Friday, June 7, 2013

The Friday Flyby - 07 June


As the 71st (!) anniversary of the Battle of Midway was this week (4th through the 7th of June) I thought it would be appropriate to commemorate that titanic struggle with a tribute to the aircraft and men of those early days in the Pacific War.
The Dive Bombers

Douglas SBD Dauntless
(One of my favorite aircraft!)
Aichi D3A "Val"
(Japanese counterpart to the Dauntless)






The Torpedo Bombers

Douglas TBD Devastator

Nakajima B5n "Kate"






The Fighters

Grumman F4F Wildcat
Mitsubishi A6M Zero




The Men
VT-3 USS Yorktown

Aviators of the 6th Buntai
Aircraft Carrier Hosho
Long After the Guns Have Gone Silent...

American Veterans of Midway

Japanese Veterans of Midway

Their numbers dwindle every day. Let us remember those who fought the good fight. Let us honor the memories of those who did not come home. Let us respect those who did come home and returned to their loved ones. Scarred and battered, perhaps. Haunted by their memories, perhaps. Deserving of honor and respect, without a doubt.


Ave Atque Vale!

8 comments:

  1. Nice pics like the Knights of old fighter pilots are.

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    1. Thank you Sir. I always look forward to doing the Friday Flyby. Researching all the images is a lot of fun. And there are tons of good pictures out here on the web of worldliness!

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  2. Deserving of honor and respect, without a doubt.

    No doubt in my mind.

    You did a great job with this post, Chris. Brilliant images, each and every one.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Buck. Sometimes the images tell the story much better than words can.

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  3. That took brass to life off from those carriers back in those old aircraft and fly into the face of all of the AA guns, knowing that it was probably a one-time, one-way flight. But we had no shortage of real Americans back then.

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    1. They were something. I marvel sometimes at their bravery.

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  4. Great pics, and thanks for the follow up pics also!!!

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Just be polite... that's all I ask. (For Buck)
Can't be nice, go somewhere else...

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