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Dauntless Helldivers
black mamba
Registered Users Posts: 8,321 Major grins
These are two of the rarest WWII warbirds in existance. There are only 3 of the Helldivers ( # 32 on the rudder ) known to be flying anywhere in the world. There are not many more, if any more, of the Dauntlesses flying. I have a good friend, who is now 88 years old, that flew both of these aircraft types during the war. He is the only aviator ( either American or Japanese ) known to have participated in all 5 major aircraft carrier conflicts of the war. His name is Hal Buell and he wrote a facinating book
( Dauntless Helldivers ) about his exploits during the war.
I always wanted to lie naked on a bearskin rug in front of a fireplace. Cracker Barrel didn't take kindly to it.
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I'm with you about the P-51. It's also my favorite. I'm very fortunate to have another friend that owns one of them. It's named " Sizzlin Liz " and is a fixture at many of the larger airshows around the country. I go up in it with him and I have to tell you, it's the most visceral experience I have in an aircraft. I can only dream about what it must have been like to go into combat in such a plane.
nice pictures considering the people and the yellow lines in the way.
I'd take a prop over a jet any day
nice photo , bravo !!!!!!!!!!!!!1
When the Helldiver was first introduced, it was seriously underpowered and it had a few airframe design deficiencies that hampered its performance. They actually had a number of instances wherein the plane, when fully loaded with gas and ordnance, would leave the carrier and simply fall into the ocean. They quickly made some airframe design changes ( actually many, over time ), gave the engine a lot more power, and went to a four-bladed prop. From that time on, the pilots loved the plane.
"I'm envious".......Two plans I always wanted to fly was a Waco and a P-51 ... I got to fly a Waco ...but never even got a ride in a P-51 let alone fly one...