Some of the 4th FG and a lot of A-2s

[ausreenactor]

Thats exactly why we missed our calling . I could see that happening with any one of these guys. It would have been one hell of a ride with these guys during those war years . A crazy time, punctuated by periods of fear and uncertainty. I’d bet if they were alive today they’d say that they would never want to go through the war again, but that they wouldn’t trade any of their experiences for the world.

The calling is still there. Lots of 'crazy times' still going on. A-10s, A-29s and MQ-9s are carving it up!!

 

[Smithy]

Never enough of Don Blakeslee...
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I actually posted this photo earlier in this thread Brett but no problem it's one of my favourite images of one of my favourite members of the 4th ;-)

This photo is taken just after Don has returned to Debden after getting seriously clobbered by 190s over France on the 7th January 1994, Goody had to actually save him. His Jug was spewing oil - you can see it over his Mae West and A-2, and when it arrived back it had 71 bullet and cannon holes in it!

 

[Greg Gale]

But that's a P-51B behind him, isn't it?

 

[Smithy]

But that's a P-51B behind him, isn't it?

Well spotted Greg! The usual description for this photo in several books is the 7th January but because of your eagle eyes it can't be. And the Mustang behind Blakeslee is 43-6437, his usual mount in early 1944. He's obviously still using the same oil soaked Mae West - must've stank but Don obviously didn't care.

There's the possibility that the photo is from the series which were taken on the auspicious occasion of the 4th's first mission to Berlin. This was obviously a big day and there were a bunch of photos taken of Blakeslee landing and talking with his crew chief and ground crew so there's the possibility it's part of this collection. He looks pretty bushed in the photo which he was after the first Berlin do.

 

[Brettafett]

Wow, some good info there guys!

 

[B-Man2]

You guys could write your own books!!

 

[ausreenactor]

Shhh. We get the info here without having to pay for it!

 

[Smithy]

Dude of the Day...

Archie "Chat" Chatterley of 334. In this photo he's actually posing with Steve Pisanos' Jug "Miss Plainfield". Chat was from San Diego and scored 5.5 kills before being shot down and becoming a POW.

 

[Smithy]

Dude of the Day...

I think we've had this guy before but not this image, and although there's no A-2, I wanted to post it because i find it very haunting.

This is Capt Don Emerson of 336 Sqn. Don was a Minnesota native with a very big heart and consequently an extremely popular member of the 4th. On his last mission he single-handedly engaged six Me109s, downing two of them but being damaged in the process. Trying to run for home at zero feet he was hit by ground fire and his P-51 crashed killing him.

The photo below was taken immediately after he had landed from a mission. The strain of combat clearly evident on his face.

 

[ausreenactor]

Dude of the Day...

The photo below was taken immediately after he had landed from a mission. The strain of combat clearly evident on his face.

Vivid pic.... The last thing he would have wanted was someone in his face straight away.

The Afghan Air Force crews often walked in with expressions on their faces. We tallied up the totals over our rotation. Million plus pounds of cargo, 18K pax, 610 WIA and 449 KIA through our tail numbers between Jan1 and Jul 13.

These guys are flying pretty much daily... 12 hours +. In 110 degrees. Ramadan would have been rough.

 

[Smithy]

Vivid pic.... The last thing he would have wanted was someone in his face straight away.

The Afghan Air Force crews often walked in with expressions on their faces. We tallied up the totals over our rotation. Million plus pounds of cargo, 18K pax, 610 WIA and 449 KIA through our tail numbers between Jan1 and Jul 13.

These guys are flying pretty much daily... 12 hours +. In 110 degrees. Ramadan would have been rough.

I agree Couchy. the poor bugger has literally just landed and somebody has snapped him. Saying that for a photographic depiction of post combat affects it's a damn good snap.

By this stage when this was taken the 4th were flying bomber escort deep into Germany (so a long time flying), then had to tussle with the intercepting fighter defences, and then on the way home were usually expected to attack aerodromes and significant ground targets of opportunity. He's earned his slug of whiskey and a day's combat pay after that one.

 

[Cocker]

@ausreenactor , welcome home mate, and thanks for your service!! Glad you made it without a scratch!

 

[Smithy]

Dudes of the Day..

As anyone who has followed this thread will know, one of my favourite 4th FG pilots is Don Blakeslee. In the photo below that's him on the right, and in terms of other A-2s that's Capt Halsey on the left. The lovely lady in the middle is the Duchess of Kent.

 

[Bombing IP]

Duchess looks ready for a funeral service / or into Goth .

BIP

 

[Smithy]

Duchess looks ready for a funeral service / or into Goth .

BIP

That's because her husband was killed a year before serving in the RAF.

 

[Brettafett]

Amazing pics Tim! Keep em coming...

 

[B-Man2]

Tim
Your command of the history behind these photos really gives them a sense of meaning. Very cool!!

 

[taikonaut]

I bet they keep a packet of cigarettes in their jacket pockets. Try do that with your veg tanned repros if it an survive a day without crushing it.

 

[Cocker]

I'm doing it every day with my Aero in seal jerky. Should that confirm that the jerky HH from Aero is chrome tanned?

 

[taikonaut]

Ken said it is chrome tanned