Formations, Formations, Formations ...

[Mark Allen M]

Some really good stuff here that covers a nice range of types and time. If you like early Navy jet types you'll love some of these guys. Nothing like a great formation of great looking airplanes. Source NMNA archives, SDASM archives, Library of Congress archives.

Part 1


formation of aircraft that appear to be Grumman SF's


A flight formation of F2B Boeing fighter aircraft 1930's


squadron of Boeing F4B-4's flying in formation 1930's


three Navy Grumman F2F-1's 1938


three Navy Boeing F2B-1's flying in stacked formation 1930's


A formation of SBC Helldivers of Scouting Squadron (VS) 3 in flight over the Hoover Dam 1938


six Navy Curtiss O2C-1's flying in formation 1930


Boeing F2B-1 aircraft fly in formation over Old Corry Field near Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida 1930


BM-1 Aircraft in Flight over USS Lexington (CV 2) 1933


Four T4M-1 Martin aircraft with Torpedo Squadron 5A (VT-5A) in formation


nine F3F-2s flying in formation 1930's


Eighteen (18) BG-1s of Bombing Squadron (VB) 4 flying in formation 1937


Four OS2U Kingfisher float planes fly in formation 1941-42


TBM-3E's of Scouting Plane Squadron Twenty-Three (VS-23) near San Diego flying in an eleven plane formation


SB2C-5s of Torpedo Squadron 75 (VT-75) pictured in formation during operations in the Caribbean.


SB2C-4Es assigned to Bombing Squadron 87 (VB-87) in flight near Trinidad during shakedown cruise aboard USS Randolph (CV-15).


SB2C-4E of Bombing Squadron 88 (VB-88) in flight over ships of Task Force 58 1945


F6F-3 Hellcat aircraft of VF-3 are in formation flight near San Diego, CA 1943


Three (3) F6F-5 Hellcat aircraft from VF(N)-1 Operational Training Unit (OTU) of NAS Vero Beach, FL 1944


VC-6 FM Wildcats and TBF Avengers, in formation, 1943


USS Enterprise Carrier Aircraft in formation 1943


PBM Mariners in formation 1943


USS Wasp Hellcats 1945


SBD-5s of Bombing Squadron Three Hundred Five (VB-305) pictured in formation over the Pacific 1944


two Marine SB2-C Helldivers flying in formation 1945


Carrier Air Group (CVG) 3, including an F8F-1 Bearcat, TBM-3E Avenger, SB2C-5 Helldiver, and F6F-5 Hellcat, in formation 1946


F4U-4 Corsair aircraft of VF-873 are flying in formation near Mt. Ranier WA 1953


An SNJ Texan flies in formation with a Stearman N2S Kaydet 1948


F6F-5 Hellcat USNR aircraft of NARTU Los Alamitos, CA, in flight over Southern California 1950

[Mark Allen M]

Part 2


three Marine OY-1 Sentinels flying in formation over an unknown location circa 1948.


TO-1 Shooting Stars assigned to Fighter Squadron (VF) 52 pictured in formation near San Diego, California 1948


TO-1 Shooting Stars assigned to Fighter Squadron (VF) 52 pictured in formation near San Diego, California.


TO-1 Shooting Stars assigned to Advanced Training Unit (ATU) 3 based at Naval Auxiliary Air Station (NAAS) Kingsville, Texas, pictured in formation 1952


A formation of T-28B Trojans pictured en route to Naval Air Station (NAS) Corpus Christi, Texas 1954


Navy Grumman F8F-1 Bearcats of VBF-20 flying in formation in 1946


Eight (8) FR-1 Ryan Fireball VF-41aircraft of VF-66


Eight (8) FR-1 Ryan Fireball VF-41aircraft of VF-66


Three Grumman F9F-2 Panthers fly in formation 1952


A formation of four (4) FJ-3 Fury aircaft of VF-174 in flight near NAS Cecil Field, FL 1956


FJ-2 Fury aircraft of VMF-232 in flight in four (4) aircraft formation 1956


A flight of four Grumman F9F-8 Cougars from VF-81


FJ-2 Fury aircraft of VMF-235 in formation flight over a volcano that looks like Mt. St. Helens 1954


Four (4) FJ-3 Fury jet fighter aircraft of VF-21, attached to CAG USS Bennington (CV-20) in flight over Japan 1957


Four (4) FJ-3M Fury aircaft of VF-173 from the the deck of the USS Randolph (CVB-42) 1956


F2H-2P Banshee aircraft by McDonnell of VFP-61 and F9F Panthers flying in formation over Southern California 1958


F2H-2P Banshee aircraft by McDonnell of VFP-61 and F9F Panthers flying in formation over Southern California 1958


F2H-4 Banshee aircraft by McDonnell of VF-12 are in formation flight out of NAS Cecil Field, at Jacksonville, FL 1953


AF-2Ss and AF-2Ws of Anti-Submarine Squadron Eight Hundred One (VS-801), later VS-30, in flight formation near Norfolk, VA.


Eight (8) F4D-1 Skyray aircraft of VMF 115 in formation flight from MCAS El Toro, CA 1957


Four (4) ADs of Attack Squadron One Hundred Twenty-Two (VA-122) in formation


Three flights of FJ-3 Fury aircraft, two of VF 51 and one of VF-142, over San Diego, CA 1956


Three flights of FJ-3, FJ-3D Fury aircaft of VF 121 and GMGRU-1D are in flight in WESTPAC 1957

[Mark Allen M]

Part 3


Four Mcdonnell F3H-2 Demons of Navy Squadron VF-31, the Tomcatters, aboard the USS Saratoga (CVA-60), flying in formation 1962


Four (4) F3H-2 Demon aircraft of VF-151 from the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) 1962


Four ADs of Attack Squadron One Hundred Twenty-Two (VA-122) in formation


AJ formation of twelve (12) from Heavy Attack Squadron Six (VAH-6) flying over North Island.


EA-3B of Heavy Photographic Squadron Sixty-Two (VAP--62) in formation.


A3D of Tactical Aerial Refueling Squadron Two Hundred Eight (VAK-208) in formation


A-4Fs of Attack Squadron Fifty-Five (VA-55) from USS Hancock (CV-19) in formation over the Western Pacific


Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 1965


Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 14 aircraft pictured in formation 1963


Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 aircraft fly in formation near Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada 1980


F-4 Phantom II, A-7 Corsair II, and A-6 Intruder aircraft of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 fly in formation 1974


Formation flight of six (6) F-4J Phantom II aircraft of VF-21 from the USS Ranger (CV-61) over San Diego, CA, Coronado bridge 1980


F-4 Phantom II from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 4 and Naval Missile Center (NMC) China Lake, California 1975


F-14 Tomcats and A-6 Intruders of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 9 fly in formation 1974


Three (3) F-4N aircraft of VF-201are in formation flight with three (3) CF-104 Starfighter aircraft of the Canadian Air Force and an RF-8G of VFP-206 at Cold Lake Alberta, Canada 1976


An E-2 Hawkeye, EA-6B Prowler, A-6 Intruder, and F-14 Tomcat of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 11 fly in formation 1977

[The Inspector]

I always crack up when I see a squadron formation photo, instead of the individual aircraft numbers being in some semblance of order 101-102-103, they come out looking like the lotto ball cage- 2 -130-76-11-45-
It's supposed to be a family portrait so you put everyone in size order so the kids aren't in the back row

[DH82EH]

Thanks Mark!

You've outdone yourself yet again!

Andy Scott

OUTSTANDING Stuff, Mark! Some terrific formation shots there. Unbelievable to see a formation of no less than TWELVE AJ-2 Savages!

I wanted to point out that the photos captioned as being F2H-2P Banshees and F9F Panthers in 1958 appear to actually be F2H-2P Banshees, F9F-6P Cougars and TV-2 Shooting Stars. I would also say it is likely to be earlier than 1958 (say around 1954/55/56 or so) due to the dark blue finishes on the Banshees and Cougars.

Thanks again for sharing these incredible photos.

Last edited by jwc50 on Sun Apr 07, 2013 6:49 pm, edited 2 times in total.

[JohnB]

The Navy must have had plenty of time on its hands...
Regarding the photo: "VMF-235 in formation flight over a volcano that looks like Mt. St. Helens 1954"...I believe it's Mt. Fuji, Japan.
I used to see it out my bedroom window as a kid.

[The Inspector]

The Navy must have had plenty of time on its hands...
Regarding the photo: "VMF-235 in formation flight over a volcano that looks like Mt. St. Helens 1954"...I believe it's Mt. Fuji, Japan.
I used to see it out my bedroom window as a kid.

Well, up until 08:32 on May 18, 1980, St. Helens was refered to as 'the Mt. Fuji of America' but by 08:35 not so much

[Pat Carry]

Frickin' cool Mark. Its very hard to chose a favorite but the Corsairs w/ the snow covered mountain in the background does it for me.

[Matt Gunsch]

Love the Ryan Fireball formation with all the propellers feathered.......

[FAR148]

So much eye candy!



Steven L

[Mark Allen M]

A few more interesting photos. I'll be in Europe next week so the Paris shots are even more interesting as I'll have to look up from the Cathédrale Notre Dame de Paris and envision the French B-26's overhead. Stunning photos to say the least.


B-26 Marauders from the French Bomber Group 2/52 'Franche Comté' flying over Paris on the 18th of June 1945.


B-26 Marauders from the French Bomber Group 2/52 'Franche Comté' flying over Paris on the 18th of June 1945.


B-26 Marauders from the French Bomber Group 2/52 'Franche Comté' flying over Paris on the 18th of June 1945. (How many B-26's can you count in this photo?)


A-26's


F-51 Mustangs, the first ROK fighters which were transferred by US armed forces. Looks like one TF-51 in the batch.


B-52, B-47, B-29 and B-17 Formation, 30 July 1956


Northrop YB-35 with B-17 Flying Fortress, 1956


And sorry these last few are not quite 'formation' shots but interesting never the less.


YB-52 (prototype for the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress), B-17 Flying Fortress and B-50 Superfortress


B-17 Flying Fortress with two JB-2 bombs


Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress With Glide Bombs

[Ken]

In the Korean F-51 photo, aircraft #200 appears to have a TF-51 canopy.

[N3Njeff]

Thats a fine collection of NAVY aircraft in formation pictures. I can not help but notice that you have neglected to post a certin type.

[N3Njeff]

Thats a fine collection of NAVY aircraft in formation pictures. I can not help but notice that you have neglected to post a certin type.

I will start you out.