Monthly Archives: July 2012

Delayed Action

Strange tale (tail?) from Air Force, April 1943. DELAYED ACTION CREWMEN of a B-17 had a surprise recently while flying over a quiet sector of England when a 20 mm. shell exploded in the left horizontal stabilizer. They had reason … Continue reading

Posted in aircraft, combat reports | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Delayed Action

Length of Bursts for B-29 Gunners

Recommended length of machine gun length for B-29 gunners. Source: Combat Crew Manual, XX Bomber Command, December 1944. LENGTH OF BURSTS There are several factors to consider in arriving at an answer to the question of how long a burst it … Continue reading

Posted in aircraft, weapons | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Length of Bursts for B-29 Gunners

Aberdeen Tiger Tank Moving to Fort Benning

The old Aberdeen Museum Tiger I tank is finally being shipped from RAF Alconbury, England back to the United States to the U.S. Army Armor and Cavalry Museum at Fort Benning, Ga. At the Fort Benning museum, the German Tiger … Continue reading

Posted in armor, news, videos | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Dead Reckoning

“Dead Reckoning” from Navigators’ Information File, Headquarters Army Air Forces, War Department, 1944: DEAD RECKONING Importance The successful termination of any flight depends on dead reckoning. Navigators returning from all over the world–from the Aleutians, where weather is always a … Continue reading

Posted in aircraft, publications, training | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Dead Reckoning

M4 Sherman Tank Ammunition Storage

Diagram of M4A2 Sherman tank ammunition storage from TM 9-731B: Medium Tank M4A2, War Department Technical Manual, Washington, January 13, 1943. ARMAMENT   AMMUNITION      STOWAGE POSITION 97 rounds 75 mm      50% HE      40% AP      10% WP (smoke)   15 rounds–Left sponson … Continue reading

Posted in armor, weapons | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on M4 Sherman Tank Ammunition Storage

Be Careful Where You Drop Your Tanks

“Be Careful Where You Drop Your Tanks” — good advice for P-38 Lightning pilots from Pilot’s Flight Operating Instructions for the P-38, September 1943.

Posted in aircraft | Tagged , , , , , , | 3 Comments

37-mm Ammunition Comparison

Comparison of 37-mm Ammunition from WW2 technical manual: TM 9-1901: Artillery Ammunition, War Department Technical Manual, June 1944:   FIXED AND SEMIFIXED ROUNDS AND SEPARATE-LOADING PROJECTILES:      A – MK.II A1, PRACTICE ROUND FOR 37-MM GUN SUBCALIBER, M1916      B – M56 H.E ROUND FOR 37-MM GUNS, … Continue reading

Posted in miscellaneous, research, weapons | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on 37-mm Ammunition Comparison

Thanks to the Power Turret… The Bomber Fights Back

The importance of the modern power gun turret to U.S. bombers in WW2 from Aircrewman’s Gunnery Manual, Aviation Training Division, Office of the Chief of Naval Operations, U.S. Navy, 1944 Thanks to the Turret…  THE BOMBER FIGHTS BACK Without the … Continue reading

Posted in aircraft, weapons | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Thanks to the Power Turret… The Bomber Fights Back

Don’t Be A Dope IV

Another in the colorful series of “Don’t Be A Dope” training posters starring Joe Dope:   Don’t wash vehicles in lakes, creeks or oceans, it ruins and corrodes delicate parts. Don’t be a dope! HANDLE EQUIPMENT RIGHT.

Posted in miscellaneous, training | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Don’t Be A Dope IV

PV Ventura One-Wheel Landing

A safe one-wheel landing by a PV Ventura on a Pacific Island during WW2 from Naval Aviation News, March 15, 1945. ONE-WHEEL LANDING A PV piloted by a Lieutenant Commander made a successful one-wheel landing on a Pacific island airstrip without … Continue reading

Posted in aircraft, combat reports, navy, training | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on PV Ventura One-Wheel Landing