Category Archives: training

B-17 Ditching Mockup for Training

Details of a unique B-17 Flying Fortress ditching mockup constructed for training by the 396th Bombardment Group RTU at Drew Field, Florida. (Source: Air Sea Rescue Bulletin, U.S. Coast Guard, January 1945.) 396th Bombardment Group RTU Ditching School DescribesMOCKUP FOR … Continue reading

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Raft Survival of a P-51 Pilot

The story of the rescue of a P-51 Mustang pilot in the Pacific, from Air Sea Rescue Bulletin, U.S. Coast Guard, Vol. III, No. 9, October 1946. Raft Survival of a P-51 Pilot The following report from D of I, … Continue reading

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Captured Tiger Tank Photo Op

The U.S. bazooka and the German Panzerschreck are posed in front of a captured German Tiger tank. (Source: Army Ordnance, Volume 27, No. 145, July-August 1944.) Original caption: The German 88-mm. rocket launcher is shown with the American bazooka beside … Continue reading

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75 mm Pack Howitzer M1A1

An overview of the U.S. Army’s 75 mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 from Antitank Weapons, Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D.C., July 1944. 75 MM PACK HOWITZER MlAl ON CARRIAGE M3A3 The 75 mm Pack Howitzer M1A1 on Carriage M3A3 … Continue reading

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57 mm Gun M1

An overview of the U.S. Army’s 57 mm Gun M1 from Antitank Weapons, Office of the Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D.C., July 1944. 57 MM GUN M1 ON CARRIAGE M1A3 The 57 mm Gun M1 was designed as a light … Continue reading

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Subcaliber Gunnery Training

Subcaliber firing was used by the U.S. Army to develop a tank gunner’s accuracy, speed, and confidence without the costs and disturbance of firing the main armament. In general, the coaxial machine gun was used for the subcaliber training for … Continue reading

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Replacing M4 Tank Final-Drive Assembly

Instructions for replacing the final-drive assembly on the M4 Sherman tank, from Army Motors, Vol. 6, No. 2, Maintenance Division, Office, Chief of Ordnance, May 1945. Replacing M4 Tank Final-Drive Assemblies Time was when M4 medium tanks with damaged power trains had to … Continue reading

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Don’t Be A Dope VI

An illustration from the “Don’t be a Dope!” series was included in the M36 tank destroyer technical manual.  

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M3 Medium Tank Armament

Diagram of the armament and ammunition storage of the M3 Medium Tank. (Source: TM 9-750: Ordnance Maintenance, Medium Tanks M3, M3A1, and M3A2, Technical Manual, U.S. War Department, May 1942.)  

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P-47 Pilot Preflight Check

P-47N pilot’s preflight check, from: Pilot Training Manual for the Thunderbolt P-47N, Headquarters, AAF Manual 51-127-4, Army Air Forces, Washington, D.C., September 1945. Pilot’s Preflight Check The preflight check starts before you reach your airplane. Survey the proposed taxiing route for … Continue reading

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