Warplanes of the USA: Maryland, Historic Photos
Warplanes preserved in Maryland
(USAF Photo)
Curtiss O-11 Falcon, 104th Observation Squadron pilots, Logan Field, Maryland, 1929.
(USAF Photo)
Curtiss O-11 Falcon aircraft assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron on the flightline on 3 August 1930. The Maryland National Guard flew Falcons from February 1928 until January 1932.
(USAF Photo)
Capt. Charles A. Masson, a pilot with the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron, prepares to board his Curtiss JN-4 Jenny aircraft. The Maryland National Guard was equipped with JN-4s from 1921 to 1927.
(USAF Photo)
Consolidated O-17 assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron during a mission on 11 September 1931. The 104th was equipped with O-17s from July 1928 to July 1933.
(USAF Photo)
Douglas O-38B assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron parked on the flightline on 9 May 1934. The Maryland National Guard was equipped with O-38Bs from February 1932 to March 1937.
(USAF Photo)
Douglas O-38E assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron parked on the flightline on 8 August 1933. The Maryland National Guard was equipped with O-38Es from July 1933 to September 1937.
(USAF Photo)
Douglas O-46A Nos. 1 and 6, top, and North American O-47 observation aircraft Nos. 9, 8 and 10 assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron conduct a training sortie on 1 March 1940.
(USAF Photo)
Douglas O-46A aircraft assigned to the Maryland National Guard's 104th Observation Squadron fly over the Chesapeake Bay on 25 June 1938. The 104th flew O-46s from February 1937 to June 1941.
(NMNA Photo)
Goodyear F2G-1D Corsair (BuNo. 88454) of the Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1947. 88454 was retired on 31 May 1948 and is today on display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.
(USN Photo)
(NMNA Photo)
Martin Mauler AM-1 Mauler (BuNo. 22308) of Naval Air Test Center (NATC) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), in flight, circa late 1940s.
(NMNA Photo)
Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK-1 (BuNo. 44313), first production aircraft at the Naval Aviation Training Command (NATC), Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, Maryland, 8 August 1945.
(NMNA Photo)
Douglas BTD-1 Destroyer at the Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, circa 1945.
(USAF Photos)
Republic F-47 Thunderbolts, 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, 1946.
(SDA&SM Photo)
Republic P-47D Thunderbolt. This P-47D was flown by the 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland ANG from 1946 to 1951.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64505) in formation with fighters of the Maryland Air National Guard's aerobatic team "Guardian Angels" in close formation, 1952. Maryland had an aerial demonstration team from 1952 to 1953.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H-10NA Mustangs, flown by the Maryland Air National Guard's aerobatic team "Guardian Angels". Pilots Capt. John F.R. Scott, 1st Lt. Malcolm Henry, 1st Lt. Bill Marriott and Capt. Jesse Mitchell (left to right) on the flight line at Spaatz Field in Reading, Pennsylvania, following an airshow at Fort Indiantown Gap, in 1952. The "Guardian Angels" flew from 1952 to 1953.
(USGOV-PD Photo)
North American F-51H-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64505), 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, 1952.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-51H-10NA Mustang (Serial No. 44-64505), 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, being serviced by mechanics, summer 1954.
(NMNA Photo)
North American T-28C Trojan (BuNo. 138187) assigned to Naval Air Test Center (NATC) Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), after landing on the aircraft carrier USS Tarawa (CVA-40), in 1955. This aircraft had been built as a standard T-28B without arrester hook, but was obviously fitted with a hook, probably as a prototype for the arrester hook-equipped T-28C. BuNo 138187 was one of two Prototypes that were built as "C" models and was not converted, it was produced at NAA Ingleside Calf plant and flown to NATC for trials
(Switzer, USN Photo)
Grumman F7F-2D Tigercat (BuNo. 80340) drone control aircraft at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland, 16 September 1948.
(USN Photo)
Grumman F9F-2 Panther (BuNo. 122569), the tenth production aircraft being tested in the late 1940s at the U.S. Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland.
(NMNA Photo)
Grumman F9F-3 Panther (BuNo. 122562) operated by the Naval Air Test Center at Patuxent River, Maryland (USA). This aircraft was fitted with an experimental electro-hydraulically driven Emerson Aero X17A roll-traverse turret housing four 12.7 mm machine guns, in 1950. The idea was that the aircraft could destroy enemy bombers while avoiding the fire of the tail gunner. The guns could be directed at any angle from directly forward to 20 degrees aft, and the gun mount could roll 360 degrees. The roll rate was 100 degrees per second, and the guns could be traversed at up to 200 degrees per second. Unfortunately, the volume required for the fire control system avionics, and the sheer weight of the turret, made it impractical for single-seat fighters and the program was cancelled in early 1954.
(USN Photo)
Vought F6U-1 Pirate (BuNo. 122481) from the Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, 1 Jan 1949.
(NMNA Photo)
Douglas XF3D-1 Skyknight (BuNo. 121458), assigned to the Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, for evaluation in 1949.
(NMNA Photo)
Douglas F4D-1 Skyray (BuNo. 130746) of the U.S. Navy Naval Air Test Center taking off after having been catapulted by the stationary steam catapult at the NATC at Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1956.
(USAF Photo)
North American F-86H-10-NH Sabre (Serial No. 53-1397), 104th Tactical Fighter Squadron. The Maryland National Guard flew F-86Hs from 1957 to 1970.
(NMNA Photo)
McDonnell F3H-1N Demon (BuNo. 133489), first production aircraft, 1955. The F3H-1 was ordered before it s first flight to counter the Soviet MiG-15 . However, only 58 aircraft were built and most never flew, because the Westinghouse J40 engine. The aircraft was seriously underpowered and the J40 was prone to inflight explosions and sudden failures. All F3H-1Ns were permanently grounded in July 1955 and the surviving airframes were either used as ground trainers or scrapped. 133489 first flew on 24 December 1953 and was used for service evaluation at the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, in 1954.
(USAF Photo)
Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando (Serial No. 44-78044) from the 135th Air Resupply Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, flying over Baltimore, Maryland, ca 1958.
(Bill Larkins Photo)
Curtiss C-46D Commando (Serial No. 44-77637) from the 135th Air Resupply Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, ca 1958.
(USAF Photo)
Grumman HU-16B Albatross (Serial No. 51-0035), 135th Air Commando Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, ca 1968, The aircraft is painted black to facilitate covert night operations. The Maryland Air National Guard was equipped with HU-16s from 1956 to 1971.
(NMNA Photo)
Douglas F4D-1 Skyray (BuNo. 130743) from the Naval Air Test Center at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, with a towed target on display at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 14 May 1960.
(NMNA Photo)
General Dynamics/Grumman F-111B (BuNo. 151974). This aircraft was used for limited carrier suitability tests aboard the aircraft carrier USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) in July 1968. It was the only F-111B to perform carrier operations after completing arrestor proving tests at the Naval Air Test Center Patuxent River, Maryland, in February 1968. It crash landed at NAS Point Mugu, California (USA), on 11 October 1968 and was subsequently scrapped.
(USN Photo)
Vought F-8L Crusader (BuNo 145492) from Marine Fighter Squadron 321, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland in 1970.
(Navy Camera Operator Roy K. Heitman, USN Photo)
Schweizer X-26 Frigate sailplane, Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center, Maryland, 13 May 1984.
(Don S. Montgomer, USB (Ret) Photos)
Convair UC-880, US Navy, assigned to the Patuxent River Naval Air Test Center and used in the development of new refueling techniques for the F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, 16 May 1987.
(NMNA Photo)
Douglas KA-3B Skywarrior (BuNo. 138925) from the Naval Air Test Center, Patuxent River, Maryland, refueling the first McDonnell Douglas YF-18A Hornet (BuNo. 160775), in April 1979. A McDonnell F-4J-30-MC Phantom II (BuNo. 153812) chase plane is flying in the foreground.
(PH2 Bruce Trombecky, USN Photo)
McDonnell Douglas F/A-18A Hornet of Strike Fighter Squadron 203 (VFA-203) "Blue Dolphins" U.S. Navy Reserve, on the flight line at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, in 1990.
(PH2 Bruce R. Trombecky, USN Photo)
Lockheed S-3B Viking (BuNo. 160149) of Anti-Submarine Squadron VS-22 "Checkmates" parked on the flight line at Naval Air Facility Andrews, Maryland, 15 April 1993.
(PH2 Bruce Trombecky, USN Photo)
McDonnell Douglas AV-8B-5-MC Harrier II (BuNo. 162086) of Marine Attack Squadron VMA-223 at Naval Air Facility Andrews, Maryland, 20 Mar 1993.
(USAF Photo)
Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules, Maryland Air National Guard, Warfield Air National Guard base in Baltimore, Maryland.
(USAF Photo)
Lockheed Martin C-130J Hercules (Serial No. 97-1351) from the 135th Airlift Squadron, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard stationed at Warfield Air National Guard base in Baltimore, Maryland.
(Tech. Sgt. Matt Hecht, USAF Photo)
Alenia C-27J Spartan, 175th Wing, Warfield ANG Base, Maryland Air National Guard.
(USAF Photo)
Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolts,175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard stationed at Warfield Air National Guard base in Baltimore, Maryland flying in formation during a training exercise, 2010.
(USAF Photo)
Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard stationed at Warfield Air National Guard base in Baltimore, Maryland (USA), in flight during a training exercise.
(SSgt Benjamin Hughes, USAF Photo)
Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, 2 June 2013.
(Staff Sgt. Benjamin Hughes, Maryland ANG Photo)
Fairchild A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft from the 104th Fighter Squadron, 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, 2011.
(PH2 Bruce Trombecky, USN Photo)
Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt, 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, 1989.
(USAF Photo)
Fairchild Republic A-10C Thunderbolt, 104th Fighter Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, 2016.
(Joe Hegedus, USN Photo)
Boeing F/A-18F Super Hornet, assigned to the “Salty Dogs” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Two Three (VX-23), conducting a flight test mission just off the coast of Maryland. VX-23, based out of Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, supports the research, development and test and evaluation of fixed wing tactical aircraft and currently flies all versions of the F/A-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler and the T-45 Goshawk.
(Maj. Cody Allee, U.S. Marine Corps Photo)
Rockwell-Messerschmitt-Bölkow-Blohm X-31 returns from a test flight for the VECTOR (Vectoring Extremely Short Takeoff and Landing Control Tailless Operation Research) program at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland on 14 Nov 2002. The X-31 aircraft The X-31 uses thrust vectoring – controlling the direction of its engine exhaust with paddle-like vanes – to maintain control at high angles of attack and reduced speeds, well below the typical landing speed for an aircraft of its type.
(Sunil Gupta Photo)
Boeing F-A-18F Super Hornet, USN, visiting Camp Springs Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 19 Nov 2005.
(Sunil Gupta Photo)
Boeing E-4B (747-200B), NEACAP, (Serial No. 31677), Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 8 May 1991.
(Sunil Gupta Photo)
Boeing VC-25A (747-2G4B), (Serial No. 28000), Air Force One, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, ca 1995.
(Acroterion Photo)
Maryland State Police Aerospatiale Dauphin helicopters at Frederick Municipal Airport, Frederick, Maryland, USA. N82MD/Trooper 2 (foreground) is practicing hoist operations from a hover while N93MD/Trooper 3 (background) is climbing out with a medical evacuation.
(NMUSN Photo)
Northrop Grumman E-2D Hawkeye and a Grumman C-2A Greyhound assigned to Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 20 fly over USS Zumwalt (DDG 1000) as the ship travels to its new home port of San Diego, California, 17 Oct 2016.
(Alan Wilson Photo)
Gates C-21A Learjet (Serial No. 84-0129), c/n 35A-576. Flown by the 457th Airlift Sqn, part of the 375th Air Mobility Wing based at Andrews AFB in Maryland.
(Andy Wolfe, USN Photo)
An Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare) F-35A Lightning II aircraft made aviation history as it completed the very first F-35 trans-Atlantic Ocean crossing, arriving at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, from Cameri Air Base, Italy, on 5 Feb 2016. F-35A aircraft AL-1, the first international jet fully built overseas at the Cameri Final Assembly & Check-Out (FACO) facility at Cameri Air Base, Italy, is also the first F-35 assembled outside of the U.S. to land on U.S. soil.
North America is replete in aviation history, both military and civilian. The sheer size of the United States dictated an early interest in air defense and profoundly influenced the nation's dependence on air travel. It is no wonder that the United States developed as an "air-faring" nation. A large part of the leadership that contributed to that development can be traced to America's Air Force. Indeed, its proud military heritage is embodied in the dedicated individuals who have served and continue to do so - and in the marvelous aircraft they have flown.
The preservation and public display of these aircraft is a labor of love for many, including the editor of this book. If you are an enthusiast of military aviation history, or one with a passing interest who simply wishes to learn more, you will find a wealth of information in these well-researched pages.
Order book in Canada: http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Maryland-Virginia-Washington-Warbird-Survivors-Harold-A-A-Skaarup/9780595274123-item.html?ikwid=harold+skaarup&ikwsec=Books
