Old US Navy Pictures

Len Lanetti

Len Lanetti

Cleared for Takeoff
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Feb 23, 2005
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Malvern, PA
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Display name:
Lenny
Back on AOPA Webboard I posted a bunch of pictures from my Uncle Richard's days in the USN. Several were pictures of aircraft and I had misidentified many of them. Folks more familiar with 60's era naval aircraft kindly pointed out the errors of my ways but I did not get a chance to correct the identifications of the aircraft. I'm going to post those pictures again and was hoping that anyone knowing the correct aircraft type would chime in.

Thanks,

Len
 
Re: Old US Marine Pictures

These are from my father-in-law's collection.

Len
 
Len Lanetti said:
Here are a few more.

Len
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OK you flight deck wanta bees in the picture of the E1B 706, there is a sailor standing right in front of the aircraft almost on the cat track.

He is looking at some thing, What? and Why?
 
First post, top row, left to right: AD Skyraider, C-1 (Cargo version of S2F), pair of RF-8 photorecce birds, F8U Crusader, A4D Skyraiders launching and F4D Skyray waiting

First post, second row, left to right: KA/EKA-3 Skywarrior refueling an A4D with a buddy store refueling another A4D, flight of 4 RF-8's (you can see the VFP-63 squadron ID below "NAVY" on the side of the jets), pair of F-4J Phantom II's.

Second post, left to right: flight of four AD's, F8U, WF (later E-1) Tracer.

Third post, left to right: F6F Hellcat and a USMC Captain, F2H Banshee, not sure about the dive bomber, mostly Corsairs.
 
Cap'n Ron said:
not sure about the dive bomber,
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The dive bomber is an Avenger, likely a TBM. Same type President George H.W. Bush flew and bailed from in WWII after being shot down.

We had 13 examples of these at last years "Thunder Over Michigan" air event, at the Yankee Air Force Museum. The museum is gone, but our 3 WWII era warbirds are intact and flying. This years air event in August will be huge, with 2 B-24's a B-29 and 7 B-17's slated to be there, as well as neumerous Mustangs, more B-25s and scads of trainers like T-6's and Stearman. Sorry for the thread creep, more shameless plugs for the museum coming as the event gets closer.... :D
 
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Steve said:
I know Ron is more into round engines that whine than those that swing a prop, but I'd like to point out that a Hellcat never had torpedo bay doors installed...

:goofy:
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well I'll be.... missed that. When I first saw it, I instantly said Hellcat too. Looking closer, it's also an Avenger. Here's a few shots I took of one at Thunder Over Michigan 2004. Compare some of the details.
 
Ron Levy said:
First post, top row, left to right: AD Skyraider, C-1 (Cargo version of S2F), pair of RF-8 photorecce birds, F8U Crusader, A4D Skyraiders launching and F4D Skyray waiting

First post, second row, left to right: KA/EKA-3 Skywarrior refueling an A4D with a buddy store refueling another A4D, flight of 4 RF-8's (you can see the VFP-63 squadron ID below "NAVY" on the side of the jets), pair of F-4J Phantom II's.

Second post, left to right: flight of four AD's, F8U, WF (later E-1) Tracer.

Third post, left to right: F6F Hellcat and a USMC Captain, F2H Banshee, not sure about the dive bomber, mostly Corsairs.
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Minor corrections (I think)

A4D = Skyhawk (Not Skyraider) and that error prolly a A4B
The EKA didn't come until much later, that bird is just a plane ol KA3-D
And the S2 deck launching is an S2F look at the torp tube on the side. Not a D cause it doesn't have a radome behind the gear.
 
NC19143 said:
OK you flight deck wanta bees
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no idea but if he doesn't swing a wing soon, someone will be swimming.
Wouldn't this be a good time to get them out?
 
Minor corrections (I think)

A4D = Skyhawk (Not Skyraider) and that error prolly a A4B
Click to expand...
Some of the jets are in fact A4 Skyhawk, but I beleive he was referring to the props... I know them as either A4D or AD4 Skyraiders (I forget which).those above are possibly an earlier variant (saw a web reference to A1 Skyraiders as well). The one below is of the variety I mention (either AD4 or A4D).

From Thunder over Michigan (and this thing really thunders!)

Link to A1 Skyraider page on Warbird Alley (another great resource), which is I think what is pictured up top. Link
 
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Steve said:
I'll take a stab.

The one motioning is directing the pilot to taxi in postion so the one standing nearest the nose can attach the "cat" wire cable bridle (one time use) lying on the deck to the nose gear and cat shuttle whereupon the plane is slung off the front of the ship just above flying speed.

It appears the bridle might be getting ready to get pinched by the nose wheel.
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The bridle is already attached to the cat, the bridle ends attach to the aircraft tow hooks, The bridle gets used over and over again, because it is held by the VanZell and returned to the rear end of the cat. after the shot. The only time the bridle goes over the side is shot number 50, they are only used 50 times.

The guy motioning is the director, the guy at the nose of the aircraft must ensure that the nose wheel comes over the shuttle, EXACTLY centered, he is telling (by hand signals) the director left or right. The hold back is attached and in position, so when the nose wheel drops over the shuttle it will stop the bird from moving any farther forward, now the cat bridle ends can be attached to the bird, and can now be tentioned,(inching the shuttle forward) which will raise the nosewheel about 1 foot. Now the pilot can go full power do his cockpit checks, and salute the cat officer saying he is ready for the shot.
 
T Bone said:
Some of the jets are in fact A4 Skyhawk, but I beleive he was referring to the props... I know them as either A4D or AD4 Skyraiders (I forget which).those above are possibly an earlier variant (saw a web reference to A1 Skyraiders as well). The one below is of the variety I mention (either AD4 or A4D).

From Thunder over Michigan (and this thing really thunders!)
Click to expand...

The one you have pictured is a AD1-5Q/N 4 place early ECM version. but they did not carry weapons, just ECM pods under the wings.

The ones pictured in the first post are AD-1s, single pilot, bomber.
 
Nice pictures Len. What era is this? Early to mid 60's would be my guess. In the background of the F-4 picture on the CAT, there seems to be an old Piacecki helo inbound.
 
Steve said:
Closeup.jpg
Click to expand...

This is the pic I was refering to
 
NC19143 said:
A4D = Skyhawk (Not Skyraider)
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DOH! Yes, that's correct.

...and that error prolly a A4B
Click to expand...
I was using the original pre-63 A4D designation (A = Attack, 4 = 4th version from mfr, D = Douglas). "A-4B" is the post-63 designation of what was originally the A4D-2. All the Navy planes had their designations changed to align with the Air Force systme at that time. Other examples:

A2F-1 -> A-6A Intruder
A3J-1 -> A-5A Vigilante
WF-1 -> E-1A Tracer
AD-6Q -> EA-1F "Electric" Skyraider

Sometimes they kept the same number if it wasn't already used:

F8U-1 -> F-8A Crusader
F4H-1 -> F-4B (Air Force already had used F-4A but never bought one) Phantom
A3D -> A-3 Skywarrior (which is why the A3J had to become the A-5)
F9F-8 -> F-9J Cougar (and F9F-8T two-seater became the TF-9J)
 
Anthony said:
Nice pictures Len. What era is this? Early to mid 60's would be my guess.
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I'm pretty sure my Uncle's pictures are from 1962 and 1963. Attached is picture you might recognize (file name contains name if you don't recognize the person).

My father-in-law's pictures are from 1952 through 1954.

Len
 
Len Lanetti said:
Attached is picture you might recognize (file name contains name if you don't recognize the person).
Click to expand...

Of course. That's Philadelphia's own Grace Kelly escorted by Tom Downey.
 
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