Author Topic: He made it home. (Read 1400 times)

parin · « **on:** May 06, 2007, 07:35:04 PM »

Was able to fly home safely.

coinbird · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2007, 07:45:45 PM »

god bless the tbm. its the fat kid who keeps trying in gym class.

Brooke · « **Reply #2 on:** May 06, 2007, 08:15:51 PM »

I love that picture. Before seeing that picture, I really had my doubts about a WWII aircraft being able to fly with half a wing missing (which has helped me make it back to base plenty of times in AH). I used to wonder about the realism of it -- now I know AH has it right!

I saw that picture the first time in an Osprey book on the TBM (TBF/TBM Avenger Units of World War 2). I went to a talk at the Museum of Flight in Seattle to hear some WWII aces and a TBM pilot talk about their experiences (which was awesome). I bought the book so that I could get on it the signature of the TBM pilot afterwards.

In the picture, look how the fuselage behind the gunner is mangled, too. I wonder if the damage was a result of a collision?

Leayme · « **Reply #3 on:** May 06, 2007, 08:36:06 PM »

I wonder if the pilot, kissed one of the designers when he rotated home?

Sort of like some of the wild B17 versus flack pictures you see.

5PointOh · « **Reply #4 on:** May 06, 2007, 11:24:51 PM »

I like these ones-

thndregg · « **Reply #5 on:** May 06, 2007, 11:33:04 PM »

I filmed a landing I did in my F4U-4 with half a left wing torn off. Killed a con, ran into his debris, shearing off a chunk of wing. Was able to limp home with a couple notches of flaps an gear down to stabilize the plane, along with hard right rudder. Landed it on the hangar pad on all wheels with full flaps.

It was one interesting flight.

5PointOh · « **Reply #6 on:** May 06, 2007, 11:39:20 PM »

Flew across one and a half sectors two land two kills like this. Still got the video somewhere.

Rough landing though.

SuperDud · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2007, 12:04:44 AM »

Cool pic parin, and nice phrase coinbird.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #8 on:** May 07, 2007, 01:16:07 AM »

From Warren Bodie's book on the P38. Of course some seem to believe the 38 was fragile, but I digress

No ailerons, canopy top gone, 4 foot hold in the wing, left engine dead and most of the spinner missing, etc etc.

Heckuva job getting it home. Not that I don't do this all the time in AH

Krusty · « **Reply #9 on:** May 07, 2007, 08:23:18 AM »

You actually consider what you do "landing"???

tedrbr · « **Reply #10 on:** May 07, 2007, 12:51:37 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
You actually consider what you do "landing"???

Any one you can ".ef" from successfully.

texasmom · « **Reply #11 on:** May 07, 2007, 12:58:47 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Guppy35
From Warren Bodie's book on the P38. Of course some seem to believe the 38 was fragile, but I digress

No ailerons, canopy top gone, 4 foot hold in the wing, left engine dead and most of the spinner missing, etc etc.

Heckuva job getting it home. Not that I don't do this all the time in AH

Nice! My grandpa was in the same fighter group as the gentleman shown in this photo.

Benny Moore · « **Reply #12 on:** May 07, 2007, 01:35:39 PM »

Somewhere there's a picture of a Thunderbolt landing with literally half a wing gone. Does anyone have it?

parin · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2007, 05:26:20 PM »

Some tough Grumman airplanes love them in the game. Always seem to rtb hammared. WTG Iron works.

5PointOh · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2007, 05:36:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Krusty
You actually consider what you do "landing"???

Isn't any landing a controlled crash. Half a wing on a 51 leaves only one main gear, and tail wheel.