[STARMAN 352ND]

Very nice pictures Black6.
Man it looks tight in there..Bet it be fun as heck to move around in that thing while it's in the air....
Thanks for posting these.
JP

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by STARMAN 352ND

Very nice pictures Black6.
Man it looks tight in there..Bet it be fun as heck to move around in that thing while it's in the air....
Thanks for posting these.
JP

Starman, you are absolutely correct on both counts. Thanks for the pics, Black6, brought back great memories.

[Black 6]

Thanks JP and Capt. E. I'm middle aged and have the physique that comes with that (not huge, but office work has taken its toll). When I was taking the pics I was fortunate to do so at a time when I was practically alone and could easily move through the aircraft. In doing so I gained a real appreciation of what those young men must have endured during their flights. I was encumbered only with a camera bag and had difficulty navigating through the various parts of the aircraft due to the narrow confines of the fuselage, the many protuberances sticking out ready to catch or snag you, and the decks you needed to climb over. And this is in a parked aircraft that is, for the most part, stripped of its wartime accouterments. I am amazed they were able to move, fight, or give aid in a such an aircraft flying a wartime mission, dressed in bulky flight gear. For example, the catwalk through the bomb bay couldn't be more than 12 inches across (if that) and I could barely walk through sideways. Can you imagine trying to get from the front of the bomber to the rear in an emergency? Geez!

Those WWII bomber crews were really made of something.

[Elmer]

Originally Posted by Black 6

Thanks JP and Capt. E. I'm middle aged and have the physique that comes with that (not huge, but office work has taken its toll). When I was taking the pics I was fortunate to do so at a time when I was practically alone and could easily move through the aircraft. In doing so I gained a real appreciation of what those young men must have endured during their flights. I was encumbered only with a camera bag and had difficulty navigating through the various parts of the aircraft due to the narrow confines of the fuselage, the many protuberances sticking out ready to catch or snag you, and the decks you needed to climb over. And this is in a parked aircraft that is, for the most part, stripped of its wartime accouterments. I am amazed they were able to move, fight, or give aid in a such an aircraft flying a wartime mission, dressed in bulky flight gear. For example, the catwalk through the bomb bay couldn't be more than 12 inches across (if that) and I could barely walk through sideways. Can you imagine trying to get from the front of the bomber to the rear in an emergency? Geez!

My uncle's engineer did so on one harrowing bomb run. Over the target, one of the waist gunners called to the flight deck that the other gunner had been hit by flak, was down, losing consciousness with oxygen mask off. Charlie (the engineer and top turret gunner) quickly called to the NTG to go help. He couldn't get out of his turret in a hurry, so Charlie scrambled across the bomb-bay catwalk, without a chute and only a portable oxgyen bottle to help administer aid to the injured gunner. Fortunately, both men acted quickly and administered first aid that saved the injured gunner's life.

Awesome pics, B6! Interior shots ain't easy to get... lighting is always a problem. Your shots are terrific!

[PappyB]

Went over to the local AP to work on my panning technique a bit -- trying to drop shutter speeds to introduce background blur while keeping the airplane sharp... not an easy task for me!

Anyhow, I was treated to quite a show in the span of an hour or so -- and in the middle of the week! Saw these in addition to a bunch of standard civ stuff.

[PappyB]

A few more from today - lighting not as good (what were those dark clouds and that wet stuff falling from the sky?)

[Captain Eddie]

They look GREAT to me......both pics and aircraft!

[Cruver Collecter]

Neat looking shots of Waco biplanes! I really like the looks of the single seater version.

[PappyB]

Sunday afternoon's action at lil' old Petaluma AP:







Turbo-props are really something to watch land/take-off up close... very loud! This one was particularly sleek, fast, and noisy

[STARMAN 352ND]

I like the looks of that Navy scheme...Cool.
Great pictures.
JP