was made at 1721 on the 20th, by Wellington “G” of 172 Sqdn., following…