Ну что-ж, опять пятница, так что опять будут цветные фотографии. На этот раз на фото будут абсолютно наркоманского вида flight assembly ships - бомбардировщики которые использовались для сбора эскадрилий во время тысячных рейдов на Германию в 44ом-45ом годах. Сами подумайте - с разных аэродромов взлетают сотни очень похожих друг на друга самолетов, как пилотам найти свою эскадрилью? Для этого и использовались ярко раскрашенные flight assembly ships. У каждой эскадрильи был свой и он был виден из далека. Обычно это были отлетавшие свое бомбардировщики, часто без вооружения, которые уже не летали на задания. После сбора они возвращались назад на базу, а эскадрилья шла в рейд. Кстати наконец-то англичане начали делится фотографиям нормального размера. Пока только выложили Roger Freeman Collection с фотографиями американских самолетов из 8th Air Force под эгидой сайта American Air Museum in Britain, но будем надеяться что это будет не единичным случаем и начнут публиковать и другие фотографии тоже. 1. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23667) nicknamed "Ball of Fire (Barber Bob)" of the 93rd Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship. A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. 3. A B-24 Liberators including, (serial number 44-40066) nicknamed "S.O.L", of the 458th Bomb Group fly in formation with a flight assembly ship. 4. A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 5. A shark mouth B-24 Liberator (serial number 44-40101, "War Weary") nicknamed "Tubarao" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 6. A B-24 Liberator of the 466th Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship. 7. B-24 Liberators of the 458th Bomb Group, the shark mouth aircraft is used as a flight assembly ship.
8. The shark mouth nose art of a B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-28697) nicknamed "Spotted Ape" of the 458th Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 9. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-40722) nicknamed "The Little Gramper" of the 491st Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 10. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7552) nicknamed "Lil Cookie" of the 489th Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 11. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7552) nicknamed "Lil Cookie" of the 489th Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship. 12. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 42-7552) nicknamed "Lil Cookie" of the 489th Bomb Group, used as a flight assembly ship.. Интересно что у него на месте башни стоят фары - наверное для ночного сбора. 13. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-29393) nicknamed "Pete the POM Inspector 2nd" of the 467th Bomb Group. 14. A B-24 Liberator (serial number 41-23667) nicknamed "Ball of Fire (Barber Bob)" of the 93rd Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship.
Раз вы полностью скопировали чужой пост из ЖЖ, то неплохо было бы ссылку дать http://vova-modelist.livejournal.com/135102.html
Обычно да, машины своей части скучковали и сразу домой. А иногда пришлось залетать на территорию Франции, чтобы собрать особенно большой строй. А некоторые отвязные сорвиголовы на этих машинах летали вместе со своими подопечными на Германию и обратно. Без бомб, вооружения, да. Полковник Джимми Стюарт (это который известный актёр) из 453rd Bombardment Group во время высадки в Нормандии слетал таким образом в рейд на "сборщике" B-24 "Judas Goat". PS. Кстати, в штатовских авиашколах тоже были такие ярко-полосатые бипланчики, которые собирали в организованную кучку беспорядочно двигающихся в воздухе курсантов и вели их за собой на базу
The information on that poster is incorrect. "Hellsadroppin" aka "Valient virgin" was originally assigned to the 93rd Bomb group 329th Bomb squadron. The same mistake was made with my(James Sharp) fathers bomber "Minerva" both were amongst the first B24s to arrive in England. Later deemed battle weary they were distributed throughout bomb groups in England to be reassigned as assembly ships.
Consolidated B-24D Liberator (#42-40127) "First Sergeant" of the 8th Air Force, 458th Bombardment Group, 754th Bombardment Squadron, is shown on the apron at the group's base at RAF Horsham St. Faith Originally "Thar She Blows Again" in operation from Algeria against Ploesti with the 93rd Bombardment Group, 329th Bombardment Squadron, and received moderate damage. Her crew, led by Lieutenant Charles Merrill, all returned safely. Originally named "Bucket of Bolts" when it was first received by the 458th, "First Sergeant" became the 458th's first assembly ship and was painted with the polka dots for high visibility. "First Sergeant's" job would be to take off before the other combat aircraft, and then lead them of the group into a combat formation, to provide maximum coverage for each ship. Then "First Sergeant" would return to base. She was crewed by rotation, usually pilots or aircrew that had suffered combat fatigue or were in need of flight time. On May 27, 1944, "First Sergeant" was the victim of a flare. While loading the plane's Very signal pistol, the gun discharged and lit other flares. This caused the war-weary B-24 to burn on the runway. Вот, откуда пошло "ведро с болтами"
в первом посте 6. A B-24 Liberator of the 466th Bomb Group used as a flight assembly ship - это неполная информация. на самом деле B-24D Liberator aircraft 'Ready and Willing', Lead Assembly Ship of 466th Bomber Group, 784th Bomber Squadron, база RAF Attlebridge, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom впрочем, остальные тоже не очень полная информация - например B-24D Liberator bomber 'Little Gramper', Lead Assembly Ship of 491st Bomber Group, US 852nd Bomber Squadron, база RAF North Pickenham, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom B-24H Liberator aircraft 'Spotted Ass Ape', lead assembly ship for 458th Bomber Group, US 754th Bomber Squadron based at RAF Horsham St. Faiths, Norfolk, England, UK B-24J Liberator bomber 'Tubarao', lead assembly ship of the 491st Bomber Group, US 855th Bomber Squadron based at RAF North Pickenham, Norfolk, England, UK
B-24D Liberator lead assembly ship 'Thar She Blows Again' of 93rd Bomber Group, US 329th Bomber Squadron, RAF Horsham St. Faiths, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, 24 March 1944
B-24D Liberator aircraft 'You Cawn't Miss It', lead assembly ship of 448th Bomber Group, US 712th Bomber Squadron based at RAF Seething, Norfolk, England, UK, Feb-Jun 1944
B-24D Liberator Lead Assembly Ship 'Green Dragon' of 389th Bomber Group, US 566th Bomber Squadron, RAF Hethel, Norfolk, England, Feb-Jul 1944
B-24D Liberator aircraft 'Pete the POM Inspector', Lead Assembly Ship of 467th Bomber Group, US 790th Bomber Squadron, RAF Rackheath, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Mar-Oct 1944
B-24J bomber, the brightly painted lead assembly ship of the 389th Bomber Group, US 567th Bomber Squadron, RAF Hethel, Norfolk, England, United Kingdom, Feb-Nov 1944
B-24D Liberator lead assembly ship 'Barber Bob' of 93rd Bomber Group, US 328th Bomber Squadron based at Terria, Libya, Jul-Aug 1943