World War II Military Aircraft

[Tronhard]

For STUNNING images of some of the last remaining Spitfires you should check out this link, they are amazing photos...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ld-camera.html

[RandyRFJP]

As a bit of an aviation enthusiast I thought you might like to know that the Harvards are often horrendously noisy because their prop tips rotate around the speed of sound, so you often hear them coming well before you see them.

Modified versions of these were used in the film Tora! Tora! Tora! to depict both US and Japanese aircraft for the film. As we have just had the 75th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbour, I would recommend it as a old but really good film on the subject that offers a balanced view of the events around the attack.

Trev, I appreciate the recommendation to view Tora! Tora! Tora! Dennis recommended the film, too. I used to go to the movie theater on a regular basis years ago, and am pretty sure I've seen the film, but I'm sure I wasn't aware of the various makes and models of planes used during the filming of the movie. I plan on viewing the film during an up-coming holiday break, and I'll pay particular attention to the aircraft.

[rpcrowe]

As an aside, in the 1970 movie, "Tora, Tora, Tora", numerous highly modified T6/SNJ's and BT13'swere used instead of the Japanese B5N "Kate", and the D3A "Val" aircraft the Japanese used.

Great photo array!

There are still some of these "Tora, Tora, Tora" replica aircraft flying, mostly at airshows.

[rpcrowe]

Thanks, Richard, I'm glad you liked the photos. I never thought of it, but your comment about the difficulty for a photographer in the rear seat of low-wing plane to get good air-to-ground photos of anything forward of the aircraft makes perfect sense. Such things are only learned through experience. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experiences.

High wing monoplanes are good for air to ground photography, especially those without wing struts.... The darned struts always seemed to get in the way of the images I wanted.

Aircraft that can be used without shooting through the Plexiglas of the windows or canopy are best.

I did some coverage of a Navy A1 Skyraider shooting rockets from the SNJ with its rear canopy pushed out of the way. We shot from the rear of the Skyraider and I ended up with residue from the rocket blast over my face and camera. I did not have my helmet visor down because I couldn't shoot that way. Lucky I was shooting with a 16mm Bell and Howell Filmo which was about the most indestructible camera I ever used.

There are lots of little things that can detract from air to air images. When shooting from a helicopter, especially on in a bank, the rotors seem to want to intrude into the top of your frame...

[RandyRFJP]

For STUNNING images of some of the last remaining Spitfires you should check out this link, they are amazing photos...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...ld-camera.html

Those certainly are great photos. Thanks very much for posting the link.

[Wavelength]

Excellent images

[RandyRFJP]

Excellent images

Thanks, Nandakumar. I hope you enjoyed viewing them.