USN, USMC, 1940 and later

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The crew members of the Apollo 13 lunar landing mission step aboard the USS Iwo Jima (LPH-2), prime recovery ship, following splashdown and recovery operations in the South Pacific. Exiting the helicopter that made the pick-up some four miles from the Iwo Jima are (from left) astronauts Fred W. Haise, Jr., lunar module pilot; James A. Lovell, Jr., commander; and John L. Swigert, Jr., command module pilot. The crippled Apollo 13 spacecraft splashed down at 1:07:44 PM (EST), 17 April 1970

 

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The pilot of a Vought OS2U floatplane unstraps his flight log from his leg, after returning to the battleship. The airplane is on the catapult behind him. Photographed during the ship's shakedown cruise, circa August 1944.

Bombing Squadron 106 (VB-106)
Crew of the squadron commander's plane "Fats," in 1943-1944. Commander John T. Hayward, the pilot and squadron commander, is in front row center.

USS Wasp (CV-7)
Launching officer, Lieutenant David McCampbell, USN, gets the ready signal from the pilot of a British Royal Air Force Spitfire, just before it took off for Malta, 9 May 1942. This was Wasp's second Malta reinforcement mission. Note deck crewmen holding the plane back. A Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat is in the background.

 

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Leyte Invasion, October 1944.
The pilot of a Japanese "Zeke" fighter that was shot down after trying to bomb USS SANGAMON (CVE-26), is transferred to the carrier's sick bay after his rescue by USS TRATHEN (DD-530) off Leyte on 20 October.

Carrier Raids on Truk, 17-18 February 1944
Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher is recovered USS Baltimore (CA-68) after she had rescued Lieutenant (Junior Grade) George M. Blair from Truk Lagoon, 18 February 1944. Plane's pilot is Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Denver F. Baxter. His radioman, ARMC Reuben F. Hickman, is on the wing, preparing to attach the plane so it can be hoisted on board. Blair's F6F Hellcat, of Fighting Squadron Nine from USS Essex (CV-9), had been shot down during the dawn fighter sweep.

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver Aircraft. Plane's pilot and gunner, dressed in flight gear, pose as they prepare to go aloft, circa 1944-45.

Ensign James S. "Jugbatt" Moore
A pilot on board USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) in October 1943. He is posed by the tail of a Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter.

Curtiss SOC-1 Seagull
Pilot and radioman prepare their plane to be hoisted on board USS CURRITUCK (AV-7) after operations in the Antarctic on 8 January 1947

Bonins Raids, 1944.
An F6F lands without tail hook aboard USS YORKTOWN (CV-10) during strikes on the Bonins, 24 July 1944. Pilot was Lieutenant H.J. Mueller. Not smoking tires, under full braking strain.

 

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North American SNJ
Training Aircraft ready for a flight, at a Naval Air Station, during World War II. The pilot checks conditions before boarding for takeoff.

Ensign Robert F. Buche, USNR circa 1943-44. He was a blimp pilot.

Machinist Donald E. Runyon, USN
In the cockpit of his F4F-4 Wildcat fighter, circa late August or September 1942. A pilot with Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6), based aboard USS Enterprise (CV-6), Runyon was credited with shooting down four Japanese planes during the Guadalcanal-Tulagi landings of 7-8 August 1943 and another four during the Battle of the Eastern Solomons on 24 August 1942. His plane bears eight miniature Japanese flags in commemoration of these achievements. Note cushion suspended from the plane's reflector gun sight to protect the pilot in the event of a crash.

USS ESSEX -CV-9 Landing signal officer signals to an incoming plane-Roger You Are Okay, indicating that the pilot is to continue toward the flight deck as he is taken circa Spring 1945

 

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Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat fighter Goes over the side of USS Barnes (CVE-20), 22 October 1943, after the pilot attempted to regain flying speed after receiving the Cut signal from the Landing Signal Officer. The pilot, Ensign Olinyock, and a crew member, F1c Olin Victor Bulgrin, were killed in this accident. Several other crew members were injured. Note triangular flight deck crash barrier supports partially extended below the plane.

USS COWPENS (CVL-25)
A Grumman F6F-3 "Hellcat" fighter bursts into flames as its pilot cuts his engine while making an emergency landing, 24 November 1943, during the Gilberts Operation. The pilot, Lieutenant Junior Grade A.W. Magee Jr., was unaware of the fire as he landed. Flames were put out in 1m 30sec. with no casualties.

Title: USS Cowpens (CVL-25)
Pilot evacuates his burning F6F-3 fighter after landing unaware that it was on fire, during the Gilberts Operation, 24 November 1943. Firefighters are rushing to the plane, and put out the flames in a minute and a half, with no casualties. The fire started as the Hellcat approached Cowpens for an emergency landing. The pilot was Lieutenant (Junior Grade) Alfred W. Magee, Jr., USNR

USS YORKTOWN -CV-10
Pilot talks with air officers on the flight control bridge, during air operations in mid -1943. Note details of green aviation officers' uniforms, and red flag flying from the bridge.

Ensign Neil Armstrong
Taken on 3 September 1951, when his F9F Panther was shot down after a reconnaissance mission the primary transportation and storage facilities south of the village of Majon-ni, west of Wonsan. He was an Ensign at that time.

USS Noa (DD-343) "winged spinach can" insignia, circa 1940. This denoted the ship's aviation duties, having been fitted to carry a Curtis SOC-1 Seagull in April 1940. Note that the "pilot" Popeye is dropping a can of spinach on an enemy submarine, representative of anti-submarine duties.

Douglas TBD-1 Torpedo Plane of Torpedo Squadron Five (VT-5) In the starboard catwalk of USS Yorktown (CV-5), 3 September 1940, following a landing accident. Pilot was Electrician's Mate First Class (Naval Aviation Pilot) C.M. O'Brien. The after end of the carrier's island is in the background. Ultimately assigned to Torpedo Squadron Eight (VT-8), This aircraft was lost on 4 June 1942 during the Battle of Midway.

 

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Flight crew is carried ashore on a boarding dock, at a Naval Air Station Waterfront, circa 1940-42

Lieutenant Livingston, USN
World War II photo showing Lieutenant Livingston transferring baggage by kayak to a Catalina, from a British U class submarine.

Aerial Gunner
Mans his .30 caliber machine gun, in the waist blister of a PBY "CATALINA" patrol bomber.

U.S. Navy and Brazilian Air Force Officers
Inspect a flight line of Brazilian PBY-5A CATALINA Patrol Planes, during graduation exercises of a Brazilian Air Force PBY Squadron trained by the U.S. Navy circa 1945. Note Brazilian markings on plane, whose wing shows signs of a party painted - out U.S. marking

A .50 Cal. MG in a waist blister of a consolidated BPY-5 "Catalina" at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Florida, 10 March 1944.

PhoM2C Wilbur H. “Bud” Leeger poses with his camera during World War II

PBY5 "Catalina,"
Caption: View of gunner manning waist machine gun, circa 1944.

Brazilian Air Force PBY Squadron
Squadron Officers sit on the wing of one of the IR PBY CATALINA Aircraft, 1945.

Battle of Midway, June 1942
Pilots of the four Patrol Squadron 24 (VP-24) and Patrol Squadron 51 (VP-51) PBY-5A Catalina patrol bombers that flew the torpedo attack mission against the Japanese fleet's Midway Occupation Force during the night of 3-4 June 1942. Those present are (left to right): Lieutentant (Junior Grade) Douglas C. Davis, of VP-24; Ensign Allan Rothenberg, of VP-51; Lieutenant William L. Richards, Executive Officer of Patrol Squadron 44 (VP-44), who flew in a VP-24 aircraft on this mission; and Ensign Gaylord D. Propst, of VP-24.

CATALINA Patrol Bomber is pulled around in water, in preparation for hauling up the seaplane ramp at a naval air station 1942.

 

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Title: N.A.S. Brazil
Caption: Station personnel salute as the U.S. and Brazilian Flags are raised together at morning colors, circa 1944-45

 

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A Chief Torpedoman paints another hashmark on the Torpedo Shop scoreboard of Japanese ships claimed sunk by SubRon 5's S-Boats, operating out of Brisbane, Australia, during April-November 1942. Photographed on board USS Griffin (AS-13), tender to the squadron. Submarines listed on the scoreboard include S-37 (SS-142), S-38 (SS-143), S-39 (SS-144), S-40 (SS-145), S-41 (SS-146), S-42 (SS-153), S-43 (SS-154), S-44 (SS-155), S-45 (SS-156), S-46 (SS-157), and S-47 (SS-158).

Battle Flag USS Blackfin (SS-322)
According to several Blackfin sailors, artist Alberto Vargas assisted with the design of the flag. He used a skin-colored rayon material for the mermaid’s body. The netting covering the body is made from the inner lining of gas-proof ponchos. A chemical bath was concocted that would soak the plastic loose from the netting. Several crew of the Blackfin spent days extracting the netting from the plastic liners.
This flag is one of 110 made before the Blackfin’s decommissioning in 1948. The flags were made at the Mare Island Shipyard and were distributed to crewmen who had made war patols aboard the sub.
Blackfin did her 4th war patrol from Fremantle submarine base which is close to where I live.

USS Redfin (SS-272) she did four war patrols from Frematle submarine base

Rear Admiral Thomas D. Davies, Deputy Chief of Naval Material for Development, stands beside a sign giving the history of the "Truculent Turtle", a Neptune plane which made an 11,000 mile, nonstop flight in 1946 from Perth, Australia to Columbus, Ohio, piloted by him and a crew of 3 officers. The occasion was the last flight of this type of plane (Neptune) from Naval Air Station, Brunswick, Maine to Naval Air Station, Norfolk, Virginia, 20 February 1970.
Perth is where I live.

B-24 Los Negros

 

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Martin PBM-3 "marine" patrol bomber
In a hangar at Nas Banana River, Florida, in March 1943. Plane at left is a PBM-1, with retractable wind floats. That at right is a fixed-float PBM-3 Model.

Ready for a flight at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida, circa 1940-41. Note his parachute, flight jacket, cap, and inflatable life vest. The plane behind him is a N3N-1 "Yellow Peril" with a numbered cover on the front of its float and a starting crank in position.

 

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Kingfisher aircraft gunner operating the flexible .30 cal. Machine gun, circa 1941-43

30 caliber flexible machine gun, in the aft cockpit of an airplane, circa 1940-43. Plane appears to be a North American 0-47.

Vought OS2U-3 "KINGFISHER" Floatplane.
Pilot and gunner board their plane for a coastal patrol flight, circa early 1942.

Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless scout bomber The plane's radioman-gunner test fires his twin .30 caliber machine guns, while on an aircraft carrier's flight deck. The yellow marking around the national insignia indicates that this photograph was taken during Operation Torch, the November 1942 invasion of North Africa.

DAUNTLESS aircraft gunner wearing oxygen mask, operates the flexible .30 caliber machine gun in the aft cockpit, circa 1941-43.

AM2c Jack Cain, USN
Poses in his dress blues, with aerial gunner insignia on his right sleeve, and air crewman device and campaign ribbons above his breast pocket. Photographed in February 1944. Plan in background is a Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber.

George H. W. Bush in the cockpit of an Avenger

Marine Corps Air Station, Cherry Point, North Carolina
Caption: Two Marine Corps air crewmen, an aerial gunner and an aerial photographer, stand by their PB4Y-1 patrol bomber, watching another plane landing, circa 1943

Lieutenant Junior Grade W. L. McVay, Jr., USNR watches his radio-gunner, K. W. Jobe, ARM2c, check the flexible .30-clas. MGS in their Douglas SBD-3 "Dauntless" of VS-41 during operation "Torch," November 1942, on board USS RANGER (CV-4).

Ensign C. C. Bevis, Jr., USNR of Brooklyn, N. Y., with his radio-gunner, W. J. Sackelford, ARM3c, of Norfolk, Virginia, on board USS RANGER (CV-4) during operation "Torch" in November 1942. On 8 November 1942, Ensign Bevis scored a near miss on the Vichy French CL PRIMAGUET.

 

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Shotgun on machinegun type mounting, for training aerial gunners.
On the skeet range at N.A.S. Saint Louis, Missouri, 29 April 1944. Gunner is Lieutenant Junior Grade Rothschild, instructed by Martin. Shotgun is a Remington Model 11, 12 gauge semiautomatic, on a shotgun mount assembly Mk. 1 Mod. 0 consisting of gun mount adapter Mk. 12 mod.2 and .30 caliber stand Mk.23 Mod.0. Note boxes of Peters "Victor" brand skeet cartridges.

H-34 SeahorseHelicopter waist gunner at a .30 caliber Browning automatic machine gun M1928 remains alert to render whatever assistance he can during Operation Deckhouse V in the Mekong Delta area of Vietnam, 6 January 1967.

 

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Bearded gunner's mate
Stands by a 20mm anti-aircraft machinegun, mounted in a shore emplacement at an advanced base in the Aleutians, circa 1942-1943

Martin PBM "Mariner" patrol bomber
Caption: Starboard waist gunner demonstrates his .50 caliber machine gun, during World War II. Note the position's retractable wind shield.

 

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U-858 German Submarine, Type 1xC is brought to anchor at Cape Henlopen, Del. In May 1945, after being surrendered at sea with mega phone on her conning tower is LCDR. Willard D. Michael, Officer in charge. Note Sirkorski HNS-I Helicopter and blimp overhead

Apollo 11 astronauts exit helicopter #66 and enter the Mobile Quarantine Facility on the hangar deck of USS Hornet (CVS-12) on July 24, 1969.

USS Kearsarge (CV-33) 1963 Navy frogmen deploy from a hovering helicopter to begin the recovery process of the Mercury-Atlas 9 "Faith 7" Capsule, with astronaut Gordon Cooper on board.

Santa and elves arrive by special helicopter for a children's Christmas party at Naval Air Station Oakland, 23 December 1956.

Lieutenant Randall H. Cunningham (center), of Fighter Squadron 96 (VF-96) In the VF-96 ready room aboard USS Constellation (CVA-64), describing how he downed three MiG-17 fighters in aerial combat over North Vietnam on 10 May 1972. At right is Cunningham's Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant (Junior Grade) William P. Driscoll. They had earlier downed two other enemy fighters, and were the Navy's only Vietnam War fighter Aces. Combat damage forced them to eject from their F-4J Phantom II just after the triple kill, but they were quickly rescued by a helicopter from USS Okinawa (LPH-3). After receiving a hot meal and dry clothing on board Okinawa they were flown back to Constellation to receive a joyous welcome