The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery

[HeyJoe]

I didn't mean to put you down for just posting this one shot, it was pretty cool and I know who was flying 174 so he'll be really excited. I was just hoping there were more, because it seems like every other CQ there's a ton of shots.

There can be several possible reasons there aren't more on the Navy Visual News Photo Gallery:

1) The duty MC(s) didn't take more images (highly unlikely). It would be pretty straightforward to look up Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Aaron Shelley and ask him if there any more images (since he took both that were submitted).

2) The ship do not submit them to CHINFO (Navy Visual News), which would also be unusual, but possible. Again, you can check Shelley or ship's Public Affairs office via their website.

3) Navy Visual News hasn't posted all the images yet or did not deem others newsworthy. In either case, the reason for only two images would rest with them.In the former case, stay tuned as sometimes it takes several days or longer for images to be processed and posted. Since the most recent images were of the First Lady's visit to the returning Eisenhower Strike Group, that could have saturated the staff in processing other images. In latter case, best to contact the ship as noted above.

 

[markkyle66]

Awesome Sparrowhawk pictures Jaquel, I always loved that period of aircraft.

 

[OUSOONER]

Love color photos of a special era in Naval Aviation...even though the TBD Devastator turned out to be a death trap.

 

[wlawr005]

I wonder what the black tube sticking out of the front cockpit is. Doesn't really look like a gun...

 

[nugget81]

I wonder what the black tube sticking out of the front cockpit is. Doesn't really look like a gun...

Little known fact but that is the Navy's first relief tube.

 

[BACONATOR]

Little known fact but that is the Navy's first relief tube.

What about that old phrase that goes something like "don't piss into the wind"?

 

[HeyJoe]

I wonder what the black tube sticking out of the front cockpit is. Doesn't really look like a gun...

That is a telescope calibrated to act as a sighting mechanism. The SDB Dauntless also carried one for diving attacks although it had a tendancy to fog up in certain humidity conditions. The TBD was also equipped with the then Top Secret Norden bombsight for level bombing (bombadier/navigator had to lay prone to use it.

SBD Dauntless doing what it did best (note pilot leaning forward using telescopic sight)

 

[Gatordev]

3) Navy Visual News hasn't posted all the images yet or did not deem others newsworthy. In either case, the reason for only two images would rest with them.In the former case, stay tuned as sometimes it takes several days or longer for images to be processed and posted. Since the most recent images were of the First Lady's visit to the returning Eisenhower Strike Group, that could have saturated the staff in processing other images. In latter case, best to contact the ship as noted above.

They may just be waiting until they have better bandwidth, too. I heard some T-45s beatin' up the pattern at Cecil today, so the boat may still be out there. Or maybe no one cares about your silly clown jets.

 

[Pags]

Love color photos of a special era in Naval Aviation...even though the TBD Devastator turned out to be a death trap.

I love the Life shots. TBD was very advanced for its day...only problem was that when it eventually flew into battle, it's day was passed. That and US torpedoes sucked.

I read "Dawn Like Thunder" earlier this summer. Not a bad read and was interesting to see that the aviators from VT-8 didn't feel that they had enough practice torpedo shots (Midway was many pilots' first live drop). I guess some things never change. It was also interesting in that it had the addresses of the whole squadron listed in an appendix. Turns out LCDR Waldron's house is just down the street from me.

 

[OUSOONER]

I wonder what the black tube sticking out of the front cockpit is. Doesn't really look like a gun...

I actually think that's the machine gun and/or torpedo aiming site. One of the two.

EDIT: HeyJoe beat me to it.

 

[OUSOONER]

I love the Life shots. TBD was very advanced for its day...only problem was that when it eventually flew into battle, it's day was passed. That and US torpedoes sucked.

I read "Dawn Like Thunder" earlier this summer. Not a bad read and was interesting to see that the aviators from VT-8 didn't feel that they had enough practice torpedo shots (Midway was many pilots' first live drop). I guess some things never change. It was also interesting in that it had the addresses of the whole squadron listed in an appendix. Turns out LCDR Waldron's house is just down the street from me.

I read the book...I can't believe Stanhope Ring made Vice Admiral.

 

[wild_bill]

a -46 from HMM-265 during a WESTPAC cruise in 1980. My dad says it's a good chance it's a shot of him coming aboard, but he can't remember for sure.

 

[rare21]

not naval aviation but i found this on another forum a while back and cant even imagine....

 

[KBayDog]

not naval aviation but i found this on another forum a while back and cant even imagine....

Very much Naval Aviation.

A little unofficial background on this incident from Popasmoke.

 

[rare21]

whoops thought it was Army (yes I know..blasphemy especially for you -46 types) sorry for the confusion