P'Cola

So, to recap, last week I decided to change the subject, so we (few, we happy few, we band of...bloggers...to paraphrase Shakespeare....badly) would return to our roots.  All 5 of us are no further than 1 generation (Beans) away from Aviation.  Specifically, Military Aviation.

We had, IMHO only, spent an inordinate time discussing ships, in the recent past.  Now, I've got nothing against ships.  I even like traipsing aboard them on a warm Summer Day in America's SouthEast with the temperature in the low 100's and the humidity in the 80's and 90's.  (I like the cold shower in the hotel room thereafter also.)

I even like sailing on them, preferably with an all inclusive drink package.  How come the Navy doesn't have that option?  'Tis a puzzlement.

Anyhoo, I wanted to talk about airplanes, so I did.  The day after visiting the Alabama Battleship National Monument, Mrs J and I woke up cool and refreshed.  After breakfast, we reembarked in the juvatmobile and headed further east, crossing very shortly thereafter into the State of Beans.    8 miles later we turned off the Interstate and headed for the coast, as the Naval Aviation Museum Website has a very specific instruction that if the visitors do not possess a valid DOD ID card, they must enter from the western gate to the base.

Well, Mrs J and I both have valid IDs.  However, mine, which was renewed the last time I visited a military facility (Wright-Patterson AFB),  is very underexposed.  Making my face unrecognizable.  Mrs J, well,  is within a month or two of a major birthday which will render her current ID expired.

So, prudence dictated entering as if we didn't have valid ID's.

Pulling up to the gate, and handing the ID's (with my driver's license JIC) to the gate guard, he took a look at each, looked at us, rendered a very Marine like salute, which I returned, and he waved us through.

I miss that exchange of greetings, yes I do.

A short scenic drive later, we're at the museum.  The museum has only been open for about a half hour when we arrive, so parking isn't a problem.  Walk in, show our ID's again and begin the show.

One of the first aircraft is the SBD.  The aircraft that, IMHO, changed the course of the war in the Pacific in a few short minutes on June 4, 1942 at Midway.

Among my favorites.

As I'm walking around taking it in, (there's no barrier around the aircraft in this museum, I liked that.) I hear the first notes of the National Anthem being played.  I turn and face the music and while doing so, I notice every one else is also.  (No overpaid thugs taking knees on national TV in view.)  Seems there's a retirement ceremony happening there.

But...It seemed appropriate to the setting.

I'm sure the security measures visible here made the SBD virtually Murphy proof.

Behind me was an F6F HellCat.  And a future fighter pilot.  (Talking with his hands, struttin' like he owns the place...).  By the end of the War, the HellCat had a 19-1 Kill Ratio and a new HellCat was rolling off the production line every hour 24-7. 

Meanwhile the retirement ceremony is going on.  First out of the door, is a Navy Commander.  I glance over, he's in dress whites, the whole shebang.  But does have Wings, so I kinda listen to the spiel.  He commanded such and such squadron, flew in the gulf, flew in the 'Stan, so many combat sorties...This went on for about 5 minutes then "Attention to orders..." and another one's out of the service.

I know how he felt.

F-4F WildCat (you can see the retirement ceremony in the background)

Meanwhile overhead, another favorite.  OK, I'll be honest, I'm fascinated with the War in the Pacific.  Spent a lot of time there, read a lot of books about it as a kid.  I'm going to have a lot of favorites in this museum.

Yep, another one, but, I mean really, who doesn't like a Corsair?

OK, Quiz question #1  What is this aircraft and what was it used for in WWII?

TBM Avenger

This was painted up with some special livery.

No...it isn't his actual aircraft.  That one is in the bottom of the ocean off Iwo Jima.  The future President was rescued by a Sub (USS Finback, SS-230) and actually endured a depth charging before being returned to safety.

Another of my favorites, an F8F Bearcat.  Several still flying on the Reno Race Circuit.

Meanwhile the retirement ceremony is still going on.  This time it's some civilian.  His award citation indicated he was in charge of some aspect of bureaucracy at the base.  Had been there for, well, ever.   Had saved the country by ensuring that every screw on the base was completely accounted for and only issued when a dire emergency happened.

Or something like that.

This eulogy (well,  I was dying) went on past the WWII exhibit, past the early jet age, past Korea and halfway through Vietnam.

F7F TigerCat

The F7F was initially requested in June of 1941, but never made it into combat in WWII.  I had built this as a model as a kid and thought it pretty cool.  It was armed with 4 20mm cannon and 4 50Cal machine guns as well as 2 1000LB bombs.  After the war, it was transferred to the Marines and used for CAS and night interdiction in Korea.

Just for scale, Mrs J is 5'4".  Big engine, big plane.

Quiz Question # 2  Specifically, what is this aircraft and why is it unique?

Another Bad Guy Aircraft.  One may be surprised to know that not every Japanese fighter was a "Zero".  One may also surmise this one is a "George".

F2H-2P

Made it into the Jet Age.  This model of the Photo Banshee was an improvement over the earlier model in that it had 3 cameras in the nose.  This meant the pilot could get pictures in one pass that in the earlier model would have required 3 passes.  Less passes = less chance of meeting the golden BB= more chance of reacquainting yourself with your family.

F3H Demon F7U Cutlass

Rear view of the F3H F7U.  Just to the left of the engine, that's the aileron speedbrake (It looks like a swim fin).  The rudder is the vertical thing left of that. The left wing is the vertical line outside the rudder.  This is a fairly big aircraft to have such small sized controls.  Just off hand, I'd say it wasn't very maneuverable.  (Really got to keep better care of my notes, thanks for the corrections.)

Oh, look!  My favorite view of a Mig-15. In front of me and in gun range!

Nieport 28 and a Fokker (and he's flying a Fokker D.VII...I always wanted to use that line....Sorry)

The Museum had some WWI aircraft also.  Thought their handling of the early (very early) beginnings of Naval Aviation was educational.

SB2U Vindicator

And....Finally.....the retirement ceremony is over.

Just in time for Quiz Question #3  What are these and what are they used for?

By now, we need a small break and decide to visit the Cubi Club for Lunch and took a look around.  When the Big Guy decided the US needed to leave the Philippines and blew up Mt Pinatubo, the Cubi Club was torn down and restored at Pensacola.

Lunch was nothing to do back flips over, but it was OK.  Looking around the bar at the Plaques was fascinating.  Although it was only Navy and Marine Units, I recognized several from various exercises/functions around the Pacific.  I even recognized a few names.

I felt at home.

Call signs are a thing of wonder, aren't they?

Tuna's ride.

A-1H Skyraider

Again, Mrs J as scale.  I think this is a BDP-1 (BDP being Navy speak for Big Darn Plane).  OK it's really a SP-5B Marlin.

OK, Quiz Question #4 (So Sarge gets at least one right) what Aircraft is this the Cockpit of?

Apropos of nothing whatsoever.

Recce version of one of the coolest planes ever.

A-7E Corsair II AKA "SLUF"  (Short Little Ugly F****er)

So I'm viewing this, and two guys, who are obviously off duty, but on Active Duty, walk up and look it over.  One says to the other, "Obviously, some CO left his keys in his car one day at work."

I laughed.

I HAVE seen this picture several times, maybe not this close, but this angle.  It's a wonderful feeling.

After ordering lunch, we heard jet noise outside,  Low, Loud and Fast Jet noise.  AKA the Sound of Freedom.  Yep, the Blue Angels were practicing.  I'd wondered why the museum had emptied out as we were waiting for Lunch.  Ah well.  It was nice to hear them overhead.

Left the museum as Mrs J had an appointment with Pass and ID to get a new ID card.  Drove over there,  got the card with minimum hassle, drove to the Class VI store and bought a bottle of Bruichladdich Islay Barley on sale for $34.99.  I'd gotten tired of paying $30 a round for Single Malt.  Got back to our hotel room just in time.

Single Malt, in a chilled glass, minimum rocks and Florida Liquid Sunshine coming down by the bucket.  The perfect end to a very good day.

So we've reached the planned extremity of our excursion and will begin the trek back home the next day.  Learned a lot about things I used to know very little about and heartily recommend each of the facilities we visited. We had a great time.

Cheers All.