D-Day 70th Anniversary Special: The fighters

[r32]

Here is the last instalment of photographs from last weekend. Some iconic shapes that remain just as graceful 70 years later:

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first fighter designed around an airborne radar

This one crashed in Indonesia and was recovered in the early 2000s, with the goal of returning it to flying condition

The P-51 Mustang was the premier bomber escort fighter over the skies of Europe - with its long range and performance, it ensured bombers got to their targets without suffering heavy losses

This represents a P-51D, the definitive model of the P-51 series

Sporting six 0.5 inch machine guns, it was also able to carry bombs for the ground attack role

 

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A Spitfire Mk XVIII - one of the later variants with the bubble canopy and Griffon engine, instead of the classic Merlin engine

It remains one of the most beautiful shapes to take the the skies - this angle showing its elliptical wings in all its glory

It looked fantastic from any angle

Its owner was not shy about flying it low and fast

However, he did make a series of slow speed camera passes so we could get our shots in

 

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Initially tapped as a bomber escort, the P-47's short range meant that it was supplanted by the Mustang - it switched over and came into its own in the ground attack role

It had eight 0.5 inch machine guns in its wings and was able to carry three 500 pound bombs and rockets, and interdicted German land forces throughout Europe

Its portly body earned it the nickname "Jug" but it was a lot of metal that protected its pilots

This scorecard showed what it had been up to

This particular aircraft was recovered from Yugoslavia following the dissolution of the Soviet Union

 

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The Grumman Wildcat was the only fighter that the US Navy had in the first year of the war that had a fighting chance against the Japanese Mitsubishi Zero

It had a curious landing gear arrangement that was made even more strange because required the pilot to manually pump on a lever to raise after takeoff

This was taken on a solo aerobatic display - considering the age of the airframe, the pilot was one brave man to subject it to such stresses!

It seemed like it was a competition between the Spitfire and the Wildcat who could "beat up" the runway lower

Showing its boxy and robust lines, a hallmark of Grumman's Iron Works that turned out decades of carrier-borne fighters for the US Navy, ending with the F-14 Tomcat

 

[CCx9]

Superb shots!!! Thanks for sharing.

Any videos shot of the Spitfire while it was flying. Would definitely love to see it fly and listen to it's engine!

 

[sbc]

How I envy you! Great shots!

 

[Fable]

Very nice -Fan of WWII planes and ships.

 

[mageditor]

Fantastic shots. Really appreciate those close up shots Well done.