Warplanes of the USA: California, Historic Photos
Historic Photos of California Warplanes
(Bill Larkins Photos)
Douglas O-38E, California National Guard. ca 1939.
(USAAF Photo)
North American Mustang Mk. IA (Serial No. 41-37416)on a test flight from NAA's Inglewood, California facility in October 1942.
(USAAF Photo)
North American NA-73 Mustang Mk. I, RAF (Serial No. AL958) being test-flown at Inglewood, California, in October 1942. This plane was one of the original batch of 300 aircraft ordered by the Royal Air Force in Dec 1940 before the lend-lease act. Note that the fighter wears U.S. national insignias that were used by U.S. forces up to April 1942.
(Alfred T. Palmer, US Library of Congress Photo)
North American NA-91 Mustang fighters being serviced at North American Aviation at Inglewood, California, in October 1942. After passing of the lend-lease act in March 1941, the USAAF ordered 150 NA-93 Mustang Mk. IA fighters on 25 Sep 1941 for delivery to the United Kingdom. The RAF serial numbers assigned were FD418-FD567 (FD553 is visible on the left). For contractual purposes, these aircraft were assigned the U.S. designation of P-51, USAAF (Serial Nos. 41-37320 to 41-37469). The Mustang Mk. IA differed from earlier versions in having the machine guns replaced by four 20-mm wing-mounted Hispano cannon. After Dec 1941, (Serial Nos. FD418-FD437, FD450-FD464, FD466-FD469, and FD510-FD527) were reposessed by the USAAF (and briefly named A-36A Apache)
(US GOV-PD Photo)
North American P-51D-30-NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-74826), California Air National Guard, 31 Dec 1946.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H Mustang (Serial No. 44-64579), 194th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard.
(Bill Larkins Photo)
North American F-51H Mustang (Serial No. 44-64480), 195th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, night view.
(USAF Photo)
North American P-51H-5-NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64255), 196th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, ca 1953.
(USAF Photo)
North American P-51H-10-NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64544), 196th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, ca 1954.
(Bill Larkins Photo)
North American F-51H Mustang (Serial No. 464350), 194th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, ca 1953.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H-5-NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64255), 195th Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1948.
(NACA Photo)
North American F-51 Mustang flown by a NACA research pilot, running up the engine of his aircraft on the taxiway adjacent to Rogers Dry Lake at the NACA High-Speed Flight Station in 1955. A P-51 Mustang, redesignated an F-51 Mustang, was transferred from the Langley Aeronautical Laboratory to the NACA High-Speed Flight Research Station (now the NASA Dryden Flight Research Center) at Edwards Air Force Base in California, in 1950. The P-51 Mustang was the first aircraft to employ the NACA laminar-flow airfoil design and could dive to around Mach number 0.8. As an F-51, it was used as a proficiency aircraft at the High Speed Flight Station. The NACA was the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, a predecessor of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The HSFRS was a predecessor of NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, and Langley Aeronautical Laboratory became NASA's Langley Research Center. Records show that the aircraft was also used as a chase and support aircraft 395 times. Neil Armstrong was among the pilots using it to chase some of the X-planes. This aircraft was retired in 1959 as the result of a taxiing mishap.
(USAF Photos)
Republic P-47N-20-RE Thunderbolt (Serial No. 44-89140), EE-140, USAAF, Hamilton Field, California, 8 May 1949.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-86A-5-NA Sabre formation, 115th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, California Air National Guard, ca 1953.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-86A-5-NA Sabre (Serial No. 49-1122) formation, 115th Fighter-Bomber Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1953.
(SSgt Ed Drew, USAF Photo)
North American F-86 Sabre formation, 196th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1953.
(NMNA Photo)
A formation of U.S. Navy McDonnell F-4 Phantom II fighters from Air Test and Evaluation Squadron VX-4 and the Naval Missile Center China Lake, California, in flight. Visible are: QF-4B, BuNo 148365, which was written off at China Lake on 31 January 1974; F-4B, BuNo 150435; F-4J, BuNo 153783, wich was sold to the RAF as ZE351 on 30 August 1984; and F-4J, BuNo 153795, wich was sold to the RAF as ZE354 on 30 August 1984.
(USAF Photo)
McDonnell F-4D-26-MC Phantom (Serial No. 65-0588), 194th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1984.
(Rob Schleifflert Photo)
McDonnell RF-4E Phantom (Serial No. 68-0415), 196th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1988.
(Rob Schleifflert Photo)
McDonnell RF-4E Phantom (Serial No. 69-0291), 196th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron, California Air National Guard, 1988.
(Tech. Sgt. Lance Cheung, USAF Photo)
Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California Air National Guard.
(SSgt Ed Drew, USAF Photo)
Sikorsky HH-60G Pave Hawk, 129th Rescue Wing, Moffett Federal Airfield, California Air National Guard, fighting forest fires, 2013.
(Staff Sgt. Travis, Edwards USAF Photo)
Lockheed C-130J Hercules, 146th Airlift Wing, California Air National Guard, 2014.
(Senior Master Sgt. Chris Drudge, USAF Photo)
McDonnell Douglas F-15C Eagle, 194th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, California Air National Guard, 2014.
(John Murphy Photo)
General Dynamics F-16C Fighting Falcon (Serial No. (82-0614), California Air National Guard.
During the twentieth century, civil and military aviation has played a prominent role in the history and development of California. Commercial operators have exploited the advantages offered by aircraft to overcome its unique challenges of geography and climate. By virtue of Californias comparative size and strategic importance on the West Coast of the continental USA, a wide variety of military aircraft have been based there through the years.The list of military aircraft types that made up the tapestry of California aviation is as extensive as the list of legendary figures who have contributed to its amazing history. While most of the military aircraft types no longer grace the airspace over California, many can be viewed in their former splendor as they stand as gate guards or museum exhibits. This booklet provides a comprehensive guide to where these restored aircraft can be found. Complementing the details concerning aircraft specifications and roles, the author has included many facts. Finally, the descriptions of the recovery, restoration and preservation efforts stand as a tribute to the many volunteers who have devoted time, energy and financial support to ensure this rich heritage is preserved.
Order book: http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000015580/California-Warbird-Survivors-2002.aspx
Order book in Canada: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/California-Warbird-Survivors-Handbook-Where-Harold-A-A-Skaarup/9780595236442-item.html?ikwid=harold+skaarup&ikwsec=Books
California Warbird Survivors 2002 has been updated:
California Warplanes
California Warplanes
This is an aviation handbook designed to be used as a quick reference to the classic military heritage aircraft that have been restored and preserved in the state of California. The aircraft include those flown by members of the US Air Force, the US Navy, the US Army, the US Marine Corps, the US Coast Guard, the Air and Army National Guard units, and by various NATO and allied nations as well as a number of aircraft previously operated by opposition forces in peace and war.
The interested reader will find useful information and a few technical details on most of the military aircraft that have been in service with active flying squadrons both at home and overseas. 150 selected photographs have been included to illustrate a few of the major examples in addition to the serial numbers assigned to American military aircraft. For those who would like to actually see the aircraft concerned, aviation museum locations, addresses and contact phone numbers, websites and email addresses have been included, along with a list of aircraft held in each museum’s current inventory or that are on display as gate guardians throughout the state of California. The aircraft presented in this edition are listed alphabetically by manufacturer, number and type.
Although many of California’s heritage warplanes have completely disappeared, a few have been carefully collected, restored and preserved, and a good number of these have been restored to flying condition. This guide-book should help you to find and view California’s Warplane survivors (publication date April 2012).
To order California Warplanes in softcover and e-book click here:
http://bookstore.iuniverse.com/Products/SKU-000560614/California-Warplanes.aspx
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1110163468?ean=9781475901443
