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Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 12:56 pm

Part 1

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VS-56 OS2U Kingfishers at Casco Cove, Attu Island 1943

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Fleet Air Wing 4 PBY Catalina Patrol Planes on Attu 1943

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Fleet Air Wing 4 PBY and PV-1 Venturas on Attu Island 1943

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Fleet Air Wing Four Lockheed PV-1 Venturas, Amchikta Island, Aleutians '43

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18th Fighter Squadron P-40 Warhawks, Attu Island 1943

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28th Bomb Squadron B-25 Crash on Attu Nov 1943

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28th Bomb Squadron B-25 Takes off at Alexai Point, Attu 1943

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B-25 flying over some very cold Alaskan water.

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B-25 flying over some very cold Alaskan land.

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:03 pm

Part 2

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PBYs at flooded Adak air base 1942.

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PBY-5A Catalina aircraft operating from Runway E at Andrews Lagoon on Adak Island in the Aleutians.

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Consolidated PBY “Catalina” aircraft comes in for landing near seaplane tender in Attu Harbor in Aleutians.

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Consolidated PBY “Catalina” aircraft anchored near seaplane tender in Attu Harbor in Aleutians Photographed by Lieutenant Horace Bristol, July 1943.

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Consolidated PBY “Catalina” aircraft anchored near seaplane tender in Attu Harbor in Aleutians Photographed by Lieutenant Horace Bristol, July 1943.

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PBY “Catalina” aircraft returns from patrol flight to harbor at Attu in Aleutian where its mother ship is anchored. Photographed by Lieutenant Horace Bristol, July 1943.

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PBY returns from patrol flight to harbor at Attu in Aleutian where its mother ship is anchored. Photographed by Lieutenant Horace Bristol, July 1943

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Salvage of PBY at Attu 1943

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:12 pm

Part 3

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Fueling VB-135's PV-1 Ventura Bombers, Attu Island 1944

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Fleet Air Wing Four Lockheed PV-1 Venturas, Amchikta Island, Aleutians '43

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Fleet Air Wing Four Lockheed PV-1 Venturas, Amchikta Island, Aleutians '43

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FAW-4 PV-1 Ventura on Attu Island After Blizzard 1943

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FAW-4 PV-1 Ventura on Attu Island After Blizzard 1943

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PV-1 crew

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PV-1 takes off from attu c 1944

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PV-1 airborne

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VB-135 PV-1 Ventura Over Aleutians 1944

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A VB-136 PV-1 Ventura on mission

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Fleet Air Wing Four Lockheed PV-1 Ventura Crash Landing Amchitka '43

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PV-1 wheels up landing after strike on Kuriles. Attu c 1943

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 1:18 pm

Part 4

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An SNJ-5 Texan pictured in flight near Naval Air Station (NAS) Adak, Alaska, on March 29, 1944

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OS2U Kingfisher Float Plane off Attu Island 1943 with combat damage

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Wreck of Japanese Nakajima A6M2-N Rufe Float Fighter, Attu Island

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A parachute flare burns and smokes after being released from an F4F Wildcat recovering on board carrier Nassau (ACV 16) during the invasion of Attu. 10 April 1942.

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USN 33814 - B-26s with torpedoes at Adak, 11-5-42

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PBY-5A & PV-1's Aleutians 1943

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Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 4:01 pm

This is the well known 1943 LIFE series. Photos : Dmitri Kessel - LIFE Collections

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Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 4:04 pm

A few reminders still around.

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Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 5:56 pm

One wonders if there are still any viable projects up there?

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:56 pm

Another simply amazing series of photos!

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 6:58 pm

JohnB wrote:One wonders if there are still any viable projects up there?

This B-24, plus possibly another B-24, both on Atka
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Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:01 pm

JohnB wrote:One wonders if there are still any viable projects up there?


Yes, there are! There are several airplanes, but you have to know where to look. One of my friends who lives up there knows of several aircraft which could be a solid basis for an airworthy restoration. There are some pretty rare and exotic things that are salvageable and restorable, but like any recovery project, they require a lot of money. I know of one particular aircraft up there of which not a single example is flying. It is located in a freshwater lake and my friend has seen it with his own eyes. Don't even bother asking me either here or through PM what it is or where it's at, since I am sworn to secrecy. He is currently gathering funding/sponsors to go get it. When it is recovered, it will be major news.

One of the problems inherent with all of the Alaskan aircraft up there is that many of them are located on either U.S. government or DOD owned land and are therefore inaccessible. There are ways to get it done, but sometimes is not easy.

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:36 pm

Got to tell you again, Mark--because I've told you before--your photo spreads are just world-class and my favorite feature here on WIX. You rock. Please keep 'em coming.

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 7:50 pm

Y know, Mark,

I wish that just once in a while you would find A GOOD photograph...

My mind is just blown with all these GREAT photos!

C2j

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Mon Nov 20, 2017 9:32 pm

The B-24D, 40-2367 on Atka is believed to be the oldest known surviving combat WWII heavy bomber that actually dropped bombs, next to the B-17D, Swoose at the NMUSAF. All the reason more that it should be in a museum.

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Tue Nov 21, 2017 8:53 am

Great series of photos! A lot of regular folks don't even realize the war in the Pacific stretched into Alaska. Too bad I got in to P-3 Orions too late in my career...there was a permanent Det in Adak and Kodiak up through the 90s. I would have love to operate out of there.

In the Third series of pics, is that Harpoon (No. 74), flying with underside wing panels removed?? Not sure why they would, but it sure looks like it.

Re: Cold in the Aleutians ...

Tue Nov 21, 2017 9:13 am

AFWhite wrote:In the Third series of pics, is that Harpoon (No. 74), flying with underside wing panels removed?? Not sure why they would, but it sure looks like it.


No, those are the aerodynamic "slots" in the wing. It appears that a darker colored rectangle has been painted behind the slots (don't know why). The light colored "strips" that seem to project forward are actually the sunlight lighting the inboard sides of the slots.

C2j
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