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9 amazing facts about the legendary Blackbird

by Till Daisd October 7, 2023

Nobody ever shot down a Blackbird. Nonetheless, 12 of them crashed out of combat

The SR-71 Blackbird acquired intelligence during its service in some of the most difficult environments on earth. The SR-71 was designed to operate at high speeds, altitudes, and temperatures; in fact, it was the first aircraft to be built using titanium since a typical aluminum frame would melt under the friction of air molecules passing over it at Mach 2.6.

Because of its cutting-edge engineering, even the tools used to build the SR-71 had to be created from scratch. These are just a few of the countless fascinating details regarding the legendary Blackbird.

If you want to know more, we report here some additional interesting facts about the iconic SR-71 that aviation expert Lachie Smith listed on Quora.

If you’re interested in learning more, we’ve included here a few more intriguing tidbits about the historic SR-71 that aviation expert Lachie Smith shared on Quora.

1. Solid quartz measuring 1.25 inches thick made up the cockpit glass.

2. Due to its design, the plane was among the quietest on the inside, despite traveling at a speed of Mach 3+.

3. Modern engineers conducted a study using extremely cutting-edge technologies to determine how the Blackbird’s architecture may be enhanced. They came to the conclusion that there was no opportunity for aerodynamic advancement—it was flawless.

4. Never was a Blackbird shot down. Yet, 12 crashed while not in a combat situation.

5. As numerous other answers have already mentioned, the fuel was completely odd. In fact, it needed a boost from something quite explosive. The engines could not be restarted as in a typical airplane if there were many outages because the aircraft only possessed enough of this chemical for a few engine starts.

6. These stunning engines’ ram-jet design meant that the faster they traveled, the better they performed. One pilot said that when he reached Mach 3 (the top service speed), the engines were not only still running properly, but they were also accelerating further.

7. The M-21 was a modified version of the CIA Mach 3 A-12 reconnaissance aircraft (the SR-71’s forerunner), with the addition of a super-fast drone launcher. The drone, known as the D-21, was basically a J58 engine with some side wings. Tragically, a drone launch ended with an M-21 crash. Following it, B-52s launched the D-21 program.

8. Before being moved to the numerous museums they visited, the wing spars in each of these aircraft had to be destroyed. As a result, no SR-71 will ever take flight again.

9. To catch all of the fuel that leaked from the fuel tanks (which are designed to leak, btw), many of these museums had to place large trays underneath the aircraft. They reportedly take 8 to 12 years to completely dry up, and they may continue to leak until that point.

So yeah, this is a pretty cool aircraft.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 7, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

When a pilot of an F-101 once attempted to compete against an SR-71

by Till Daisd October 6, 2023

written by Till Daisd

‘On takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not,’ Richard “Butch” Sheffield, SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer

The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Mach 3 strategic reconnaissance aircraft kept its title as the world’s fastest and highest-flying operational aircraft for approximately 24 years. It could survey 100,000 square miles of the Earth’s surface per hour from an altitude of 80,000 feet.

It is therefore not surprising that the aircraft has consistently broken records for both speed and altitude due to its astounding flight qualities.

The following story is taken from Colonel Richard “Butch” Sheffield, an SR-71 Blackbird Reconnaissance Systems Officer, unpublished book by Col. Richard (Butch) Sheffield titled “The Very First” (RSO).

‘Sometime, early in the program, in January 1967, I believe, we aborted and landed at Buckley Air National Guard (ANG) Base near Denver. The base was home to an F-101 squadron. The F-101 was an interceptor assigned to defend the US in case of war. The fighter community considered it a “hot” aircraft.

‘After we got out of our pressure suits and arranged for the take-off the next day, we went to the Officer’s Club wearing loaned flying suits and our white pressure suit boots. The fighter pilots who came around wanted to know all about our aircraft, like; how fast, how high, and the rate of climb. What they really wanted was to race us as we climbed out after takeoff. We declined all offers of information and races.

‘The next day, on takeoff roll, an F-101 came upon our wing; he was going to race us whether we wanted to or not. Apparently, the F-101 had been orbiting the field just waiting for our takeoff.

‘The SR could climb fast but was no match for the F-101 at those altitudes. He stayed right on our wing up to 25,000 feet where we leveled off to hit a tanker that we always did. About the time we leveled off, someone from the F-101 came on UHF and said, “You guys aren’t so hot.” So I replied, “How fast can you climb above 80,000 feet?” The F-101 made a quick exit.’

Check out the Habubrats Facebook page for further Blackbird photos and stories.

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 6, 2023 0 comment

History

The time a P-51D pilot took off on a mission in a Mustang and an RTB took off in a German FW 190

by Till Daisd October 5, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Kommandogerat, a system of the FW 190A series that allowed boost pressure, fuel flow, mixture setting, and prop control with a single lever, made it virtually the only World War II aircraft that an enemy pilot could steal.

A highly decorated US Air Force (USAF) colonel, Bruce Ward Carr (Jan. 28, 1924 – Apr. 25, 1998) during World War II was shot down over Germany.

After evading capture for several days, he snuck into a Luftwaffe airfield and stole an enemy plane which he flew back to Allied lines. He also became a flying ace, credited with 14 victories, including five in a single day, for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

Jay Thompson, a pilot and aviation expert explains on Quora.

‘In October 1944 Colonel Bruce Carr of the USAAF took off on a mission in a 354th Fighter Group P-51D and was shot down by flak while strafing ground targets over Czechoslovakia. He landed near a Luftwaffe field with the intent of surrendering to the Luftwaffe troops since they were generally much more friendly to US aircrew than were the soldiers of the German army, but it was becoming dark just as he got there, and from the trees, he watched two mechanics fuel up and then run up an FW 190A-8 and shut it back down again.

‘He decided well, that seemed to be a perfectly good airplane, why not give it a try. Near dawn, he snuck out and jumped in the cockpit, and having no knowledge of it he went with the theory that if he kept flipping switches and moving controls to the opposite position of where they currently were, he’d find the starter somehow. And damned if he didn’t, and luckily the FW 190A series included the most advanced throttle system for a WW2 aircraft called the Kommandogerat, where boost pressure, fuel flow, mixture setting, and prop were all controlled with a single lever, making it about the only plane in WW2 that an enemy pilot could steal and manage to get going down a runway with less than 30 minutes of experimentation.

‘Luftwaffe personnel were already coming out to see what was going on, so Col. Carr didn’t really have time to line up on the runway, he just gunned it across a corner of the field on a path that had him pass between two hangars before he was airborne. He was very pleased with himself when he managed to get the gear up.’

Thompson continues:

‘He then later said that he decided to fly back at treetop height in hopes of not drawing any Allied fighter attention, but said that the choice wasn’t great, because he was convinced that every .50cal M2 machine gun in existence in the 200 miles between that German airfield and his home field had taken shots at him.

‘When he got close to his squadron’s base in France, he decided not to mess around at all and line up with the runway some distance out and fly straight in before anyone could man the AA defenses – at this point in the war the Allies had pretty much total air control and there was almost no threat of German attack.

‘The only problem was that he couldn’t get the landing gear back down. Rather than make himself a target while trying to figure out what the problem was, he decided to just belly-land it. And that’s what he did, as American soldiers ran for the quad .50cal guns.

‘Needless to say, everyone was very confused when they found (then) Captain Carr sitting in the cockpit. It was an awesome opportunity for a one-liner, like “yeah, I never liked the P-51 anyway”, or maybe “you wouldn’t believe what happened in that fight yesterday, but some German is flying my P-51”, but unfortunately he was too exhausted from the adrenalin and just said something to the effect of “**** you, I’m Captain Carr of this goddamned squadron” when the first soldiers arrived and pointed lots of guns at him.

‘Col. Carr later earned the Distinguished Service Cross when he and three other P-51s climbed (very bad idea) into a formation of 60 German fighters, and shot down seven, with Col. Carr being credited with five.’

Thompson concludes:

‘I had the honor of meeting Col. Carr, I think it was 1997 down at Kermit Week’s air museum called Fantasy of Flight in Florida, and he arrived at aged 70 something, flying a P-51D that blew over our heads at about 300kts and 50 feet before breaking into a perfect entry to a final on the runway. We got to then listen to him tell this entire story, and ask him questions afterward.’

Photo by U.S. Air Force

October 5, 2023 0 comment

History

Twelve B-25s attacked a rocky outcrop in the Alps in 1945 in an effort to spark a landslide that would block a road

by Till Daisd October 4, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Operation Glass Knob was the cover name for the mission. In order to create a landslide that would block the road, a colonel decided to bomb the rocky outcrop of the mountain adjacent to it

By the end of 1944, the French operations had taken precedence over the Italian Campaign, and Allied forces lacked the strength necessary to breach the Germans’ formidable Gothic Line. The German Army received 600,000 tons of supplies per month by hourly trains that traveled through the Alps to reach these fortifications, which was more than enough to last forever.

But, as described by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver in Gothic Line 1944-45, The USAAF Starves Out the German Army, the powerful Gothic Line would be shattered by American air power in one of the most important but little-known air campaigns of World War II during the severe winter of 1944–45. Operation Bingo would ruthlessly sever the Germans’ supply lines instead of attacking them directly, leaving them to starve. It would not be simple, though. Every raid was anticipated and a strong array of heavy flak defended the rail routes. Men experienced hypoxia and frostbite while wearing electric flying suits due to the subzero temperatures.

12 B-25 Mitchell bombers from the 486th Bomb Squadron took off on February 13, 1945, for San Ambrogio, which is located in the Brenner Pass 10 miles northwest of Verona. Despite the cold, the sky was clear beside a ground haze.

Operation Glass Knob was the codename for the mission. To create a landslide that would obstruct the major road, a colonel thought it would be a good idea to bomb the rocky outcrop of the mountain adjacent to it. On the lead ship, the colonel flew on the mission as an observer.

One thousand-pound bombs were carried by the B-25s. After “Bombs Away,” the formation would usually yell, “Let’s get the hell out of here!” and resume its evasive maneuvers. However, the formation performed a slow turn so that the colonel could turn around and assess how his plan had worked out.

The B-25 depicted in the foreground of Anastasios Polychronis’ artwork for this article, 6Y, “Yankee Doodle Dandy,” was in the No. 6 position off the right wing of 6A, “Sahara Sue II.” As the left engine of 6Y was struck directly, it trembled. Co-pilot 2nd Lieutenant James O’Connor was instructed to feather the prop by pilot 1st Lieutenant Roman Figler. “I can’t,” the gloomy response was, “The engine’s gone!”

While reaching Rovereto, the aircraft was struck by another burst of flak on the right side, taking out the hydraulics and causing the wheels and flaps to drop and the bomb bay doors to open. Figler then turned the aircraft back toward home. The additional drag caused 6Y to lose altitude and face mountains they were unable to climb. The instruction to bail out was given. As soon as they landed, the crew was captured.

In the same box of six aircraft, 6W, which was also hit and was unable to land, was flying. The road remained open and the mountain withstood the barrage of bombs.

Gothic Line 1944–45, The USAAF starves out the German Army is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Anastasios Polychronis

October 4, 2023 0 comment

History

First American F-16 MiG-killer painted in a scheme resembling the Desert Camouflage Uniform worn during the first Gulf War

by Till Daisd October 3, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The Desert Camouflage Uniform used in the First Gulf War and a related experimental camouflage livery that was developed at the time serve as inspiration for this “What if” design

On June 17, 2022, an F-16D Fighting Falcon painted in a historical color scheme was unveiled at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar by the 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron at Luke Air Force Base (AFB), Arizona. It was the first American F-16 to achieve an aerial victory, as Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler explained in the article Luke AFB Unveils Newest Heritage Jet.

“The aircraft before you earned the moniker ‘MiG Killer’ as a result of the events that took place on Dec. 27, 1992,” said 1st Lt. James Mobbley, 56th EMS Fabrication Flight officer in charge, at the unveiling ceremony. “On this day, Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North, who was flying this F-16D, tail number 0778, led a flight of four F-16s on a routine Operation Southern Watch mission in Iraq.”

An armed MiG-25 Foxbat flew into the no-fly zone during this mission.

Nordo-F-16 — An F-16D Fighting Falcon sits on display during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North utilized this jet to eliminate an enemy MiG-25 Foxbat during Operation Southern Watch. It is the first American F-16 to earn an aerial victory.

According to what we have already said, Nordo ordered a tactical offset to the north to “bracket” the F-16s between the MiG and the 32nd parallel, resulting in a blocking maneuver and trapping the Iraqi fighter in forbidden airspace. Without a fight, the MiG was unable to return to Iraqi territory. “Someone was going to die within the next two minutes, and it wasn’t going to be me or my wingman,” North said.

North recognized the aircraft as a MiG-25 Foxbat outfitted with AA-6 “Acrid” radar-guided missiles and asked for permission to fire. He again asked permission to fire before ordering his wingman to use his electronic jamming pod. On his headset, he eventually heard “BANDIT-BANDIT-BANDIT, CLEARED TO KILL.” AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium Range Anti-Aircraft Missile) was fired by North after locking up the MiG-25 at three nautical miles, fifteen degrees nose high, and fifteen degrees right bank. The missile was directed to hit and completely destroyed the Foxbat built in Russia.

F-16D-MiG-Killer-OSW — An F-16D Fighting Falcon sits on display during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. The names of the corrosion control team members responsible for painting the jet can be seen in the lower right corner of the photo. The corrosion control team’s responsibilities revolve around preventative maintenance in an effort to prevent or control corrosion, supporting aircraft generation, and pilot training. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler)

In addition to being the first aerial victory for an American F-16, this battle also saw the first AIM-120 AMRAAM kill.

To commemorate North’s actions and the Air Force’s heritage, 12 Fabrication Flight Airmen who were assigned to Luke AFB’s corrosion control department created the paint scheme for this jet. Almost 13 gallons of paint and 1,500 man-hours were used for the paint job.

MiG-Killer-F-16D — A bay door of an F-16D Fighting Falcon sits ajar during an unveiling ceremony at the 310th Air Maintenance Unit hangar on June 17, 2022, at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona. Lt. Col. Gary “Nordo” North utilized this jet to eliminate an enemy MiG-25 Foxbat during Operation Southern Watch. It is the first American F-16 to earn an aerial victory.

“This ‘What if’ design pulls cues from the Desert Camouflage Uniform worn during the first Gulf War and a similar experimental livery of camouflage that was tested at that time,” said Staff Sgt. Michael Cichonsky, 56th Equipment Maintenance Squadron F-35 low-observable aircraft structural maintainer. “Very few pictures exist of the test scheme since it was hand-rolled using latex paint and only lasted a week before being removed. With this design, we not only pay homage to the history of General North and 0778, but it also allows us to reimagine if this paint scheme was selected for use during Operation Southern Watch.”

Photo by Senior Airman Caleb F. Butler / U.S. Air Force

October 3, 2023 0 comment

History

Bf 109 Ace of the Luftwaffe Werner Mölders recounts how an Armée de l’Air D.520 Ace René Pomier Layrargues shot him down

by Till Daisd October 2, 2023

written by Till Daisd

‘I am at about 800m when suddenly there is a bang and the sparks fly across the cockpit. The throttle is shot to pieces, the stick flops forward,’ Werner Mölders, Luftwaffe Bf 109 Ace

Hauptmann Werner Mölders, a prominent member of the Jagdwaffe in the early stages of WWII, played a significant role in the creation of strategies for contemporary aerial combat. In late October or early November 1939, he advanced to the position of Gruppenkommandeur of III./JG 53 and finished the Battle of France as the second-highest scoring Luftwaffe Experten.

Nevertheless, on June 5, 1940, in a dogfight with Armée de l’Air D.520s (which he mistook for MS.406s), he became the fifth victim of Sous lieutenant René Pomier Layrargues from GC II/7, as described by Malcolm V. Lowe in his book Bf 109D/E Blitzkrieg 1939–1940.

Mölders later wrote:

‘Beneath me, two Messerschmitts are still having a go at the last Morane.

‘I watch the fight for a while and then go in to attack a Morane which is being chased – without success – by three other Messerschmitts. I soon have him in my sights – he immediately dives away but clearly hasn’t had enough yet. Suddenly, he pulls up beneath me, I lose sight of him underneath my wing – there he is again, below me off to one side – Donnerwetter! This Morane can shoot too, although he’s well wide of the mark.

‘I bank away and climb up into the sun. He must have lost me, for he banks in the opposite direction and disappears to the south. Beneath me, two Messerschmitts are still having a go at the last Morane.

‘A glance above and behind me – the sky is still full of weaving Me’s. I am at about 800m when suddenly there is a bang and the sparks fly across the cockpit. The throttle is shot to pieces, the stick flops forward. I’m going down vertically. Got to get out, otherwise, it’s all over. I grab the jettison lever and the canopy flies off. My faithful bird points her nose upwards for a second or two and gives me one last chance to undo my harness and clamber out of the seat. Free!’

Mölders duly parachuted to safety, but was quickly captured and spent the final days of the Battle of France as a PoW until he was released as a result of the Armistice which signaled the defeat of France. His victor, Pomier Layrargues, who then reportedly destroyed a second Bf 109, was himself shot down in flames by another ‘Emil’ just moments after despatching Mölders.

Bf 109D/E Blitzkrieg 1939–40 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by QuentinR.deviantart.com on @DeviantArt, German Federal Archive and Unknown

Rene-Pomier-Layrargues — René Pomier Layrargues

October 2, 2023 0 comment

History

4 Medal of Honor recipients include a crew chief for a Medevac

by Till Daisd October 1, 2023

written by Till Daisd

Four US Army soldiers who served in the Vietnam War received the Medal of Honor from President Biden, according to the White House.

Four US Army soldiers who served in the Vietnam War received the Medal of Honor, according to a White House announcement: Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro (posthumous), Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell, Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii, and retired Major John J. Duffy, according to Alert 5. On July 5, 2022, there was the award ceremony.

According to the White House news release:

‘On July 5, 2022, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. will award the Medal of Honor to four U.S. Army Soldiers who fought in the Vietnam War: Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro (posthumous), Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell, Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii, and retired Major John J. Duffy.

‘Staff Sergeant Edward N. Kaneshiro will receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as an infantry squad leader with Troop C, 1st Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 1st Cavalry Division, near Phu Huu 2, Kim Son Valley, Republic of Vietnam, on Dec. 1, 1966. Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro and his team entered the village of Phu Huu 2 while on a search and destroy mission and were attacked by North Vietnamese. Staff Sergeant Kaneshiro destroyed one enemy group with rifle fire and two others with grenades, which enabled the orderly extrication and reorganization of the platoon and ultimately led to a successful withdrawal from the village. He served in Vietnam from July 18, 1966, until his death on March 6, 1967, as a result of a hostile gunshot wound.

‘Specialist Five Dwight W. Birdwell will receive the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with Troop C, 3rd Squadron, 4th Cavalry, 25th Infantry Division, in the Republic of Vietnam on January 31, 1968. That day, a large enemy element initiated an assault on the Tan Son Nhut Airbase near Saigon. They disabled or destroyed many of the unit’s vehicles and incapacitated Specialist Five Birdwell’s tank commander. Under heavy enemy small-arms fire, Specialist Five Birdwell moved the tank commander to safety and fired the tank’s weapons at the enemy force. Afterward, he dismounted and continued fighting until receiving enemy fire to his face and torso. He refused evacuation and led a small group of defenders to disrupt the enemy assault until reinforcements arrived. He then aided in evacuating the wounded until he was ordered to seek attention for his own wounds. He was honorably discharged on December 29, 1968, and today practices law in Oklahoma City.

‘Specialist Five Dennis M. Fujii will receive the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as crew chief aboard a helicopter ambulance during rescue operations in Laos and the Republic of Vietnam from February 18–22, 1971. During a mission to evacuate seriously wounded Vietnamese military personnel, Specialist Five Fujii’s medevac helicopter took on enemy fire and was forced to crash land. Although injured, he waved off a rescue from another helicopter and remained behind as the only American on the battlefield. During that night and the next day, although wounded, he administered first aid to Allied casualties. On the night of February 19, he called in American helicopter gunships to assist in repelling an enemy attack. For more than 17 hours, he repeatedly exposed himself to hostile fire as he left the security of his entrenchment to better observe enemy troop positions and to direct air strikes against them until an American helicopter could attempt to airlift him from the area. Upon completion of his tour, he joined the Army Reserve and today resides in Hawaii.

‘Major John J. Duffy will receive the Medal of Honor for acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving as the senior advisor to the 11th Airborne Battalion, 2nd Brigade, Airborne Division, Army of the Republic of Vietnam, from April 14–15, 1972. Two days earlier, the commander of the 11th Airborne Battalion had been killed, the battalion command post destroyed, and Major Duffy was twice wounded. He refused to be evacuated. In the morning hours of April 14, after a failed effort to establish a landing zone for resupply aircraft, he moved close to enemy anti-aircraft positions to call in airstrikes and was wounded again, but still refused evacuation. In the late afternoon, the enemy began a ground assault from all sides, and Major Duffy moved from position to position to adjust fire, spot targets for artillery, and direct gunship fire. In the early morning of April 15, after an enemy ambush, he led evacuees, many of whom were seriously wounded, to an evacuation area, where he directed gunship fire on enemy positions and marked a landing zone for the helicopters. Only after ensuring all evacuees were aboard did he board as well, assisting a wounded friendly foreign soldier and administering aid to a wounded helicopter door gunner. Major Duffy’s service included three tours in Vietnam in a myriad of Special Forces assignments. He retired from the Army on May 31, 1977, and currently lives in Santa Cruz, California.’

Photo by U.S. Army

October 1, 2023 0 comment

History

The story of this artwork, which depicts Jimmy Stewart’s B-52F dropping bombs on Viet Cong infiltrators during a daytime mission

by Till Daisd September 30, 2023

written by Till Daisd

During his 36th combat sortie, Stewart is shown here piloting B-52F 57-0149 during a daytime bombing mission against Viet Cong infiltrators

The amazing artwork by Mark Postlethwaite that is shown in this post depicts bombs dropping from a formation of B-52Fs of the 3960th Strategic Wing (SW) as they depart from Andersen AFB, Guam, for an Arc Light bombing mission.

The closest B-52F was piloted by Brig Gen. Jimmy Stewart, USAF Reserve, who was then approaching the conclusion of his time in the USAF, according to Jon Lake’s account in his book B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73. Stewart sought a combat deployment for his last two weeks of active duty in 1966, and as a result, he was duly dispatched to Vietnam, where his 24-year-old stepson had recently been killed in action. Stewart took part in a bombing mission over Vietnam during this brief term of active duty.

When Jimmy Stewart flew B-52's in Vietnam: the Story of the Hollywood Star who became an Air Force 2-Star General — Jimmy Stewart in front of his B-52

Although Stewart is most recognized for his work as a Hollywood actor, he also had a spectacular and illustrious military career. As one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, he had left behind a lucrative career when he joined active duty in 1940. Nine months before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into the war, in March 1941, Stewart joined the USAAC. He fought valiantly to avoid propaganda assignments and official reluctance to put him in danger, hoping to earn an overseas combat duty assignment. His dedication allowed him to overcome the difficulties of being too elderly and too underweight for military service.

After serving as operations officer for the 445th Bomb Group (BG) at Tlbenham, which was equipped with B-24s, Stewart advanced to become commander of the 703rd BS before being moved to ‘turn around’ the shuttered 453rd BG. In July 1944, Stewart was appointed full colonel and appointed as the 2nd Bomb Wing’s chief of staff. In the spring of 1945, he received a promotion to Wing CO. He was highly decorated and flew 20 bombing flights over Germany (targets included Brunswick, Bremen, Frankfurt, Schweinfurt, and Berlin). Stewart continued to take his duties as a member of the Air Force Reserve very seriously even after the war, flying the B-47, B-52, and B-58.

During its 36th combat sortie, the B-52F 57-0149 that Stewart was piloting is seen here attacking Viet Cong infiltrators during the day.

B-52 Stratofortress Units in Combat 1955-73 is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Cover artwork by Mark Postlethwaite via Osprey

September 30, 2023 0 comment

Cold War

The Pakistani Shenyang F-6 pilot story about a dogfight where he forgot his aircraft’s gunsight caged for strafing

by Till Daisd September 29, 2023

written by Till Daisd

‘Desperate to get this kill, I pressed the trigger till my guns went silent—no more ammo! Oh, if only I was carrying air-to-air missiles instead of these ground-attack rockets,’ Tahir Alam, 23 Sqn Pakistan Air Force, Shenyang F-6 pilot

Even though the Cold War years were a time of extraordinary peace in Europe, they also saw a number of small-scale but extremely intense wars around the globe, when air power was crucial.

Eight of these Cold War conflicts are discussed in the book Flashpoints by ex-RAF Tornado and experienced author Michael Napier: the Suez Crisis in 1956, the Congo Crisis in 1960–65, the Indo–Pakistan Wars in 1965 and 1971, the Arab–Israeli Wars in 1967 and 1973, the Falklands War in 1982, and the Iran–Iraq War in 1980–88. All of them featured a solid air force on both sides, one that was equipped with contemporary aircraft, and air power influenced the outcome.

Notwithstanding the postwar breakthrough in aviation technology and design, particularly in the areas of missile development and electronic warfare, pilots occasionally engage in dogfights reminiscent of World War 2.

Pilot Tahir Alam of the 23 Sqn Pakistan Air Force’s Shenyang F-6 (MiG-19) recalls an encounter he had with Indian Air Force Su-7s in the Narowal sector on December 8, 1971.

Su-7-Indian-Air-Force — Sukhoi Su.7 preserved at the Indian Air Force Academy Museum at Dundigal, Hyderabad, India, 06/02/07.

‘As leader called to check switches armed and standby for pull-up, from the corner of my eye, I saw a flash… it was two jets turning away from us, about 5,000 feet. They obviously hadn’t seen us yet. I called out ‘two bogeys eleven o’clock high!’ I cut in my afterburners, jettisoned my fuel tanks, and broke away from my formation behind the two Indian Su-7s. By now they had spotted me and broke into me with a hard high-G turn. I was not about to let this go to waste! I throttled back and was still closing in. A touch of speed brakes. My heart was beating like African bongo drums and my adrenaline was going through the roof! The Su-7s hit the deck and exited to the southeast. My leader called out for my position, I replied I was chasing the two bogeys and would soon ‘Splash’ them both! The Sukhois were line astern and at tree top level and max speed, with me about 3,000 feet behind and closing in. The Sukhoi leader was not giving his wingman any slack to be able to catch up and get into a low-level battle formation, where they could clear each other’s six o’clock. So here were two sitting ducks for me. I would get the wingman and then move my sight on the leader. We were at tree top level at max speed. I could see the blur of the tanks, trucks and trees whizzing by!

‘When I was about 2,000 feet behind the trailing jet, I pulled the trigger. The massive 30mm cannons opened up. The gunsight shuddered; the smell of cordite was sweet. I was certain that a short burst would do the trick. The total ammo in the F-6 is only 301 rounds, so I had to be economical! I was sure the bogey would burst into a massive fireball. The Sukhoi flew on with no visible damage. I couldn’t believe I hadn’t hit. It is a much larger target than my plane and in a straight and level flight should be a piece of cake. I raised my gunsight slightly and let go another 1-second burst. Again nothing … Nada, zilch, zero! The Sukhoi still running like a scared rabbit and me chasing it like a starved hound! How could I be missing at such close range? Another two-second burst. Nope, no hit. Lowering the gunsight pipper, another three-second burst. No joy! The gun round counter was showing only 40 rounds left. I thought I would fire with my plane yawing with my rudders. Just one round of the massive gun would be enough. Desperate to get this kill, I pressed the trigger till my guns went silent—no more ammo! Oh, if only I was carrying air-to-air missiles instead of these ground-attack rockets.

‘In disbelief, I realized my terrible mistake! The gunsight had two modes: Caged and uncaged, depending on if we were attacking tanks, trucks, bridges, etc., or flying targets. As we were streaking in towards the tanks in battle, the leader had commanded the formation to arm our guns and check gunsights caged for strafing the tanks. In the excitement, I had forgotten to reach forward and with one click, uncage my gunsight for air-to-air firing.’

Flashpoints is published by Osprey Publishing and is available to order here.

Photo by Digital Combat Simulator, War Thunder, Adnanrail Own work, and Alec Wilson from Hampton-in-Arden, UK via Wikipedia

F-6-PAF — Shenyang F-6 Aircraft at PAF Museum, Karachi, Pakistan

September 29, 2023 0 comment

History

The Advanced Development Programs division of Lockheed Martin once known as “Skonk Works” before becoming “Skunk Works”

by Till Daisd September 28, 2023

written by Till Daisd

The contrasting versions about Skunk Works’ beginnings

On paper, the specifications for the spy plane that could capture incredibly clear pictures from 70,000 feet seemed like pure fantasy. A Mach-3 aircraft that could outrun missiles by actually flying nonstop for hours on end. An attack plane that could hide from the radar surveillance of its adversaries.

Clarence “Kelly” Johnson, the chief engineer of Lockheed, simply handled all inquiries and informed his hand-picked team at Skunk Works of what needed to be done.

They would deliver after that, as was said in a brilliant article that was posted on Lockheed Martin.com. Their area of expertise has always been and will continue to be impossible tasks.

Wikipedia states that there are conflicting accounts of Skunk Works’ conception.

Ben Rich and “Kelly” Johnson give June 1943 in Burbank, California as the starting point for their autobiographies; they practically follow the same timeline. The official Lockheed Skunk Works narrative is theirs.

The Army Air Force’s Air Tactical Service Command (ATSC) met with Lockheed Aircraft Corporation to discuss its requirement for a jet fighter. A rapidly escalating German jet threat provided Lockheed with the chance to build an airframe around the British Goblin, the most powerful jet engine available to the allied forces. Because of its prior involvement in jet development and its contracts with the Air Force, Lockheed was selected to create the jet.

Young engineer Clarence L. “Kelly” Johnson and other associate engineers personally brought the first XP-80 proposal to the ATSC one month after the ATSC and Lockheed meeting. Lockheed was given the go-ahead to begin development two days later, and Kelly Johnson’s Skunk Works was established. Lockheed didn’t receive the official contract for the XP-80 until October 16, 1943, or about four months after work had already started on it.

This would turn out to be a Skunk Works standard procedure. Frequently, a customer would approach the Skunk Works with a request, and after exchanging a handshake with no contracts or formal submission procedure, the project would start. The XP-80 was conceived and constructed by Kelly Johnson and his Skunk Works team in just 143 days, seven fewer than was necessary.

In 1958, Kelly Johnson was appointed vice president of Lockheed Advanced Development Projects (ADP), the predecessor to today’s Advanced Development Programs at Lockheed Martin. At the time, their initial offices were essentially uninhabitable. They were close to a plastics factory, which produced an extremely strong stink. Irv Culver, one of the engineers, started to answer the Intra-Lockheed phone by saying, “Skonk Works!” because the stink was so awful.

This name is derived from the well-known Al Capp comic strip “L’il Abner.” Within this strip, Big Barnsmell’s Skonk Works — spelled with an “o” — was where Kickapoo Joy Juice was brewed. The name struck as being quite fitting. As soon as the moniker started to circulate, Lockheed decided to modify it to “Skunk Works” in order to avoid any potential copyright-related legal issues.

This nickname for R and D offices in general quickly gained popularity and spread throughout the aerospace community. The Skunk Works, however, would always be connected to the Lockheed facility. The F-104 Starfighter, the notorious spyplanes U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird, the first stealth aircraft, the F-117, and even the made-up Darkstar for Top Gun: Maverick were all developed at this location.

For 40 years, Kelly Johnson has not been the only “head skunk” at the Skunk Works. He was actually asked by the CIA in 1955 to start building the covert airport at Groom Lake, Nevada. The final flight testing of the famous Lockheed U-2 took place there, which eventually came to be known as Area 51.

If it flies high and fast enough, they won’t be able to see it, as Kelly was famous for saying.

Photo by Jarek Tuszyński and Jonathan Cutrer from San Angelo, Texas, United States via Wikipedia

September 28, 2023 0 comment

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