Warbird Information Exchange

While copying a collection of WWII photos years ago from the personal collection of WWII ferry pilot (7th Ferrying Group & CBI vet) Sam Burgess I found this interesting photo and the caption on the reverse says, "Aeronica Defender--first American aircraft shot down in WWII (I guess technically the war had not yet officially started) at Pearl Harbor. December 7, 1941. Plane was piloted by Al Vitousek of Honolulu (who I assume is pictured) and the airplane was holed by eight .30 cal rounds and made a forced landing.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23057174@N02/4233528779/

Not sure if this photo is already "out there" or of interest but thought I would post.

Blake

There were a number of civil aircraft flying that morning 8 (?) I think, 7 of which were attacked. The Aeronca at the Museum in Hawaii has a different N number, so must be the other AC of that company flying that morning. That one being NC 33768

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Several were shot down. Don't have the details infront of me at the moment. Calling David Aiken!

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That photo must've been taken a lot later, they didn't use the 12" fuselage N-numbers until the '50s or '60s, did they?




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