This weekends photo's.
Piper L-4 (236389) Named Elizabeth is being brought to the flight deck of USS RANGER (CV-4) via an elevator, to spot gunfire and carry out reconnaissance near French positions, during operation Torch in November 1942.

Piper L-4 (236389) Named Elizabeth prepares to take off from the flight deck of USS RANGER (CV-4), to spot gunfire and carry out reconnaissance near French positions, during operation Torch in November 1942.

Piper L-4 (236389) Named Elizabeth takes off from the flight deck of USS RANGER (CV-4), to spot gunfire and carry out reconnaissance near French positions, during operation Torch in November 1942

This weekends extra.
The TP-39F-1
One P-39F converted as a two-seat training version with additional cockpit added in nose? no armament.

This midweeks photo.
Douglas R5D-1 Transport (Bu# 39180)Takes off from a Guam airfield for an eastbound flight, 25 November 1944.

This weekends photo's.
Piper J-3C Cub (r/n NX3820) in flight during the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers (War Games); aircraft is carrying a white cross on the rear fuselage and a grasshopper insignia.

Piper J-3C Cub NX38505 ac N 6 parked at a storefilling station in Louisiana during the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers.


Piper J-3C-65-8 Cub NX38505 ac N 40 in formation with a Stinson O-49 Vigilant during the 1941 Louisiana Maneuvers.

This weekends extra.
After the Mk III series, the next Seafire variant to appear was the Seafire F Mk XV, which was powered by a Griffon VI ? single-stage supercharger, rated at 1,850 hp (1,379 kW) at 2,000 ft (610 m) driving a 10 ft 5 in Rotol propeller. Designed in response to Specification N.4/43 this appeared to be a naval Spitfire F Mk XII; in reality the Mk XV was an amalgamation of a strengthened Seafire III airframe and wings with the wing fuel tanks, retractable tailwheel, larger elevators and broad-chord "pointed" rudder of the Spitfire VIII. The engine cowling was different to that of the Spitfire XII series, being secured with a larger number of fasteners and lacking the acorn shaped blister behind the spinner. The final 30 Mk XVs were built with the blown "teardrop" cockpit canopy and cut down rear fuselage introduced on the Spitfire Mk XVI. On the first 50 aircraft manufactured by Cunliffe-Owen a heavier, strengthened A-frame arrestor hook was fitted to cope with the greater weight. On subsequent Mk XVs a new form of "sting" type arrestor hook was used; this version was attached to the reinforced rudder post at the rear of the fuselage and was housed in a fairing below the base of the shortened rudder. A vee-shaped guard forward of the tailwheel prevented arrestor wires getting tangled up with the tailwheel. 390 Seafire XVs were built by Cunliffe-Owen and Westland from late 1944. Six prototypes had been built by Supermarine.

One problem which immediately surfaced was the poor deck behaviour of this mark, especially on take-off. At full power the slipstream of the propeller, which swung to the left (as opposed to the Merlin, which swung to the right), often forced the Seafire to swing to starboard, even with the rudder hard over on opposite lock. This sometimes led to a collision with the carrier's island. The undercarriage oleo legs were still the same of those of the much lighter Merlin engined Spitfires, meaning that the swing was often accompanied by a series of hops. As an interim measure it was recommended that pilots avoid using full power on take-off (+10 lb "boost" maximum was recommended). There were also problems involved with this swing being strongly accentuated in the event of an asymmetric firing of the RATOG equipment. In the event, none of the "first generation" Griffon-engine Seafires were to use RATOG at sea unless they were ranged forward of the first crash barrier on deck.
Below R.C.N. PR434. Seafire Mk15. RR Griffon 6. 803 SQD. H.M.C.S. Warrior.

This midweeks photo.
A well known one,
A Supermarine Seafire, Vought Corsair, and other naval aircraft at HMS FLEDGLING airfield - a Women's Royal Naval Service aircraft mechanic training facitily in Staffordshire, UK.

This weekends photo, again from our old site.
P-51D (44-63324) and (44-15044) of the "Air Commandos" escorting an F-5-Lightning on a recon flight.

This weekends extra.
S/L Michael GF Pedley of No 131 Squadron RAF prepares to set out on a sweep in Spitfire Mk Vb NX-A SPIRIT OF KENT LORD CORNWALLIS from RAF Merston in June 1942. The aircraft was purchased by the Kent County Spitfire Fund that had raised over ?100,000 by November 1941, enough for an entire squadron. As a result, the County of Kent squadron was reformed in June with the motto Invicta, while five of its commanding officers gained the DFC, including Pedley.

This midweeks photo.
Liberator Mk IV EV882 of No 206 Squadron RAF based at St Eval Cornwall in flight

This weekends photo.
And a superb shot of a 617 Sq Lancaster B1(Special),with a "Tallboy" probably at Woodhall Spa 1945.