The Great, Constantly Changing Picture Gallery

[Alpha_Echo_606]

110127-N-2688M-018 SAN DIEGO (Jan. 27, 2011) An E/A-6B Prowler assigned to the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 arrives at Naval Air Station North Island. The Prowler is painted in a throwback tactical paint scheme (circa 1942), honoring U.S. combat aircraft that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. The specially painted Prowler is one of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Moon/Released)

110127-N-2688M-078 SAN DIEGO (Jan. 27, 2011) An E/A-6B Prowler assigned to the Vikings of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129 arrives at Naval Air Station North Island and is positioned next to an E/A-18G Growler, also assigned to the Vikings. The aircraft are painted in a throwback tactical paint scheme (circa 1942), honoring U.S. combat aircraft that fought in the Battle of the Coral Sea during World War II. The specially painted aircraft are part of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Joseph Moon/Released)

110126-N-2344B-002 NAVAL AIR STATION, NORTH ISLAND, Ca. (Jan. 26, 2011) An E/A-18G Growler from the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., arrives at NAS North Island. The Growler is painted in a throwback three-tone paint scheme (circa 1944), honoring Air Group 85 which operated from USS Shangri-La (CV 34) during World War II. The specially-painted Growler is one of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present day, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Briana C. Brotzman/Released)

110126-N-2344B-001 NAVAL AIR STATION, NORTH ISLAND, Ca. (Jan. 26, 2011) An E/A-18G Growler from the "Vikings" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 129, based at Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey Island, Wash., arrives at NAS North Island. The Growler is painted in a throwback three-tone paint scheme (circa 1944), honoring Air Group 85 which operated from USS Shangri-La (CV 34) during World War II. The specially-painted Growler is one of more than 200 naval aircraft, from pre-World War II to the present day, participating in a Parade of Flight over San Diego Bay, kicking off a series of nationwide events celebrating the Centennial of Naval Aviation. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Briana C. Brotzman/Released)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

01/24/2011
APACHE SUNSET
U.S. Army pilots and crew chiefs perform maintenance checks on an AH-64 Apache helicopter as the sun sets on Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Jan 18, 2010. The soldiers are assigned to 101st Airborne Division's 101st Combat Aviation Brigade, based on Fort Campbell, Ky. U.S. Army photo by Spc. Edward A. Garibay

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Red Flag 11-2 provides combat experience
An E-3 Sentry deployed from 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., takes off from the flightline during the first day of Red Flag 11-2 Jan. 24, 2011, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. Red Flag is a combined exercise that provides a realistic, combat-training environment to the U.S. and its allies. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Benjamin Wilson)

 

[Alpha_Echo_606]

Three U.S. Air Force F-111F fighter aircraft and a U.S. Air Force EF-111A Raven aircraft, far right, fly in formation over the desert during Operation Desert Shield. The aircraft are assigned to the 48th Tactical Fighter Wing.
(Air Force file photo)

U.S. Air Force RF-4C Phantom reconnaissance aircraft from the 152nd Tactical Reconnaissance Group, Reno, Nev., prepare for a mission during Operation Desert Shield.
(Air Force file photo)

 

[scoolbubba]

Its wild to see how much very old gear we were still kicking ass with in Desert Storm. Phantoms still getting it done.

 

[MIDNJAC]

I want to see TACAMO guys do a centennial paint job

 

[OUSOONER]

The Germans, Brits, and Japanese should follow suit.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

The Germans, Brits, and Japanese should follow suit.

Yea about that.....I don't think that'd go over too well in Germany, you know with swastikas and all.

 

[OUSOONER]

They had some pretty sweet paint schemes. You wouldn't need the swastikas. There were some famous squadrons. The Allies knew they were in for a fight when the famous Yellow-nosed ME-109 and FW-190's of JG-26 came up to meet them over Western France.

 

[Pugs]

Its wild to see how much very old gear we were still kicking ass with in Desert Storm. Phantoms still getting it done.

Those photo's of the Varks and Phantoms were during Desert Shield in 1990.

 

[scoolbubba]

Fail for reading comp.

 

[The Crab]

The Germans, Brits, and Japanese should follow suit.

Hows this ??, This was the retro camo scheme for the retirement of our Harriers a month or so ago. This was the scheme the first Harriers wore on entering service back in 1969.

 

[LazersGoPEWPEW]

They had some pretty sweet paint schemes. You wouldn't need the swastikas. There were some famous squadrons. The Allies knew they were in for a fight when the famous Yellow-nosed ME-109 and FW-109's of JG-26 came up to meet them over Western France.

I wholeheartedly agree that they had bad ass paint schemes, but in Germany, reminders of the the Third Reich are not met well amongst the people.

 

[coolhandlukesd]

I wholeheartedly agree that they had bad ass paint schemes, but in Germany, reminders of the the Third Reich are not met well amongst the people.

While displaying the swastika is taboo and illegal in Germany, Erich Hartmann did display his famous Tulip paint scheme on the Post WWII aircraft he flew, the T-33, F-86 and the F-4. However I am not sure that would be even acceptable in todays Germany.

 

[Falker]

While displaying the swastika is taboo and illegal in Germany, Erich Hartmann did display his famous Tulip paint scheme on the Post WWII aircraft he flew, the T-33, F-86 and the F-4. However I am not sure that would be even acceptable in todays Germany.

While on a very interesting Third Reich tour in Munich, I was of the opinion that the Germans like to pretend nothing happened from the period of oh say 1933-1945. Even their monuments commemorating the Jews killed were hidden away where you could barely see them. Don't think the public would take too kindly even in today's Germany.