Join In! This date in history

[hurricanemk1c 195]

First update in a while:

 

1935 - First flight of the Messerschmitt Bf-109

1940 - First flight of the Vought Corsair (F4-U)

[brett 2,315]

Mind if I add one Chuck?

 

1939 – The Royal Navy takes practical control of British naval aircraft for the first time since the dissolution of the Royal Naval Air Service in 1918. British naval aircraft, since 1918 under Royal Air Force control and since 1924 known collectively as the “Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Air Force, ” officially become the Royal Navy’s Air Branch, although the term “Fleet Air Arm” remains in widespread informal use and finally will be adopted officially in 1953.

 

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Add away Brett and anyone else!

[Captain Caveman 0]

Hi guys,

Sorry to jump back to a past post, but, as I may recall do rescue heli's drop a winch that they usually let touch the ground to discharge any static electricity before they winch onboard? If that is true then maybe that was the cause of the ill-fated hindenburg? Sorry if I seem ignorant in the facts! Glen

[hurricanemk1c 195]

They did that with the Hindenburg, but the geound was wet. I'm not too sure on the actual history of the disaster, but I do seem to remember that either the rope or ground was wet, thus didn't discharge properly, if at all

[hurricanemk1c 195]

5/6 June 1944

1,012 aircraft - 551 Lancasters, 412 Halifaxes, 49 Mosquitos - to bomb coastal batteries at Fontenay, Houlgate, La Pernelle, Longues, Maisy, Merville, Mont Fleury, Pointe du Hoc, Ouisterham and St Martin de Varreville. 946 aircraft carried out their bombing tasks. 3 aircraft were lost - 2 Halifaxes of No 4 Group on the Mont Fleury raid and 1 Lancaster of No 6 Group on the Longues raid. Only two of the targets - La Pernelle and Ouisterham - were free of cloud; all other bombing was entirely based on Oboe marking. At least 5,000 tons of bombs were dropped, the greatest tonnage in one night so far in the war.

110 aircraft of Nos 1 and 100 Groups carried out extensive bomber-support operations: 24 'Airborne Cigar' (ABC)-equipped Lancasters of No 101 Squadron patrolled all likely night-fighter approaches, so that their German-speaking operators could jam the German controllers' instructions; No 100 Group flew 34 RCM sorties and 27 Serrate and 25 Intruder Mosquito patrols. 2 Intruders and 1 ABC Lancaster were lost.

58 aircraft of Nos 3 and 5 Groups carried out a variety of operations to conceal the true location of the invasion for as long as possible. 16 Lancasters of No 617 Squadron and 6 G-H fitted Stirlings of No 218 Squadron dropped a dense screen of Window, which advanced slowly across the Channel, to simulate a large convoy of ships approaching the French coast between Boulogne and Le Havre, north of the real invasion coast. These flights required exact navigation; both squadrons had been practising for this operation for more than a month. The second diversion was carried out by 36 Halifaxes and Stirlings of Nos 90, 138, 149 and 161 Squadrons. These aircraft dropped dummy parachutists and explosive devices to simulate airborne landings over areas not being invaded. 2 Stirlings of No 149 Squadron were lost while carrying out this duty.

31 Mosquitos bombed Osnabrück without loss.

Total Bomber Command effort for the night: 1,211 sorties, 8 aircraft (0.7 per cent) lost. The number of sorties flown was a new record. British, American and Canadian divisions landed on five Normandy beaches early the next morning.

From the 'RAF Bomber Command' Facebook page

 

[Mistwalker 3]

Some great info there, Hurricane. A long standing bone of contention between the airforces tasked that day and the ground pounders was the fact that much of the German front line defences were left intact because the pilots were so scared of dropping bombs on their own guys that they delayed their drops by a few seconds. Ofcourse a couple of seconds in an aircraft doing a couple hundred miles an hour covers a good distance.

 

I believe those dummy parachutists were called "Ruperts" and is one of those pieces of WWII history I would love to get my hands on.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Today in 1957, The 4080th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing at Laughlin AFB, Texas, received Strategic Air Command's first U-2.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

20 June 1939 - The Heinkel He 176, the world’s first aircraft to be propelled solely by a liquid-fuelled rocket, made its first powered flight with Erich Warsitz at the controls.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

June 24-25, 1944
The Luftwaffe makes its first operational use of "Mistel" composite aircraft. Most of these systems mounted a Messerschmitt Bf 109 or FW 190 atop an explosive filled Junkers Ju 88. The combination would be flown to its target by a pilot in the fighter; then the unmanned bomber was released to hit its target and explode, leaving the fighter free to return to base.

Their first operational targets are the Allied shipping in Seine Bay supporting the Allied invasion. While Mistel pilots claimed hits, none of these match Allied records; they may have been made against the hulk of the old French battleship Courbet, which had been included as a component of the Mulberry harbour at Arromanches and specially dressed up as a decoy by the Allies. Serious blast and shrapnel damage from a near-miss was suffered by HMS Nith, a floating headquarters, on June 24th. Nine men were killed and 26 wounded, and Nith was towed back to England for repairs.

Some 250 Mistels of various combinations were built during the war

 

 

 

The Berlin Blockade begins, with the Airlift starting two days later

[mutley 4,498]

So it was more of an un-guided missile gliding down to a target 

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Very much so. You can fly it in IL-2 1946 as a single mission, with a FW-190 as the piloted version. Makes one massive bang!

[mutley 4,498]

Excellent! 

[hurricanemk1c 195]

17 years ago today, Trans World Airlines Flight 800 (TWA 800), a Boeing 747-100, exploded and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean near East Moriches, New York, at approximately 8:31 PM EDT, 12 minutes after takeoff from John F. Kennedy International Airport on a scheduled international passenger flight to Rome. All 230 people on board were killed, the third-deadliest aviation accident to occur in U.S. territory.

The four-year NTSB investigation concluded with the approval of the Aircraft Accident Report on August 23, 2000, ending the most extensive, complex, and costly air disaster investigation in United States history. The report's conclusion was that the probable cause of the accident was an explosion of flammable fuel/air vapours in a fuel tank, and, although it could not be determined with certainty, the most likely cause of the explosion was a short circuit.

The NTSB addressed allegations that the Islip radar data showed groups of military surface targets converging in a suspicious manner in an area around the accident, and that a 30-knot radar track, never identified and 3 NM from the crash site, was involved in foul play, as evidenced by its failure to divert from its course and assist with the search and rescue operations. Military records examined by the NTSB showed no military surface vessels within 15 NM of TWA 800 at the time of the accident. In addition, the records indicated that the closest area scheduled for military use, warning area W-387A/B, was 160 NM south.

Trace amounts of explosive residue were detected on three samples of material from three separate locations of the recovered airplane wreckage. The NTSB considered the possibility that the explosive residue was due to contamination from the aircraft's use in 1991 transporting troops during the Gulf War or its use in a dog-training explosive detection exercise about one month before the accident. However, testing conducted by the FAA's Technical Centre indicated that residues of the type of explosives found on the wreckage would dissipate completely after 2 days of immersion in sea water (almost all recovered wreckage was immersed longer than 2 days).The NTSB concluded that it was "quite possible" that the explosive residue detected was transferred from military ships or ground vehicles, or the clothing and boots of military personnel, onto the wreckage during or after the recovery operation and was not present when the aircraft crashed into the water.

Although it was unable to determine the exact source of the trace amounts of explosive residue found on the wreckage, the lack of any other corroborating evidence associated with a high-energy explosion led the NTSB to conclude that "the in-flight breakup of TWA flight 800 was not initiated by a bomb or missile strike.

[ddavid 149]

More on TWA 800 here: http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/tv/twa_flight_ymC4aGmyHcNx6qVXdDeShK

As Shakespeare said: "Something is rotten in the state of Denmark".

Cheers - Dai.

[hurricanemk1c 195]

The first flight of the Me-262 as a jet took place today in 1942

[allardjd 1,853]

The first flight of the Me-262 as a jet took place today in 1942

 

 

...originally configured as a tail-dragger.

 

John

[hurricanemk1c 195]

And with piston engines!

[hurricanemk1c 195]

In 1937, the first flight of the Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor. Designed for 25 passengers and with a range of 3,000 km, the Fw 200 Condor was developed within a space of twelve months and eleven days.

 

Of course, having come from the EADS Facebook page, it doesn't mention long-range convoy hunter

 

 

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Hawker's designer Sir Sydney Camm was born today in 1893

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Guy Gibson (VC DSO DFC) was born today in 1918, minus medals, of course!

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Arthur Louis Aaron VC.

 

The KING has been graciously pleased to confer the VICTORIA CROSS on the undermentioned airman in recognition of most conspicuous bravery:— 1458181 Acting Flight Sergeant Arthur Louis AARON, D.F.M., Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, No. 218 Squadron (deceased). On the night of 12th August, 1943, Flight Sergeant Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling aircraft detailed to attack Turin. When approaching to attack, the bomber received devastating bursts of fire from an enemy fighter. Three engines were hit, the windscreen shattered, the front and rear turrets put out of action and the elevator control damaged, causing the aircraft to become unstable and difficult to control. The navigator was killed and other members of the crew were wounded. A bullet struck Flight Sergeant Aaron in the face, breaking his jaw and tearing away part of his face. He was also wounded in the lung and his right arm was rendered useless. As he fell forward over the control column, the aircraft dived several thousand feet. Control was regained by the flight engineer at 3,000 feet. Unable to speak, Flight Sergeant Aaron urged the bomb aimer by signs to take over the controls. Course was then set southwards in an endeavour to fly the crippled bomber, with one engine out of action, to Sicily or North Africa. Flight Sergeant Aaron was assisted to the rear of the aircraft and treated with morphia. After resting for some time he rallied and, mindful of his responsibility as captain of aircraft, insisted on returning to the pilot's cockpit, where he was lifted into his seat and had his feet placed on the rudder bar. Twice he made determined attempts to take control and hold the aircraft to its course but his weakness was evident and with difficulty he was persuaded to desist. Though in great pain and suffering from exhaustion, he continued to help by writing directions with his left hand. Five hours after leaving the target the petrol began to run low, but soon afterwards the flare path at Bone airfield was sighted. Flight Sergeant Aaron summoned his failing strength to direct the bomb aimer in the hazardous task of landing the damaged aircraft in the darkness with undercarriage retracted. Four attempts were made under his direction; at the fifth Flight Sergeant Aaron was so near to collapsing that he had to be restrained by the crew and the landing was completed by the bomb aimer. Nine hours after landing, Flight Sergeant Aaron died from exhaustion. Had he been content, when grievously wounded, to lie still and conserve his failing strength, he would probably have recovered, but he saw it as his duty to exert himself to the utmost, if necessary with his last breath, to ensure that his aircraft and crew did not fall into enemy hands. In appalling conditions he showed the greatest qualities of courage, determination and leadership and, though wounded and dying, he set an example of devotion to duty which has seldom been equalled and never surpassed.

 

 

 

 A memorial scholarship to help with architectural studies, first launched in his honor in 1944, was still awarded into the twenty-first century. In 2001, a millennium statue was erected in his native Leeds

 

Was flying a Shorts Stirling at the time - an amazing piece

[hurricanemk1c 195]

1974

 

First flight of the MRCA (Multi-Role Combat Aircraft, previously known as a fighter-bomber really) prototype, later the Panavia Tornado, at Manching. The programme was initiated in 1969 as a British-German-Italian joint venture.

 

Some Victor crews called it 'Much Refurbished Canberra Aircraft'

[J G 927]

Today.....  Battle of Bosworth Field 1485 (not a good day for Richard III)

.....  Also a poor day for Korea in 1910 as today was the day that Japan annexed the whole peninsular!

[hurricanemk1c 195]

Wasn't that when Blackadder chopped his head off?

 

Thanks John - keep 'em coming!