Now for something completely different ...

[Chris Brame]

I might as well play too:

Bell P-400 serial BX??? at a U.N. War Exposition in Chicago; probably summer 1942 although contemporary newspaper accounts say the event was canceled .
Currently on eBay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/144874806679

[quemerford]

Part 1

I'm pretty sure the B-17 is "Sally B", now in the UK. Anyone have a better shot of this aircraft?

[Mark Allen M]

Bubble Canopy Hellcat? ... Sort of. More like a Malcolm Hood Hellcat.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat with modified canopy & windshield 11-7-1944 at Bethpage plant.

[Ken]

The New Calledonia C-47 pic is interesting as the camo scheme really reminds me of the SEA camo used on EC and AC-47's during Vietnam. The pattern is not the same but, at first glance, based on style and lines, I expected that to be a 1960's image.

[mike furline]

The New Calledonia C-47 pic is interesting as the camo scheme really reminds me of the SEA camo used on EC and AC-47's during Vietnam. The pattern is not the same but, at first glance, based on style and lines, I expected that to be a 1960's image.

Another. I had posted this in another thread, but can't find it.

[gemmer]

An assortment of P-40 models in the Iceland photo.

[JohnB]

As the risk of being called a pedant, I'll point out that the color C-47 photo above from the Smithsonian Channel is reversed.
The C-47 door isn't on the right.
But I've seen other reversed shots in books.

The Malaria Control AE-1 photo is interesting.
I wonder if the spray gear is a commercial unit or if it was locally made?
Likewise, the photos that show Stearmans (both AAF & Navy) being used to dust for mosquitos, I have always wondered where the gear came from. I would wager there weren't a lot of off the shelf units back then.

Note the civil B-25, DC-3/C-47 and Beech 18 at the GE airfield.
Wonder if the '25 was a testbed?

Great photo of the Bell display at the Chautauqua library.
Behind the P-39, notice the display boards, they feature helicopters and jets...a look a Bell's post P-39/63 future. I wish we could see more of the jet display.
One display board shows the #2 model 30, (one of three PoC ships that acted as technology demonstrators for the Bell 47) over the factory. However, the sheets with illustrations describing how helicopters fly show a Sikorsky R-4.

[Steve Rice]

Concerning: "... The C-47 door isn't on the right. ..."

The shirts on the 3 servicemen are buttoned in the male fashion. Not sure the photo is reversed.

More investigation needed.

[mike furline]

Concerning: "... The C-47 door isn't on the right. ..."

The shirts on the 3 servicemen are buttoned in the male fashion. Not sure the photo is reversed.

More investigation needed.

Correct, the photo isn't reversed. Pilots wings on correct side as well. I believe the door was why I posted the photo originally. (In the thread I can't find.)
Perhaps a civilian aircraft inducted into the AAF?

Last edited by mike furline on Tue Jan 31, 2023 9:55 am, edited 1 time in total.

[JohnB]

Mike
I have learned to NEVER say never here...
But to the best of my knowledge, and I have read more about the DC-3 than the average guy...
The aircraft that were impressed into the AAF were airline DC-3s.
Some airlines did have right side doors, (American, United and others).
None had C-47 style cargo doors.
And that opening looks too large to be the regular baggage compartment. But I could be mistaken.

[mike furline]

Mike
I have learned to NEVER say never here...
But to the best of my knowledge, and I have read more about the DC-3 than the average guy...
The aircraft that were impressed into the AAF were airline DC-3s.
Some airlines did have right side doors, (American, United and others).
None had C-47 style cargo doors.
And that opening looks too large to be the regular baggage compartment. But I could be mistaken.

The pilots wings are pinned on the correct side (left) of his shirt in the photo. There's also the lack of Door Hinge fairings or attach points for a swing open type door.
IDK, DC-?, C-48, C-49, C-50???

[menards]

P-63 at the Rae farnborough

Very curious. The American "bubble top" P-63D didn't have the doors.

This may have been a field mod performed on this aircraft. Gives a cool look to the airplane IMO.

[mike furline]

P-63 perhaps?

[Duggy009]

The Hellcat was not the only one as the RN also received aircraft with Malcolm Hoods.