Posted 8 years ago
fortapache
(3422 items)
This is a vintage 8x10 photo of a Curtis Helldiver which had crash landing on a carrier deck. Looks like it was either a wheels up landing and the landing gear failed on landing. Either was a good job done by the pilot.
The Helldiver was the replace for the Douglas SPD Dauntless dive bomber. It was not a popular replacement. That big tail probably made it a bit difficult for the rear gunner.
The last photo is a packing card for the Mini-Planes Helldiver. It gives some stats that may be of interest.
It's hard to believe that during a time of war... these usually just got pushed into the sea. That wreck would be worth hugs sums of money today.
That's usually followed with, "Oops!". They don't throw planes over except in emergencies. Here's what they do normally: Spend $ millions delivering them to countries who buy them for 1 dollar. The card shows a trapeze rig for releasing the bomb like the Stuka to keep the bomb from meeting the prop on the way down.
Thank you very much steve85018. That is a rare plane now. A couple million $ over the deck.
Thank you very much bb2. It is also has an internal bomb bay along with the trapeze.
Wow! What a great photo to have! You're right Either the pilot was good or just very lucky!!! That's amazing.
Fort, don't forget the $1 loss for a NO SALE. Looks like a wheels-up to me, but that isn't so easy with flight deck crew monitoring. "There are those who have & those that will", is the expression. Real slow at taxi !
Thank you very much shareurpassion. Carrier landing are hard enough with proper landing gear.
Yessbb2. Yes got to have that $1. Looked it up and found there are 9 left in the world and 5 of those are under restoration so these would have been a great investment.
I'll guess the gear wouldn't go down or one wouldn't and they wanted him to land in the ocean.
Thank you
mikelv85
GeodeJem
Roycroftbooksfromme1
JImam
steve85018
TheGateKeeper
brunswick
blunderbuss2
shareurpassion
SpiritBear
roddyq
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thegatherer
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iggy
Thank you EJW-54.
I believe those carrier decks were wooden.
Yes bb2 they were wood. The US and Japanese carriers had wooden decks so they could carry more planes. British carriers had armored decks and carried less aircraft.
Interesting trivia. Facts & reasons.
Thanks bb2. British carriers operated in the Mediterranean in reach of land based planes so they went with more protection.
Thank you
vintagelamp
michaeln544
I can't recall any carrier action in the Med.. Ah, another interesting facet to research while I wait to be released to go home.
Imagine being next in line to land.... and running low on fuel.
Thank you very much Steve. That would be frustrating.
Good luck getting released bb2. Then you can get back to the cyber asylum.
I'll bet even staff cracks a smile on "CyberAsylum".
hard to believe that thing can get airborn! it looks so fat and heavy - the bloated goose.
Thank you very much ho2cutcha. It wasn't the fastest plane in the sky.
Thank you
Wandlessfairy
TheGateKeeper
ho2cultcha
surfdub66
Thank you bobby725.
Thank you SEAN68.
Thank you
Padit
Newfld
GeodeJem
Windwalker
pw-collector
GIJoeguy