Photo reblogged from x planes with 54 notes
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“We have witnessed this morning the attack of Pearl Harbor and a severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by army planes, undoubtedly Japanese. The city of Honolulu has also been attacked and considerable damage done. This battle has been going on for nearly three hours. One of the bombers dropped within 50 feet of Taunti [phonetic spelling] Tower. Its no joke. Its a real war.” (via, photo via this series from The Atlantic)](http://25.media.tumblr.com/5fb5c51e21426076af702f3bf030220a/tumblr_meo4frqv9c1qzsgg9o1_500.jpg)
“We have witnessed this morning the attack of Pearl Harbor and a severe bombing of Pearl Harbor by army planes, undoubtedly Japanese. The city of Honolulu has also been attacked and considerable damage done. This battle has been going on for nearly three hours. One of the bombers dropped within 50 feet of Taunti [phonetic spelling] Tower. Its no joke. Its a real war.” (via, photo via this series from The Atlantic)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 1,628 notes
“An Avro Lancaster of No. 1 Group, Bomber Command, silhouetted against flares, smoke and explosions during the attack on Hamburg, Germany, by aircraft of Nos. 1, 5 and 8 Groups on the night of 30/31 January 1943” (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 293 notes
![xplanes:
“Dear Parents :
Please congratulate me. I have been given a splendid opportunity to die. This is my last day. The destiny of our homeland hinges on the decisive battle in the seas to the south where I shall fall like a blossom from a radiant cherry tree.
I shall be a shield for His Majesty and die cleanly along with my squadron leader and other friends. I wish that I could be born seven times, each time to smite the enemy…
…Thank you, my parents, for the 23 years during which you have cared for me and inspired me. I hope that my present deed will in some small way repay what you have done for me. Think well of me and know that your Isao died for our country. This is my last wish, and there is nothing else that I desire.
How glorious is the Special Attack Corps’ Giretsu Unit whose Suisei bombers will attack the enemy. Our goal is to dive against the aircraft carriers of the enemy. Movie cameramen have been i here to take our pictures. It is possible that you may see us in newsreels at the theater.
We are 16 warriors manning the bombers. May our death be as sudden and clean as the shattering of crystal.
Written at Manila on the eve of our sortie. [28th October 1944]
Isao
Soaring into the sky of the southern seas, it is our glorious mission to die as the shields of His Majesty. Cherry blossoms glisten as they open and fall.”
Kamikaze letters: [1] [2]
(Above: Kamikaze attack on the USS Colorado, 27th November 1944 - killing 19 and wounding 72)
I know I’ve reblogged this before. But it showed up on my dash again, and I felt it was worth reblogging again, because it’s just so haunting.](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_memdy0Ypbf1qzsgg9o1_500.jpg)
“Dear Parents :Please congratulate me. I have been given a splendid opportunity to die. This is my last day. The destiny of our homeland hinges on the decisive battle in the seas to the south where I shall fall like a blossom from a radiant cherry tree.
I shall be a shield for His Majesty and die cleanly along with my squadron leader and other friends. I wish that I could be born seven times, each time to smite the enemy…
…Thank you, my parents, for the 23 years during which you have cared for me and inspired me. I hope that my present deed will in some small way repay what you have done for me. Think well of me and know that your Isao died for our country. This is my last wish, and there is nothing else that I desire.
How glorious is the Special Attack Corps’ Giretsu Unit whose Suisei bombers will attack the enemy. Our goal is to dive against the aircraft carriers of the enemy. Movie cameramen have been i here to take our pictures. It is possible that you may see us in newsreels at the theater.
We are 16 warriors manning the bombers. May our death be as sudden and clean as the shattering of crystal.
Written at Manila on the eve of our sortie. [28th October 1944]
Soaring into the sky of the southern seas, it is our glorious mission to die as the shields of His Majesty. Cherry blossoms glisten as they open and fall.”
(Above: Kamikaze attack on the USS Colorado, 27th November 1944 - killing 19 and wounding 72)
I know I’ve reblogged this before. But it showed up on my dash again, and I felt it was worth reblogging again, because it’s just so haunting.
Photo reblogged from x planes with 79 notes
![xplanes:
”..The classic engagement of the day [21st March 1945] occurred later that day when Capt Sedvert observed an Me 262 at only 500ft flying over Ostofen. He dived on the jet just as it dropped a bomb on the town, and good strikes were seen on the fuselage, slowing its speed considerably as it crossed the Rhine River.
Sedvert then pulled up astern of his target, only to find that he was out of ammunition. He drew up alongside the jet and became furious when the German pilot thumbed his nose at him. Sedvert rolled back his canopy and emptied his 0.45 pistol in the direction of his foe with no result. He continued to follow the Me 262 all the way to Wiesental where he watched it belly in..” (via)
(image - not of the same incident - via)](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_memcauxpxP1qzsgg9o1_500.jpg)
”..The classic engagement of the day [21st March 1945] occurred later that day when Capt Sedvert observed an Me 262 at only 500ft flying over Ostofen. He dived on the jet just as it dropped a bomb on the town, and good strikes were seen on the fuselage, slowing its speed considerably as it crossed the Rhine River.
Sedvert then pulled up astern of his target, only to find that he was out of ammunition. He drew up alongside the jet and became furious when the German pilot thumbed his nose at him. Sedvert rolled back his canopy and emptied his 0.45 pistol in the direction of his foe with no result. He continued to follow the Me 262 all the way to Wiesental where he watched it belly in..” (via)
(image - not of the same incident - via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 70 notes
the Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant cargo glider, being towed by a Heinkel He 111Z Zwilling (“Twin”) (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 122 notes
nobody died! Friday #69: McDonnell Douglas TAV-8B Harrier II, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, date unknown (circa 2007?) (via)
“Basically, the nose gear wouldn’t come done. The Harrier has a backup system with a nitrogen bottle to blow the gear down in this event. Well, someone significantly outranking the pilot ordered him not to blow the gear down…he elected to gather mattresses and strap them down to support the extended nose, and you have the obvious result…This has since become a legendary event in the Harrier community (rather small community) and is laughed about often. The best part was, when they jacked the plane up in the hangar and pulled the gear handle to blow them down, all 4 came down and locked in place.” (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 54 notes
art is rarely posted on here - apart from on sundays - but here’s a painting of the Dornier 31 by the legendary Wilf Hardy (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 84 notes
“The Dornier Do 31 E3 VSTOL aircraft. At the beginning of the 1960’s NATO asked for a military short take-off and landing battlefield zone aircraft, which should operate independently of runways but from fast prepared small fields” (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 63 notes
the Dornier Reglerversuchsgestell (RVG) (Control Test Frame?), circa 1963. developed to study the flight controls of the Do 31 VTOL aircraft (via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 91 notes
“SACRAMENTO, Cal., Nov. 18.— The one topic of conversation in this city to-day has been the reported appearance of an airship over the eastern portion of Sacramento last night.
While there are hundreds of people who, failing to catch a glimpse of this mysterious visitant, are extremely skeptical, there are hundreds of others who are positive in their declaration that they did see its brilliant searchlight traveling over the city, and who will also swear that they heard the voices of its occupants and distinguished their merry song and laughter.
Then there are others who declare that these aerial travelers used the English tongue, and that they plainly distinguished the words used and commands uttered for the guidance and care of the air vessel..”
(An edited front page of the San Francisco Call, Volume 80, Number 172, 19 November 1896. via)
Photo reblogged from x planes with 57 notes
“The Call’s” Exclusive Account of the Greatest Invention of the Age Is Now Corroborated by Thousands.
For several days there have been persistent reports that a huge airship has been seen in the vicinity of Oakland, Sacramento and San Francisco. The Call has contained daily and exclusive accounts of the appearance, and now there is an avalanche of testimony to the effect that many persons of truthful reputations have seen something like a huge seraph in the air, spreading its electric pinions and soaring faster than a giant condor of the Andes…”
(An edited front page of the San Francisco Call, Volume 80, Number 176, 23 November 1896. via)
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