Aviation History - July 2016

How CIERVA’S autogiros helped win the Battle of Britain AVIATION HISTORY creature of the night Lockheed’s nearly invisible top-secret F-117 stealth fighter strikes Serbia Pacific P-47 ace’S FATAL pursuIT OF Rickenbacker’s WWI record SHIP-launched Camels destroy zeppelin base JULY 2016 HistoryNet.com

Spirit in the Sky THE NEW C8 FLYER AUTOMATIC VINTAGE BLACK EDITION – 44MM Inspired by the Best of British Aviation EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE AT christopherward.com



JULy 2016 departments 5 MAILBAG 6 BRIEFING 12 EXTREMES E.G. Budd’s stainless steel cargo plane featured a retractable tail ramp. By Robert Guttman 12 20 14 AVIATORS now you see it “Matty” Laird designed A Lockheed F-117 and built custom air Nighthawk from the racers during aviation’s 49th Fighter Wing flies golden age. over New Mexico. By Edward H. Phillips features 16 RESTORED 20 THE BLACK JET Quantico’s SBD Dauntless CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ©JOHN M. DIBBS/THE PLANE PICTURE CO.; SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM: spent nearly half a century NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE; COURTESY OF WOLFGANG MUEHLBAUER The first U.S. warplane to feature top-secret stealth technology, underwater. Lockheed’s F-117 gained a reputation as the world’s most By Mark Carlson invisible aircraft. By Charles W. Sasser 19 LETTER FROM 28 PACIFIC THUNDERBOLT ACE AVIATION HISTORY P-47 proponent Colonel Neel Kearby pushed his luck too far 58 REVIEWS in pursuit of Eddie Rickenbacker’s shootdown record. By John Stanaway 63 FLIGHT TEST 36 NIGHT OWL 64 AERO ARTIFACT Heinkel’s radar-laden He-219 Uhu night fighter was designed 64 from the ground up to play in the dark. By Stephan Wilkinson 36 44 THE TONDERN RAID On July 19, 1918, seven Sopwith Camels struggled aloft from an improvised aircraft carrier to bomb German zeppelin sheds in Denmark. By Don Hollway 52 AUTOGIROS AT WAR RAF Rota pilots played a vital yet unheralded role in the Battle of Britain. By Bruce H. Charnov ON THE COVER: Two Lockheed F-117 Nighthawks line up for aerial refueling during a training mission out of Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico. The stealthy “Black Jets” bombed enemy targets with impunity in the 1991 Gulf War and in 1999 during the Kosovo conflict (story, P. 20). Cover: Lance Cheung/Legion Photo. 2 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

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MICHAEL A. REINSTEIN CHAIRMAN & PUBLISHER DAVID STEINHAFEL ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Aviation History AVIATION U.S. AIR FORCE Online HISTORY You’ll find much more from Aviation JULY 2016 / VOL. 26, NO. 6 History on the Web’s leading history resource: HistoryNet.com CARL VON WODTKE EDITOR NAN SIEGEL ASSOCIATE EDITOR TWO-WAR american ACE DIT RUTLAND ART DIRECTOR P-47 pilot Gabby Gabreski (above) JON GUTTMAN RESEARCH DIRECTOR became the top ace in the European theater, then went on to shoot down GUY ACETO PHOTO EDITOR MiGs over Korea. CONTRIBUTING EDITORS RUTLAND OF JUTLAND WALTER J. BOYNE, STEPHAN WILKINSON ARTHUR H. SANFELICI EDITOR EMERITUS Frederick Rutland earned the DSC for a daring recon mission in a Short 184 sea- CORPORATE plane during the 1916 Battle of Jutland. STEPHEN KAMIFUJI CREATIVE DIRECTOR ROB WILKINS DIRECTOR OF PARTNERSHIP MARKETING FAIREY ROTODYNE MICHAEL ZATULOV FINANCE An ingenious blend of airplane and heli- DIGITAL copter, the Rotodyne was an attempt to revolutionize the short-haul airline industry. MICHAEL CLIFFORD DIRECTOR OF TECHNOLOGY JOSH SCIORTINO ASSOCIATE EDITOR ONLINE/DIGITAL BONUS ADVERTISING Follow our step-by-step instructions to build COURTNEY FORTUNE Senior Graphic Designer/Advertising Services this issue’s “Modeling” project, a Lockheed [email protected] F-117 Nighthawk, featured in “The Black Jet” (P. 20). RICHARD E. VINCENT National Sales Manager [email protected] Let’s Connect Like Aviation History Magazine KIM GODDARD National Sales Manager on Facebook [email protected] Digital Subscription RICK GOWER GA., S.C., N.C., MICH., OHIO [email protected] Aviation History is available on TERRY JENKINS TENN., KY., MISS., ALA., FLA., MASS. iPad and other digital platforms [email protected] 4 AH J U L Y 2 0 1 6 PRINT DIRECT RESPONSE ADVERTISING RUSSELL JOHNS ASSOCIATES 800-649-9800 [email protected] © 2016 HISTORYNET, LLC PRINT SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION AND BACK ISSUES SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION: 800-435-0715 YEARLY SUBSCRIPTIONS IN U.S.: $39.95 BACK ISSUES: 800-358-6327 Aviation History (ISSN 1076-8858) is published bimonthly by HistoryNet, LLC 1600 Tysons Blvd., Suite 1140, Tysons, VA 22102-4883, 703-771-9400 Periodical postage paid at Leesburg, VA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER, send address changes to Aviation History, P.O. Box 422224, Palm Coast, FL 32142-2224 List Rental Inquiries: Belkys Reyes, Lake Group Media, Inc. 914-925-2406; [email protected] Canada Publications Mail Agreement No. 41342519, Canadian GST No. 821371408RT0001 The contents of this magazine may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the written consent of HistoryNet, LLC PROUDLY MADE IN THE USA

MAILBAG BIRD STRIKE STORIES Y our May issue invited readers to submit bird lower altitudes. They rode down the aisle, vomiting all encounter stories. As a private pilot for 48 updrafts over the beach and the way, then calmly walked years, I have flown a variety of aircraft; my hovered, looking for fish. out the door of the fuselage current plane is an experimental Van’s RV-4. and flew away! Buzzard 1, I have had some close calls, but no bird strikes until Coming up behind one, TWA 0. last September when I was flying alongside my your worst move was to turn friend Jim, also in an RV-4, and I collided with what out of its way. They seemed Gail Ravitts I assumed was a goose. > to have backward-looking radar that sensed your prox- Oak Park, Ill. > We were cruising at Way back in 1982 I was imity. You never could guess about 2,000 feet, flying into working as an A&P mechanic which way they would bank COCKPIT the sun about seven miles at the Beechcraft dealer to evade. If you and the bird CONFUSION west of the Hood River, in Van Nuys, Calif., when a turned in the same direction, when I saw the flock. By the B60 Duke that had suffered a strike was almost certain. I Your story “Going Com- time I yelled “birds!” to my a bird strike came into our had plenty of near misses. mando” in the May edition rear-seat passenger, Scot, hangar. A duck had hit the was great, but the aide you the impact had occurred on aircraft at the top horizon- I finally figured out the sent out to the airplane to the outer panel of the right tal edge of the copilot’s best tactic: Fly straight at identify the cockpit bells and wing. The plane jerked to windshield. Half of the duck them. That took nerves of whistles let you down. Just the right, then quickly stayed outside the plane, steel. It didn’t matter which looking at the pilot’s flight returned to normal flight. and the other half came way they broke; you just instruments makes you won- I called Jim to say I might through the windshield and kept going straight. They’d der how you could fly this have an emergency. The hit the copilot in the head, get out of your way. I must big machine with references plane exhibited no unusual knocking him out. Then admit to secretly hoping to just airspeed, attitude, wing heaviness or skidding. the half-a-duck proceeded that one would wait a little heading and fuel gauges. Jim reported I had wing skin to the back of the cabin. too long to evade. I didn’t Wait, over on the copilot’s damage, and I could see When the pilot looked over have a death wish, but it side there is an altimeter, the bird’s wing lodged at his unresponsive copilot would have been great to but what about a vertical between the fiberglass tip he saw that he was covered paint a bird silhouette be- speed indicator and the and the metal wing skin in blood (most of which side the cabin door. reliable old turn and bank [photo above]. came from the duck), and instrument? And doesn’t the thought he was dead. The Well, frigate…that never pilot get his own altimeter? Heading back to Kelso, pilot landed the plane, the happened. And it would Wash., I had a choice of copilot went to the hospital have been awfully hard to William L. Shields airports if I needed to land and somebody—luckily not explain to the CO. beforehand. I flew progres- me—got to clean up the Tucson, Ariz. sively slower at altitude, to mess and repair the plane. John Ottley Jr. be sure I would have control Thanks for asking—we’re for landing. The plane still Ray Charlton Alpharetta, Ga. embarrassed to have mis- behaved normally. Once labeled a few key instru- on the ground, I could see Corvallis, Ore. Soon after WWII, my late ments. On the pilot’s side, that the bird’s right wing husband, Rick Ravitts, was the instruments labeled no. spanned 2 feet, but the rest Flying Hiller OH-23Cs for flying as a copilot on TWA 14 are (from left) vertical of the carcass had apparent- the Army in and around DC-3s out of Kansas City speed indicator, turn and ly gone into the Columbia the Panama Canal Zone in to Albuquerque. On the bank indicator, and altim- River. I was impressed by the the late 1950s inevitably approach to the mountains eter. To the right of the severity of the damage. involved encounters with a big buzzard crashed altimeter is the glide slope frigate birds, which had through his side of the wind- indicator. On the copilot’s Jerry Sorrell wingspans up to 7½ feet. shield, then bounced off side, the same instruments Like us, they preferred the some radio equipment and are (from left) glide slope Castle Rock, Wash. lay inert. Rick shielded him- indicator, altimeter, turn and self from the onrushing wind bank indicator, and vertical while the captain brought speed indicator (no. 15). the plane in for the landing. The fuel gauges are on the That brought the buzzard pilot’s side at the bottom back to life and, right before of the instrument panel, the startled passengers, the partially obscured by the tough old bird staggered control wheel. SEND LETTERS TO Aviation History Editor, HistoryNet 1600 Tysons Boulevard, Suite 1140, Tysons, VA 22102-4883 703-771-9400 OR EMAIL TO [email protected] j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 5

briefing First Air Force One celebrated Connie F WTTW_QVOIOITI[MVLW‫ٺ‬ “complete restoration to the Queen Elizabeth and the Columbine II (above) heads celebration at Marana period when the president Shah of Iran.” to Virginia for restoration. Regional Airport in ÆM_QVQ\\<PQ[IQZKZIN\\Q[I^QI Dwight D. Eisenhower’s Arizona on March 18, tion history.” An important )T[WWVPIVLI\\\\PM[MVLW‫ٺ‬ granddaughter, Mary Jean President Dwight D. part of the restoration will was President Eisenhower’s Eisenhower (inset), attended Eisenhower’s presi- include the installation of the granddaughter, Mary Jean the sendoff in Arizona. dential aircraft, Columbine original galley that was found -Q[MVPW_MZ_PWZMKITTMLÆa- II, winged its way to a new in Casper, Wyo., when word ing with her grandfather and home on the East Coast and spread of Dynamic’s acquisi- talking with crew members a complete restoration. The tion of Columbine II. and Secret Service agents. new owners of the Lockheed Walking through the partially VC-121, Dynamic Aviation Michael Stoltzfus, Dy- restored cabin, Eisenhower of Bridgewater, Va., acquired namic’s president, told the said: “This is like a time \\PMÅZ[\\IQZKZIN\\\\WJMLM[QO- crowd of well-wishers that warp. I’m so very happy that nated Air Force One more it is important to remember it is going to be restored.” than a year ago. Chairman what this aircraft means. of Dynamic Aviation Karl “This is the plane that took After Dynamic Aviation Stoltzfus said plans call for the president to the peace bought the aircraft, they the airplane to undergo a talks in Korea,” he said. sent a team of mechanics to “This aircraft had on board Arizona to begin repairs and prepare it for the trip east. It 6 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

“winkle” Eric Brown flew 487 different aircraft types. ABOVE: ©TYSON RININGER/TVR PHOTOGRAPHY; INSET: DICK SMITH; has taken more than a year to Air Quotes World’s Greatest TOP RIGHT: SUZANNE HAKUBA; BOTTOM RIGHT: AIR FORCE ASSOC. ready Columbine IINWZQ\\[ÅZ[\\ Test Pilot ÆQOP\\IN\\MZQ\\[XMV\\ILMKILM “I HOPE THIS STEALTH in the Arizona desert. S--T WORKS.” Superlatives are impossible to avoid when review- ing the astonishing flying career of Captain 7‫ٻ‬KQITTaSVW_V\\W\\PM)QZ –MAJOR GREG FEEST, Eric “Winkle” Brown, Royal Navy, who died on .WZKMI[ \\PM4! BEFORE LEADING THE FIRST February 21 at age 97. Arguably the greatest +WV[\\MTTI\\QWV_I[QVQ\\QITTa F-117 STRIKE OF OPERATION test pilot ever, Brown flew 487 different types of air- WXMZI\\MLJa\\PM5QTQ\\IZa)QZ craft, including 55 captured German airplanes, and <ZIV[XWZ\\;MZ^QKM)\\TIV\\QK DESERT STORM made 2,407 deck landings at sea. He was the first pilot ,Q^Q[QWV1V!Q\\_I[ to land a pure jet on an aircraft carrier. First to land a X]TTMLNZWU[MZ^QKMIVLÆW_V tricycle undercarriage aircraft on a carrier. First to land \\W4WKSPMML¼[*]ZJIVS a high-performance twin on a carrier. The list goes on, +ITQNXTIV\\_PMZMQ\\_I[ perhaps topped by his being the only Allied pilot to KWV^MZ\\ML\\WI>+) fly the “suicidal” Messerschmitt Me-163B interceptor <PMQV\\MZQWZ_I[Å\\\\MLW]\\ under rocket power. _Q\\PLMT]`M[MI\\QVOIXZM[Q LMV\\QITLM[SIOITTMaIVL Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Brown gained his RAF W\\PMZIUMVQ\\QM[<PMXZM[Q wings with a rare “exceptional” rating before transfer- LMV\\PIL¹+WT]UJQVMº ring to the Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm, flying Grumman XIQV\\MLWV\\PMVW[MIZMNMZ Martlets (F4F Wildcats) in carrier operations against MVKM\\WPQ[_QNM¼[PWUM[\\I\\M Focke Wulf Fw-200 Condors. After his carrier was tor- WN +WTWZILW pedoed, Brown was one of only two aircrew survivors. 1V!!1SM\\ZILMLQV Between 1944 and 1950, Brown was successively Columbine II for Columbine chief naval test pilot at the Royal Aircraft Establishment IIII>+-;]XMZ at Farnborough, commanding officer of the Enemy +WV[\\MTTI\\QWV<PMWZQOQVIT Aircraft Flight and commanding officer of Aerodynamics )QZ.WZKM7VM_I[ZM\\QZMLQV Flight. Various sea- and land-based appointments ! IVL[MV\\\\W[\\WZIOMI\\ followed before he retired from the navy in 1970. In ,I^Q[5WV\\PIV)QZ.WZKM retirement Brown became chief executive of the British *I[MQV)ZQbWVI1V!Q\\ Helicopter Advisory Board. Later he enjoyed a third _I[XIZ\\WN INW]ZIQZKZIN\\ career as a lecturer and author. I]K\\QWV[ITM\\WIVQV^M[\\WZ OZW]X\\PI\\JW]OP\\\\PMUNWZ When I interviewed this disarmingly modest airman [XZIaQVOX]ZXW[M[)\\\\PM for Aviation History in 2008, I asked how he had sur- \\QUMQ\\_I[VW\\SVW_V\\PI\\ vived when so many other test pilots had not. Brown  _I[\\PMÅZ[\\)QZ.WZKM attributed his continued existence to his relatively short 7VMINIK\\WVTaJZW]OP\\\\W stature (hence the nickname Winkle, short for periwin- TQOP\\_PMV;UQ\\P[WVQIVW‫ٻ‬ kle), which he believed had saved him from death or KQIT[QVNWZUML\\PMW_VMZ[WN  serious injury in situations where taller pilots, unable to \\PMIQZKZIN\\¼[XMLQOZMM extricate themselves from the cockpit, might have per- ished. That and meticulous flight planning—plus “a bit 1V! !IN\\MZ[WUMZM[ of luck.” \\WZI\\QWVColumbine II_MV\\ WV\\PMIQZ[PW_KQZK]Q\\1V Derek O’Connor !! \\PMIQZKZIN\\_I[X]\\]X NWZI]K\\QWVJ]\\VM^MZ[WTL 1\\_I[\\ZIV[NMZZMLQV \\W5IZIVIVWZ\\P_M[\\WN  <]K[WV_PMZM,aVIUQK )^QI\\QWVX]ZKPI[MLQ\\ Dick Smith j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 7

BRIEFING Two-Faced of Bonnie Kaye, an impres- flying mash-up P-40n warhawk sive rebuild by C&G Air of Ocala, Fla. The project was C&G Air’s P-40 bears The Curtiss P-40 always punched above undertaken as an investment markings of fighters that its weight. Except for the biplane-derived by C&G co-owners Chris served in Alaska (above) Grumman F4F, it was America’s oldest front- and Gail Kirchner, and and Burma (below). TQVM?WZTL?IZ11ÅOP\\MZaM\\Q\\ZMUIQVMLQV the airplane is already for production—and combat—well after far sale. It was erected around by Captain Ernest Hickox more sophisticated Mustangs, Corsairs and some forgings from a wreck before he died in a crash in Thunderbolts had joined the fray. Only P-47s salvaged in Alaska in the Alaska days before the end and P-51s were built in greater quantities than MIZTa!![IVLQ[IÆaQVO of the war, and the left cowl- P-40s, a thousand of which were ordered as mash-up of P-40 history. The ing panels carry the death’s late as the end of June 1944, almost a month > right side of the restoration head logo of the 80th Fighter bears the name Bonnie Group “Burma Banshees,” > after the Normandy inva- schoolbook margins was not Kaye, given to his airplane which operated in the sion. Its 1930s greenhouse, \\PM8 \\WWLQ‫ٻ‬K]T\\WZ\\PM China-Burma-India Theater awkward landing gear and 8\\WWJWZQVOJ]\\\\PM between 1942 and 1945. mediocre Allison engine toothy P-40, uniquely famed remained pretty much for its brief service with the That’s two airplanes for unchanged. P-40s were American Voluteer Group the price of one, which at manufactured by the least- “Flying Tigers.” No other going rates will probably be respected of all the major warplane had so sharply about $1.25 million. airframers, the East Coast drawn a personality. Curtiss-Wright, with whom Stephan Wilkinson the War Department would The last and at 378 mph have preferred not to do busi- the fastest of the line was the PHOTOS: MATT ABRAMS ness after a series of below- P-40N, lightened and with a par designs and a spate of revised canopy for a cleaner defective Wright engines. rearward view. The N also had the longer fuselage and Those of us who were better handling of its K and kids during WWII knew L predecessors. Eight P-40Ns nothing of this. The airplane IZMVW_ÆaQVOQV\\PM=; of choice sketched in our with the addition in January 8 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

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BRIEFING final flight The restored prototype 727-100 leaves Paine Field, headed for the Seattle Museum of Flight. The First Three-Holer Milestones I n 1949 the British devices. Three-Holer pilots TOP: FRANCIS ZERA/THE MUSEUM OF FLIGHT, SEATTLE, WA; BOTTOM: U.S. AIR FORCE invented the four- LQLV¼\\M`\\MVLÆIX[\\PMa Desert Storm engine, long-range jet- called it “disassembling liner, the de Havilland the wing.” 25th Anniversary Comet. Nine years later, Boeing snatched =VTQSM\\ZILQ\\QWVIT Operation Desert Storm, the U.S.-led coalition’s response to away the prize with the LM[QOV[\\PM^MZaÅZ[\\ Iraqi strongman Saddam Hussein’s invasion of Kuwait, started 707. In 1962 de Havilland 100 wasn’t just a prototype 25 years ago, on January 17, 1991. The first raid on Iraq’s tried again and built the J]\\I_WZSQVOIQZXTIVM capital city of Baghdad was conducted by 10 F-117A Night- _WZTL¼[ÅZ[\\[UWW\\P_QVO After spending a year as a hawks of the 415th Tactical Fighter Squadron flying out of medium-range, short- test article, N7001U was Khamis Mushait Air Base, in Saudi Arabia, targeting the Iraqi runway trijet with a T tail cleaned up, repainted and integrated air defense systems. Nighthawks attacked 31 per- and a trio of tail-mounted sold to United Air Lines. cent of the initial targets, part of a multipronged force that engines, one buried in the 1\\[XMV\\\\PMVM`\\! struck dozens of targets during Desert Storm’s opening \\IQTKWVMIVL\\_WÆIVSQVO ÆQOP\\PW]Z[KZIVSQVOW]\\ hours. Fixed-wing aircraft in the U.S. strike force included it. They built just 117 DH more than $300 million F-14s, F-15s, F-16s, F-111s, F/A-18s, A-6s and B-52s, joined Tridents before Boeing in revenue for United by a variety of coalition aircraft, including British Tornadoes. again copped the concept against its $4.4 million According to James P. Coyne’s Airpower in the Gulf, “In that and ultimately manufac- purchase price. In 1991 first night, more than 650 aircraft, including almost 400 strike tured 1,832 727s. the airplane was donated aircraft, attacked Iraq.” The onslaught proved so effective to the Museum of Flight, that by Desert Storm’s sixth day, “electronic emissions from At one point, the British south of Seattle, but the radars controlling [Iraq’s] SAMs, AAA, and early warning and Americans had con- between United stripping network had dropped off by ninety-five percent.” sidered building a joint- the airframe of useful parts venture trijet design, but and years spent sitting on Boeing engineers believed an airport ramp awaiting they could design one to restoration, the airplane use 4,500-foot runways steadily deteriorated. rather than the Trident’s 6,000-foot capability. In 1999 serious resto- *WMQVO\\WWSIL^IV\\IOMWN  ration by a faithful crew of the 727’s unencumbered volunteers, many of them wing to mount full-span, M`*WMQVOMUXTWaMM[ \\ZQXTM[TW\\\\MLÆIX[\\PI\\ began. Two parts airplanes origami’ed out from the had been donated, one by entire trailing edge, plus Clay Lacy and the other 3Z]MOMZÆIX[IVLM`\\MVL- NZWU.ML-`IVLWV5IZKP able slats that ran from \\PM_WZTL¼[ÅZ[\\ wing root to tip along each UILMQ\\[TI[\\ÆQOP\\¸ leading edge, thus allowing minutes from Paine Field, I[TQKSPQOP[XMMLIQZNWQT\\W in Everett, Wash., to King become a hugely cam- County Airport, home of bered collection of high-lift the Museum of Flight. Stephan Wilkinson 10 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

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EXTREMES drive-in A crewman guides an ambulance up the ramp of a Budd Conestoga in 1943. Flying Railroad Car THE E.G. BUDD COMPANY DUBBED ITS STAINLESS STEEL CARGO PLANE THE CONESTOGA, BUT “PULLMAN” MIGHT HAVE BEEN MORE APT BY ROBERT GUTTMAN During World War II, the United States became the Philadelphia’s E.G. Budd strong profile A WAVE “Arsenal of Democracy,” supplying vast numbers of Company was not really part and a WAC pose with an RB-1 vehicles, ships, aircraft and weapons to the U.S. armed of the aviation industry. at Budd Field in January 1945. forces and Allied nations. Not surprisingly, shortages Founded in 1912, it had pio- of certain strategic raw materials were anticipated. Of neered the fabrication of Ragsdale had come up with a particular concern was the supply of aluminum and light pressed-steel bodies for auto- new process for fabricating ITTWa[VMMLMLNWZIQZKZIN\\XZWL]K\\QWV)[IZM[]T\\[XMKQÅK mobiles, and later manufac- structures from stainless steel. requests were issued to design aircraft manufactured from tured stainless steel railroad Known as “shot welding,” it non-strategic materials that could be produced by companies passenger cars. In the early allowed sheets of stainless outside the normal aircraft industry. Such sources were seen 1930s, however, Budd steel to be welded together as particularly desirable for aircraft designated for second-line mechanical engineer Earl without distortion, and with- or non-combat uses, including training and transport. Of the many such airplanes developed, most were constructed using _WWL*]\\WVMUIV]NIK\\]ZMZ\\WWS\\PMLMÅVQ\\QWVWN ¹VWV strategic materials” in a whole new direction. 12 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

OPPOSITE: (TOP) NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM, (BOTTOM) TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, out any loss of their tensile semi-retractable tricycle land- handling was reminiscent of easy access The RB-1’s URBAN ARCHIVES, PHILADELPHIA, PA; RIGHT: SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM strength or rust-resisting ing gear, with the retracted the railroad cars its makers retractable loading ramp properties. The welded sheets nosewheel protruding slightly were more accustomed to was an enduring innovation. also demonstrated twice the beneath the forward fu- producing. Though powered strength of riveted structures. selage. Power was provided by the same engines used when it was taken over by In 1934 Budd won acclaim by a pair of 1,200-hp Pratt in Douglas’ C-47, the RB-1 the German Thyssen when it used its shot-welding & Whitney R-1830 Twin weighed 3,000 pounds more Allgemeine Gesellschaft. technique to build the stain- Wasp air-cooled radials. The empty, making it relatively During the 1980s the com- less steel cars for the nation’s Conestoga weighed 20,157 underpowered and less fuel pany was reorganized, clos- ÅZ[\\¹[\\ZMIUTQVMZºXI[[MVOMZ pounds empty and could take M‫ٻ‬KQMV\\)VL\\PM+WVM[\\WOI ing down its Philadelphia train, the revolutionary W‫ٺ‬I\\ XW]VL[N]TTa turned out to be more expen- facility and phasing out rail- Burlington Zephyr. loaded. In place of cargo, sive to produce than the C-47. road car production, but it could accommodate 24 it remained in business in Budd had also been fully equipped paratroops or Another complaint was Troy, Mich., manufacturing branching out into aircraft evacuate 24 stretcher cases. the deafening noise level auto body components. manufacturing. In 1931 the inside the RB-1’s voluminous ÅZUJ]QT\\IVIUXPQJQW][ Although the Conestoga stainless steel fuselage, which Most of the 17 Conestogas JQXTIVMUWLQÅMLNZWU\\PM was considered odd-looking acted like an echo chamber. built went straight from the Italian Savoia-Marchetti in its day, it included a num- One former crewmember manufacturer to storage. ;ÆaQVOJWI\\J]\\NIJ- ber of advanced design fea- described it as like being Soon after the war ended, the ricated using shot-welded \\]ZM[<PMÆQOP\\LMKSWN \\PM inside a bass drum. War Assets Administration stainless steel. Known as three-man cockpit was raised W‫ٺ‬MZML\\PMUNWZ[ITMI[ the BB-1 Pioneer, the air- above the fuselage, leaving )[]‫ٻ‬KQMV\\[]XXTaWN  surplus. Fourteen were craft failed to garner any an unobstructed 25-foot-long aircraft aluminum turned purchased by the National sales or production orders, cargo area. The upswept W]\\\\WJM\\PMÅVITVIQTQV\\PM Skyway Freight Corporation, \\PW]OPQ\\ÆM_NWZIJW]\\ tail with a retractable ramp, +WVM[\\WOI¼[KW‫ٻ‬V+[ later known as the Flying 1,000 hours in the U.S. and another revolutionary feature KWV\\QV]ML\\WXW]ZW‫\\ٺ‬PM Tiger Line, for use as com- Europe before being donated at the time, facilitated cargo assembly lines by the thou- mercial air freighters until the to the Franklin Institute loading and allowed vehicles sands. As a result, the Army early 1950s. A few found their in Philadelphia, where it to be driven directly on or canceled its C-93 order and way to South America, con- remains on display today. W‫\\ٺ‬PMXTIVM1VNIK\\\\PM the Navy reduced its RB-1 tinuing to serve as freighters. basic layout of the Con- order to 25 airplanes, of A single surviving example The Pioneer was the only estoga’s fuselage was not which only 17 were delivered. of the Budd Conestoga can airplane Budd produced until unlike some cargo aircraft be seen today at the Pima Air 1942, when it contracted with developed years later, Although the Conestoga Museum in Tucson, Ariz., the Navy to develop a cargo including Fairchild’s C-123 was the Budd Company’s where it is currently await- plane manufactured entirely Provider and Lockheed’s last foray into aircraft manu- ing restoration. out of shot-welded stainless C-130 Hercules. NIK\\]ZQVO\\PMÅZUXZWL]KML steel. Dubbed the Conestoga railway coaches until 1978, by the builder, Budd’s design The Conestoga’s struc- resulted in a 200-plane order tural strength earned it high from the Navy under the des- marks, but pilots claimed its ignation RB-1. The Army Air Forces also became interested, the RB-1 ordering 600 aircraft under its own designation, C-93. conestoga .TW_VNWZ\\PMÅZ[\\\\QUMWV turned out Halloween 1943, the RB-1 was a twin-engine, high- to be more wing monoplane. The only exceptions to its stainless expensive steel construction were the fabric-covered trailing edges to produce of the outer wing panels. The Conestoga had a wingspan than the of 100 feet, and was 68 feet long and 38 feet 9 inches douglas c-47. high. The aircraft featured j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 13

aviators fast fleet Laird’s sleek LC-DW-300 Solution (center) is flanked by an LC-RW-300 Speedwing (left) and an LC-1B-300 outside his factory at Ashburn Field near Chicago. feeding an airplane company. Laird in Wichita, more than 40 set up shop in an abandoned Swallows were built. But the need building in the heart of the while his planes were selling city, while he and Moellen- well, Laird’s business rela- for speed dick secured land to build tionship with Moellendick IVW\\PMZNIKQTQ\\aI\\IÆaQVO was eroding, and by the MATTY LAIRD’S CAREER DESIGNING ÅMTL\\W\\PMVWZ\\P4IQZL¼[ summer of 1923 the situation CUSTOM BIPLANES EARNED HIM A new airplane, dubbed the had become intolerable. That PLACE OF HONOR IN THE ANNALS ;_ITTW_UILMQ\\[ÅZ[\\ÆQOP\\ October Laird returned to OF AMERICAN AERONAUTICS in April 1920. It performed Chicago, where he reestab- well, resulting in orders from lished himself as a custom BY EDWARD H. PHILLIPS air taxi operators throughout airplane manufacturer. the Midwest. When Emil Matthew Laird left his hometown of Early in 1924, the E.M. Chicago and relocated to Wichita, Kan., in 1919, he There was a growing Laird Airplane Company helped initiate the city’s transformation from “Wheat demand for a new commer- was doing business in rented Capital” to “Air Capital of the World.” A self-taught cial airplane in the U.S. at facilities near Ashburn Field, pilot and designer, “Matty” Laird had already been that point. Though World where Matty had spent his building airplanes for eight years by then. His latest design—a War I Curtiss JN-4s and early years as a pilot and three-place, open-cockpit biplane powered by the ubiquitous other surplus trainers were builder. Knowing that the war-surplus Curtiss OX-5 engine—possessed one important relatively inexpensive and Swallow could no longer feature: room for two passengers in the front cockpit. plentiful, they were clearly compete in an increasingly obsolete. Small, homegrown crowded marketplace, Laird Kansas oil tycoon Jacob Melvin Moellendick had lured companies across the country responded with a new design, 4IQZLI_IaNZWU\\PM¹?QVLa+Q\\aº_Q\\PIVW‫ٺ‬MZ\\WW\\MUX\\- had begun building new air- the Commercial, a three- ing to resist—funding and a place to build his airplanes. craft or modifying war-weary place, open-cockpit biplane Moellendick believed there was a potential market for com- planes for commercial sale. powered by an OX-5 engine mercial aircraft, and that Wichita was the ideal location for The Laird Swallow, however, enclosed in a streamlined, represented a bold step in the all-metal cowling. Though right direction, despite its rela- the Commercial was well tively high price of $6,500. received, demand for the new plane remained low, and only During Matty’s three years 14 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

a few were built over the next racing models, including the winning formula Jimmy would use his anticipated three years. Laird’s infant LC-DW-300 Solution, which Doolittle flew the Laird Super earnings from the Thompson company was losing money. won the 1930 Thompson Solution (above) to victory in Trophy and Bendix races to Trophy Race with Charles the 1931 Bendix race. Laird pay for the work done on the In 1926 sweeping changes W. “Speed” Holman at its built his first airplane (below) two racers. Although initially JMOIVI‫ٺ‬MK\\QVO\\PMÆMLOTQVO controls. In 1931 Laird’s in his Chicago home in 1913. reluctant, Laird agreed to aviation industry, as the U.S. solid reputation as a builder wait for payment. According government recognized that of racing biplanes led to Laird won contracts from to his daughter, Joan Laird the aviation business had construction of the powerful American Airlines, TWA, Post, Turner never paid that grown to the point where LC-DW-500 Super Solution, *ZIVQ‫ٺ‬IVL=VQ\\ML)QZ4QVM[ debt, and the two men sub- it needed to be regulated. ÆW_V\\W^QK\\WZaQV\\PM*MVLQ` to repair mechanical com- sequently parted company. The new Air Commerce Act cross-country race by James ponents during the 1930s, Turner and the LTR-14 went required licensing of pilots H. “Jimmy” Doolittle. but he never lost his taste for on to win the 1938 and 1939 and mechanics, as well as reg- speed. In 1937 he teamed Thompson races, thus earn- istration of aircraft. In addi- The last new design Laird ]X_Q\\PÆIUJWaIV\\IQZZIKMZ ing permanent possession of tion, and of particular interest produced before the stock Roscoe Turner. With only the Thompson Trophy. But NWZÅVIVKQITTa[\\ZIXXMLUIV] market crash of 1929, des- a few months left before the Laird received no publicity facturers such as Laird, all ignated the LC-DE, was National Air Races began for his work on the airplane, aircraft had to comply with smaller than the LC-B and that September, Matty and IVLI[IÅVITQV[]T\\\\PM4IQZL minimum airworthiness stan- LC-R, but soon proved his team worked to Turner’s company logo was removed LIZL[IVLJMKMZ\\QÅMLJa\\PM popular with sportsman [XMKQÅKI\\QWV[\\WKWU- from the LTR-14. federal government. and amateur racing pilots pletely rebuild the wrecked _PWKW]TL[\\QTTI‫ٺ‬WZL\\WÆa Wedell-Williams Model 44 During World War II, In May 1927, America’s Following the Wall Street ZIKMZ<PMaIT[WUWLQÅML Laird worked as an engineer aviation industry was cata- debacle, new airplanes sales the Turner Special, a new, for the LaPorte Corporation, pulted to new heights after plummeted. Many aviation untested monoplane pow- which built B-26 tail sections Midwestern airmail pilot companies closed their doors, ered by a 14-cylinder Pratt and airframe assemblies for +PIZTM[4QVLJMZOPÆM_I but Laird managed to hold & Whitney Hornet radial the B-24. After the war Laird Ryan monoplane nonstop on by a thread thanks to a few rated at a bellowing 1,000 hp considered building a four- across the North Atlantic to wealthy sportsman pilots who and designated the LTR-14 place, high-wing monoplane, Paris, winning the $25,000 ordered biplanes built to their (Laird/Turner Racer). but decided against the plan. Orteig Prize. “Lucky Lindy” [XMKQÅKZMY]QZMUMV\\[ His 30-year involvement with and his Spirit of St. Louis ush- Turner had gained fame by aviation ended in 1945. ered in the dawn of aviation’s In 1931 Matty introduced winning the 1934 Thompson golden age. In the wake of his the LC-EW-450, a six-place Trophy Race in his Wedell- E.M. Laird died in 1982, PQ[\\WZQKÆQOP\\5I\\\\a4IQZL¼[ cabin sesquiplane featuring Williams monoplane, and leaving a legacy of speed business exploded. IÅZ[\\NWZI4IQZLLM[QOV]X hoped to win again in 1937 and a reputation for building to that time: an all-metal, in the LTR-14. But he placed superior custom airplanes Laird was quick to capi- semi-monocoque fuselage. third, later citing Laird’s work that had earned the respect \\ITQbMWV\\PMÆaQVONM^MZ\\PI\\ Although it was an advanced on the fuel tank among the of both customers and com- swept the country during the design with good potential, reasons for his failure. Turner petitors. Above all, the self- TI\\M![0Q[ÅZUQV\\ZW- it proved to be too expensive had promised Matty that he taught pilot and designer had duced new designs such as for Depression-era operators, earned the right to be called the LC-B and LC-1B, the and only one was built. one of America’s great avia- powerful LC-R, plus special tion pioneers. OOPPOSITE: SAN DIEGO AIR & SPACE MUSEUM; ABOVE RIGHT: ©AVIATION HISTORY COLLECTION/ALAMY; RIGHT: JOAN LAIRD POST/EDWARD H. PHILLIPS COLLECTION j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 15

restored Raised From a Watery Grave LOST IN LAKE MICHIGAN FOR NEARLY HALF A CENTURY, A MARINE CORPS SBD DAUNTLESS HAS FINALLY COME HOME TO QUANTICO BY MARK CARLSON The tough little Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber SBD-3 no. 06583 rolled home to roost Volunteers, remains one of the most revered and recognizable war- W]\\WN ,W]OTI[)QZKZIN\\¼[ including Rick Niedner (on birds in American history. This is the remarkable story El Segundo, Calif., plant wing), reattach the SBD-3’s of how one SBD-3 recently ended up on display at the in August 1942, the 610th engine (above), before the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va., Dauntless built. After being Dauntless is installed in the after spending 48 years underwater. I[[QOVMLÅZ[\\\\W5IZQVM;KW]\\ Leatherneck Gallery (top). Bombing Squadron 132 <PM=;6I^aUWLQÅML\\_W/ZMI\\4ISM[XILLTM_PMMTMZ (VMSB-132), then to VMSB- nally been a Marine plane, steamers during World War II to act as aircraft carriers for 142, it was given to VMSB- the Navy claimed it for the \\ZIQVQVOÆMLOTQVOI^QI\\WZ[6W\\M^MZaXQTW\\I\\\\MUX\\QVO\\WTIVL 243 and VMSB-232. For Training Command at NAS on the tiny wooden decks of USS Sable and USS Wolverine reasons that are still unclear, /TMV^QM_1TTQV7K\\WJMZ managed to do so, however. Between August 1942 and the end the aircraft never went over- WN \\PM_IZUWZM\\PIVÅOP\\MZ[IVLJWUJMZ[MVLML]XQV seas. Though it had origi- 4ISM5QKPQOIV¼[KWTLOZIa_I\\MZ[ 16 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

OPPOSITE TOP & RIGHT: U.S. MARINE CORPS; OPPOSITE BOTTOM: IKE COPPERTHITE 1943. Two weeks later it I[¹]VLQ[KTW[MLUWLQÅKI- “We began by pit and see every wire, cable, was at the bottom of Lake tions”? Why was it then sent switch and line exactly where Michigan, where it remained to Illinois to train aviators for taking the it was supposed to be. In NWZVMIZTaÅ^MLMKILM[ KIZZQMZY]ITQÅKI\\QWV['?M M‫ٺ‬MK\\_M_IV\\MLI\\PZMM may never know the answers aircraft down dimensional blueprint of a In June 1991, the Navy to those questions, but some wartime Dauntless.” pulled the SBD out of the clues were found during the to its last lake and handed it over to restoration work. The main landing gear Black Shadow Aviation for rivet and has been successfully cycled restoration in Jacksonville, “We began by taking the manually. The dive-brake and Fla. The airplane was pre- aircraft down to its last rivet found a lot TIVLQVOÆIXIK\\]I\\QVOUMKPI pared for display, though little and found a lot of interesting nism is also operational. was done toward returning anomalies,” said Niedner. of interesting it to functional condition. “We found some damage “The centerline bomb But Black Shadow’s crew in the starboard fuselage anomalies.” rack was still in the airplane,” deserves recognition for sav- between the horizontal reported Niedner. “We have ing the Dauntless from total stabilizer and the wing. We molds. We actually had restored the bomb rack and decay. Completed in June asked the Navy if we could to make everything from PI^MIÅJMZOTI[[XW]VL 1993, it was put on display see some photos of the plane Frame 12 to Frame 15. After bomb for display. The wing at the National Museum of after it was lifted from the pounding the metal into the bomb stations were missing, Naval Aviation in Pensacola. water. They showed a big desired shape, the new frame but we were able to locate jagged hole about three feet was installed to replace the some damaged bomb rack Soon after that, however, square on the starboard side. missing part.” Niedner’s pride fairings in Phoenix, Ariz., Pensacola gained a very rare I think a boat or ship got its in his work is evident. “When IVLZM_WZSML\\PMU\\WÅ\\ combat veteran SBD, no. anchor caught on the plane you look inside that plane onto the wings. We had to _PQKPPILJMMVI\\\\PM and tore a hole in it.” now you see nothing but pris- anneal, reshape and then Battle of Midway. The Navy tine structure. There is a great ZM\\MUXMZ\\PMU\\WÅ\\?MLQL \\PMVPIVLMLW^MZ \\W Black Shadow did not amount of personal satisfac- PI^MIVITUW[\\QV\\IK\\ÆM`QJTM the USS Alabama Memorial attempt to rebuild any of the tion for the people involved gun mount in the museum’s 5][M]U1V)XZQT\\PM structural frames, but riveted in the restoration. We have ordnance collection, but we well-traveled SBD-3 at last a large patch over the hole. dealt with every type of metal did not want to mount real came home to the Marine It was a smooth, neat job, corrosion known to man, and guns. It’s a pain having to do Corps museum at Quantico. though the SBD’s structural have learned that original physical inventory on them integrity was compromised. blueprints can be trusted every year.” At the museum’s resto- “That’s where I got my metal- only so far and that Rosie the ration facility, a team of work training,” Niedner said, Riveter did good work.” The Marine Corps dedicated volunteers began a “because I had to make new U][M]UJW]OP\\\\_W painstaking examination of ribs. We built wooden molds Among other incongru- caliber Browning machine the aircraft. Specialist Rick from the original blueprints ities, Niedner said, “We O]VZMXTQKI[\\WJMÅ\\\\MLQV\\W Niedner, who has spent six and put the metal into the found evidence that extensive the Dauntless’ rear cockpit years on the restoration of repairs had been made to IVL\\_WK ITQJMZZMXTQ- \\PMWTL_IZJQZLQ[IaMIZ veteran docent both pilot’s rudder pedal heel cas for the front. The dive Marine veteran who special- Major Jack Elliott handled trays.” There are no records bomber has been painted to izes in aircraft electronics. ordnance for Marine Corps to indicate how the damage ZMXZM[MV\\\\PM;*,ÆW_V\\W “My association with the SBDs during World War II. occurred, but considerable Henderson Field by Lt. Col. U][M]U[\\IZ\\MLQVº force would have been Richard Mangrum, CO of Niedner noted. “At the time required to bend these struc- >5;*WV)]O][\\ the restoration team was tures. It is possible the aircraft 1942. Since this airplane was small, only about seven of us. had undergone severe stresses originally assigned to that I had the least experience in during a dive, thus rendering squadron, it has returned metalworking, but I learned Q\\]VÅ\\NWZKWUJI\\WXMZI\\QWV[ home in a way. After six years fast. I wanted to do as much Other discrepancies involved of painstaking work by a as I could for the project. It fuel lines and nonstandard dedicated team, SBD-3 no. has taken far longer than we additions to or omission from  PI[I\\TI[\\ZM\\]ZVML ever imagined. We have been the electrical system. from the deep. The com- working on this aircraft since pleted airplane can now )XZQTº “From the beginning it was be seen in the museum’s our intention to restore the Leatherneck Gallery. Some perplexing mysteries SBD to be as perfect inside surround this Dauntless. For and outside as possible,” he one thing, why was a new continued. “We wanted it so SBD pulled from service to that any student of WWII be sent to Jacksonville, where aircraft could enter the cock- it underwent what were listed j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 17

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LETTER FROM AVIATION HISTORY The Truth is Out There BY CARL VON WODTKE LOCKHEED MARTIN area 51 ufo O n April 12, 1955, legendary Lockheed de- QVOÆaQVOWJRMK\\[W^MZ\\PMLM[MZ\\IJW^MNMM\\ [QOVMZ+TIZMVKM¹3MTTaº2WPV[WVÆM_W^MZ at that time an unheard-of altitude for aircraft. The second “Have \\PM6M^ILILM[MZ\\_Q\\PI+1)W‫ٻ‬KMZIVL 4I\\MZ_PMV4WKSPMML\\M[\\ML\\PM)XZMK]Z[WZ Blue” technology a U.S. Air Force colonel in a Beechcraft \\W\\PM;:I\\/ZWWU4ISML]ZQVO\\PM7`KIZ\\ demonstrator aircraft, Bonanza piloted by Lockheed’s chief test XZWOZIU Q\\ OMVMZI\\ML [QUQTIZ ZMXWZ\\[ OQ^MV Q\\[ predecessor of the XQTW\\<WVa4M>QMZ2WPV[WV_I[[MIZKP- !NWW\\KMQTQVO)KKWZLQVO\\W\\PM+1)PQ[\\WZa F-117, flies over the QVONWZI[MKT]LML[Q\\M_PMZMPMKW]TL\\M[\\IVIQZ- ¹=IVLTI\\MZ7`KIZ\\ÆQOP\\[IKKW]V\\MLNWZUWZM Groom Lake area in XTIVM[W[MKZM\\\\PI\\NM_W]\\[QLMPQ[;S]VS?WZS[ \\PIVWVMPITN WN ITT=.7ZMXWZ\\[L]ZQVO\\PMTI\\M the late 1970s. LQ^Q[QWVSVM_Q\\M`Q[\\ML\"\\PM=PQOPIT\\Q\\]LM ![IVLUW[\\WN \\PM![º reconnaissance plane. As recounted in a secret +1)PQ[\\WZaLMKTI[[QÅMLQV\\PMa[XW\\\\MLI *]\\\\PMZMXWZ\\[LQLV¼\\MVL\\PMZM1V\\PMTI\\M![ NWZUMZ)ZUa)QZ+WZX[IQZ[\\ZQXVM`\\\\WI[IT\\ÆI\\ IVM_4WKSPMMLJTIKSRM\\IZZQ^MLI\\/ZWWU4ISM SVW_VI[/ZWWU4ISM[WUM UQTM[VWZ\\P_M[\\ WVM[MMUQVOTa\\IQTWZUILM\\WNMML\\PMOZW_QVO of Las Vegas. Although the strip appeared to be =.7NZMVba\"\\PM.)6QOP\\PI_S7XMZI\\QVO XI^ML4M>QMZMTMK\\ML\\WTIVLWV\\PMLZaTISMJML [\\ZQK\\TaI\\VQOP\\IVLXZIK\\QKITTaQV^Q[QJTM\\WZILIZ QV[\\MIL?PMV\\PMNW]ZUMV_ITSMLW^MZ\\WM`IU- \\PMWLLTa[PIXML¹[\\MIT\\PÅOP\\MZº¸QVZMITQ\\aI QVM\\PM[\\ZQX\\PMaLQ[KW^MZMLQ\\_I[]VXI^MLIVL ground-attack bomber—looked like no other air- KW^MZMLQVIVSTMLMMXLQZ\\0IL\\PMaI\\\\MUX\\ML XTIVMWN \\PQ[_WZTL)[+PIZTM[?;I[[MZ_ZQ\\M[QV \\WTIVLWVQ\\\\PM+1)PQ[\\WZQIV[[XMK]TI\\ML¹\\PM ¹<PM*TIKS2M\\º8¹1V! _PMV\\PM6QOP\\ XTIVM_W]TLXZWJIJTaPI^MVW[MLW^MZ_PMV\\PM PI_SUILMQ\\[UIQLMVÆQOP\\ZM[QLMV\\[QV\\PMLIZS _PMMT[[IVSQV\\W\\PMTWW[M[WQTSQTTQVOWZQVR]ZQVO IZMI[W]\\[QLM\\PMOTW_WN KQ\\QM[ZM^Q^ML\\PMWTL=.7 ITT\\PMSMaÅO]ZM[QV\\PM=XZWRMK\\º Z]UWZ[Ja_PQ[XMZQVOWN [PILW_[IVLUa[\\MZQW][ TQOP\\[QV\\PM[Saº<PM\\WX[MKZM\\._W]TLVW\\ ,M[XQ\\M\\PMVMML\\WQUXZW^M\\PMZ]V_Ia2WPV JMW‫ٻ‬KQITTaZM^MITML\\W\\PMX]JTQK]V\\QT6W^MUJMZ [WVIVL\\PMW\\PMZUMVIOZMML\\PI\\Q\\_I[\\PMQLMIT ! IVLQ\\_W]TLVW\\\\Z]TaMV\\MZ\\PMX]JTQKKWV- site to test the U-2 and train its pilots. Lockheed [KQW][VM[[]V\\QTQ\\XTIaMLITMILQVOZWTMQV7XMZI []J[MY]MV\\TaJ]QT\\]X\\PMNIKQTQ\\a_PQKP2WPV[WV \\QWV,M[MZ\\;\\WZUQV!![MM¹5QTM[\\WVM[º8 dubbed Paradise Ranch, later shortened to the :IVKPQVIVM‫ٺ‬WZ\\\\WUISMQ\\[W]VLUWZMI\\\\ZIK- <WZMIL\\PMN]TT]VKTI[[QÅML+1)PQ[\\WZaIJW]\\ \\Q^M\\W\\PMMUXTWaMM[_PW_W]TL_WZS\\PMZM<PM \\PMWZQOQV[WN )ZMI^Q[Q\\<PM6I\\QWVIT;MK]ZQ\\a TWKI\\QWVILRIKMV\\\\W\\PM)\\WUQK-VMZOa+WU )ZKPQ^M_MJ[Q\\MI\\V[IZKPQ^MO_ML]IVL[MIZKPNWZ UQ[[QWV¼[6M^ILI<M[\\;Q\\M_I[W‫ٻ‬KQITTaSVW_VJa ¹<PM;MKZM\\0Q[\\WZaWN \\PM=·IVL)ZMIº its map designation—Area 51—and thus a legend .WZUWZMWV\\PMIQZKZIN\\LM^MTWXMLIVL\\M[\\MLI\\ _I[JWZV /ZWWU4ISM[MM*QTTAMVVM¼[M`KMTTMV\\JWWS Area 51 Black Jets. And look for a full-length feature 1\\_I[V¼\\TWVOJMNWZMZMXWZ\\[WN =.7[JMOIV\\W on the U-2, the airplane that started it all, in an stream in from airline pilots unaccustomed to see- upcoming issue. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 19

THE BLACK JET OPERATING AT NIGHT AND VIRTUALLY INVISIBLE TO RADAR, THE F-117 NIGHTHAWK RACKED UP A NEAR-PERFECT COMBAT RECORD BY CHARLES W. SASSER 20 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

NIGHTHAWK IN ITS ELEMENT Using a night vision image intensifier, a photographer captured this ghostly view of crews in Kuwait readying a Lockheed F-117A for a mission over southern Iraq in 1998. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 21

AFTER CROSSING THE SERBIAN BORDER AT 18,000 campaign against Slobodan FEET, U.S. AIR FORCE LIEUTENANT COLONEL WILLIAM 5QTWíM^QȎ¼[;MZJ[QV3W[W^W “BRAD” O’CONNOR’S F-117 NIGHTHAWK INITIATED and O’Connor’s sixth sortie A COMPUTER-PROGRAMMED HARD TURN WEST QVI_IZ\\PI\\_I[VW\\I¹_IZº The White House under THE SECRET IS OUT of the night lights of Belgrade, toward his primary target, the 8ZM[QLMV\\*QTT+TQV\\WV[XMKQÅ PREVIOUS PAGES: GREG L. DAVIS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES; LEFT: U.S. AIR FORCE; Baric munitions plant on the Sava River. He completed his cally ordered all agencies to RIGHT: COURTESY OF LT. COL. WILLIAM B. O’CONNOR (USAF, RET.) An F-117A arrives in Italy [\\MIT\\PKPMKSJaÆQXXQVO\\PM¹QVMZ\\º[_Q\\KP\\WXZM[[]ZQbM\\PM I^WQL][QVO\\PM_WZL[¹_IZº (above) in 1999 to support MUX\\a^WT]UMQVPQ[N]MT\\IVS[_Q\\PVWVÆIUUIJTMOI[\\WPMTX WZ ¹KWUJI\\º )K\\QWV _I[ \\W operations over the former []XXZM[[ÅZMQN PM_I[PQ\\ JMZMNMZZML\\WI[¹[\\ZQSM[º Republic of Yugoslavia and Kosovo. Lt. Col. William 2][\\\\PMV\\PMM`KQ\\ML^WQKMWN IV.XQTW\\ÆaQVOKW^MZJ]Z[\\ The latest round of car- “Brad” O’Connor (opposite) W^MZ\\PMVM\\\"¹0MI^a\\ZQXTM)_M[\\WN \\PMKQ\\aI\\UMLQ]UIT\\Q\\]LM º nage in the former Republic poses with a Nighthawk of Yugoslavia involved the after completing his training. Streams of silvery anti-aircraft rounds swung back and forth ethnically Serbian part of TQSM[XZIaNZWUIOIZLMVPW[M\\W\\PMZQOP\\WN 7¼+WVVWZ¼[ÆQOP\\ 3W[W^W ]VLMZ 5QTWíM^QȎ XI\\P<PMPMI^QMZ[\\]‫ٺ‬UU_I[ILMMXZMLLQ[PKWTWZ_Q\\PI IOIQV[\\\\PMM\\PVQK)TJIVQIV[ tinge of yellow. O’Connor pitied the poor schmucks over in that IVL \\PMQZ ZMJMT 34) WZ bWVM]V\\QTPM[]LLMVTaZMITQbMLPQ[VM`\\XZWOZIUUML\\]ZV\\WWS 3W[W^W 4QJMZI\\QWV )ZUa him directly into the thick of it. )ZUML^QWTMVKMJZWSMW]\\QV MIZTa !!  5I[[IKZM[ IVL )UQV]\\MTI\\MZPQ[J]TT¼[MaMLQ[XTIaXZW^QLMLM^MVUWZM terror attacks either killed KPQTTQVOVM_[¹1¼U\\PMWVTaWVMPMZMºPMZMITQbML¹<PMa¼ZM or displaced nearly a million shooting at me º 3W[W^W)TJIVQIV[ The Nighthawk was the world’s most invisible attack bomber; 7V5IZKP!!!6)<7 radar was nearly blind to it. So what the hell was going on? Some Secretary General Javier guy down there with a $200 pair of night-vision goggles? Solana directed the supreme allied commander Europe, 1\\_I[)XZQT!!!¸ITUW[\\\\PZMM_MMS[QV\\W6)<7¼[IQZ U.S. General Wesley Clark, to initiate air operations against the Federal Republic WN 3W[W^W_Q\\P\\PMWJRMK\\Q^M WN ZMVLMZQVO5QTWíM^QȎQVKI- pable of continuing his per- [MK]\\QWVWN M\\PVQK)TJIVQIV[ _PW_MZMTMOITTa3W[W^IZ[QV QV\\MZVI\\QWVITMaM[4MLJa\\PM =;6)<7JMOIVJWUJQVO key targets the next night with 1,000 aircraft operating out of JI[M[QV1\\ITaIVL/MZUIVa and from the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt in the )LZQI\\QK ;MI 1\\ _I[ \\W JM the first U.S. conflict fought entirely from the air and the largest sustained action since Vietnam, with more than  KWUJI\\[WZ\\QM[QV  days from March 24 to June 4WKSPMML¼[.6QOP\\ PI_SXTIaMLIUIRWZZWTMQV the campaign. Long before O’Connor ever set eyes on the top-secret Nighthawk, PM IVL W\\PMZ )QZ Force pilots training out of air bases at Nellis, Holloman and <WVWXIPVM`\\LWWZ\\W)ZMI 2 2 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

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TECH NOTES LOCKHEED F-117A NIGHTHAWK SPECIFICATIONS RUDDERVATORS ENGINE DRAG 2 General Electric F404-GE-F1D2 CHUTE low bypass turbofan engines, at 10,800 pounds thrust each “PLATYPUS” WINGSPAN EXHAUST DUCT 43 ft. 4 in. WING AREA LOWER 479 square feet INTAKE LIP LENGTH 65 ft. 11 in. INBOARD HEIGHT ELEVON 12 ft. 5 in. ARMAMENT 2 2,000-lb. laser-guided bombs or other guided weapons WEIGHT 29,500 lbs. (empty) 52,500 lbs. (loaded) MAXIMUM SPEED 603 mph at 35,000 feet SERVICE CEILING 52,000 ft. MAXIMUM RANGE 1,250 miles on internal fuel OUTBOARD ELEVON FACETED SKIN OF RADAR- ALUMINUM ABSORBENT INTERNAL MATERIAL STRUCTURE RIGHT MAIN THE OPPOSITION LANDING GEAR The S-125 Neva/Pechora surface- to-air missile system was first deployed around Moscow in 1961, but from 1964 on was eclipsed by the improved S-125M and S-125M-1. Code-named “GA-3 Goa” by NATO, it consists of two to four two-stage rockets capable of hitting aircraft flying at lower altitudes, guided by three radar systems. The F-117 was specifically designed to foil missile systems such as these. 2 4 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

GENERAL PARTY CRASHER ELECTRIC Debuting as part of the F-117’s F404-GE-F1D2 ordnance during Operation LOW BYPASS Desert Storm in 1991, the TURBOFAN GBU-27 Paveway III is a ENGINES laser-guided weapon with “bunker-busting” capability. The 2,000-pound guided bomb, which is 13 feet 10 inches long, can be precisely steered to its target within a range of 10 miles—despite the lack of a propulsion system. AERIAL REFUELING PORT ADVANCED CREW ESCAPE SYSTEM (ACES) II EJECTION SEAT PILOT’S HEAD-UP DISPLAY FORWARD- LOOKING INFRARED TURRET GRILLED ENGINE INLET SPRING-LOADED NOSE PITOT TUBES INTAKE SECTION LANDING ILLUSTRATION: STEVE KARP; PHOTOS: U.S. AIR FORCE RELIEF DOOR GEAR j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 25

1 2 3 45 8 67 12 9 10 11 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 21 25 22 24 26 27 28 LOCKHEED F-117A NIGHTHAWK COCKPIT 1. HUD (head-up display) 7. Liquid oxygen indicator 15. Engine performance Weapon release switch, 2. Dual FCS (flight control 8. Auxillary navigation panel indicator trim switch, designate 9. IRADS (infrared acquisition select switch systems) light 16. Fuel quantity indicator 22. Oxygen regulator panel 3. Left multifunction and detection system) 17. Emergency gear T-handle 23. Engine start panel sensor display 18. Brake system select switch 24. CDNU navigation interface display 10. 24-hour clock 19. Brake anti-skid switch 25. Throttle 4. Data entry panel 11. Altimeter 20. Landing gear control 26. ACES II ejection seat 5. Right multifunction 12. Armament control panel 27. Computer control panel 13. Radar altitude indicator handle 28. Oxygen hose display 14. Standby attitude indicator 21. Control column 6. Flight pressure hydraulic (buttons, from left): indicator 2 6 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

OPPOSITE: LOCKHEED MARTIN; RIGHT: COURTESY OF LT. COL. WILLIAM B. O’CONNOR (USAF, RET.) thus rendering it “invisible.” ON TARGET The arrow marks March 27, 1999, as the result Using a process known as “faceting,” Rich’s team built a a guided bomb dropped of a SAM fired from about by Lt. Col. Brad O’Connor’s eight miles away. Nighthawks single-seat jet with no curved surfaces whatsoever. It emerged F-117, just before it were generally only visible to _Q\\PP]VLZML[WN QVLQ^QL]ITÆI\\\\ZQIVO]TIZIVLZMK\\IVO]TIZ destroys a mixing tower at radar when their bomb bay plates. The team further reduced the F-117’s infrared sig- the Baric munitions plant doors opened to cast radar sig- nature with a slit-shaped tailpipe to minimize exhaust cross- near Belgrade in April 1999. natures. Lieutenant Colonel sectional volume and maximize rapid mixing of hot exhaust Dale Zelko bailed out of with cool ambient air. Afterburners were eliminated because of Almost all the strategic mili- the stricken aircraft and was the hot exhaust they created. The Nighthawk would be subsonic tary targets in Kosovo were recovered by a U.S. Air Force since breaking the sound barrier produced a sonic boom and destroyed by the third day rescue team. heated up the aircraft skin, increasing its IR signature. WN \\PMKIUXIQOV5QTWíM^QȎ¼[ Serbs still refused to capitu- The air campaign ended The oddly constructed “Hopeless Diamond” had neither late and continued assaulting on June 11, 1999, with the \\PM[XMMLVWZUIVM]^MZIJQTQ\\aWN IÅOP\\MZ¸_PQKPQ\\_I[VM^MZ the ethnic Albanians. NATO 3]UIVW^I<ZMI\\a5QTWíM^QȎ intended to be. It was an attack bomber that emitted virtually strikes turned to strategic tar- was eventually arrested by his no radar signature with landing gear retracted and bomb bay gets such as bridges, govern- own people and charged with doors closed. ment facilities, factories and crimes against humanity. He industrial plants. died in prison before his trial “No aircraft…that ugly could possibly be any good,” Kelly produced a verdict. Johnson commented, perhaps still dismayed because it didn’t Two Americans died dur- TWWSUWZMTQSMIÆaQVO[I]KMZ ing the air campaign. Army The F-117 fought once +PQMN ?IZZIV\\7‫ٻ‬KMZ[,I^QL again when the long war Many other inglorious names were subsequently attached to Gibbs and Kevin Reichert against Iraq began in March the airplane: Roach, Wobbly Goblin, Stinkbug. Pilots simply were killed when a techni- 2003. The first U.S. war- called it the Black Jet. cal malfunction caused their plane constructed entirely on )0PMTQKWX\\MZ\\WKZI[PIVL top-secret stealth technology NW_W^MZ3W[W^W7¼+WVVWZÆM_WVMWN WVTa*TIKS explode during a night train- remained the most invisible 2M\\[M^MZUIV]NIK\\]ZMLQVKT]LQVOÅ^M\\M[\\IQZKZIN\\I[ ing mission over Albania. and most deadly aircraft in triple-A lashed across the night sky. He recalled Win- the world until the Air Force ston Churchill’s comment about there being “noth- The only Nighthawk ever retired it on April 22, 2008, ing more exhilarating than to be shot at without result.” lost in battle went down on replacing it with the F-22 Raptor and soon the F-35. <PM.KW]TLJMXZMXZWOZIUUML\\W^QZ\\]ITTaÆaQ\\[MTN WV\\W a target. The stealth jet was inherently unstable, and required Lieutenant Colonel Brad KWV[\\IV\\KWZZMK\\QWV[NZWUIÆaJa_QZM[a[\\MU\\WUIQV\\IQVKWV- O’Connor retired from active \\ZWTTMLÆQOP\\ duty in 2007. He went from XQTW\\QVO\\PM*TIKS2M\\\\WÆaQVO About three minutes out, O’Connor’s aircraft made a pre- I + ;Sa\\ZIQV I[ I ^WT]V- programmed climb that took him above all the AAA except the teer for the WWII Airborne 57mm shells. At two minutes out, he focused on his target display Demonstration Team in showing the Baric munitions plant and ignored the pyrotechnics Frederick, Okla. The plane he W]\\[QLM\\PMKWKSXQ\\<PMÆQXWN I[_Q\\KPXTIKML\\PMK]Z[WZWVI VW_ÆQM[Boogie Baby, previ- mixing tower at the plant. Now concentrating on his bombing ously delivered paratroopers run, he tuned out urgent radio chatter in the background about onto drop zones in Normandy surface-to-air missile activity and ignored the fact that he was WV,,IaQV! well within SAM range. Charles W. Sasser spent 29 years Aloud, he talked himself through the procedure. “Level attack, in active and reserve service with Record, Ready, Narrow, Cued, MPT [manual point tracking].” the U.S. Navy and Army Special Forces before retiring. He is the He felt the bomb bay doors open and the 2,000-pound laser- author of more than 60 books O]QLMLJWUJLZWX<MV[MKWVL[TI\\MZPQ[TI[MZ¹I]\\WÅZMº[aU- and some 3,500 magazine arti- bol appeared. He counted down in unison with the computer cles and short stories. Additional the seconds until impact. reading: Stealth Fighter: A Year in the Life of an F-117 )\\QVaX]‫ٺ‬IXXMIZMLWVPQ[\\IZOM\\LQ[XTIaNWTTW_MLJa[PWKS Pilot, by Lt. Col. William B. waves that showed a direct hit. His Nighthawk then made a pre- O’Connor (USAF, ret.). programmed hard turn east toward Belgrade and his secondary \\IZOM\\\\PM6W^Q;ILZMÅVMZaVWZ\\P_M[\\WN \\PMKQ\\a¹?PI\\IPMTT of a way to make a living,” O’Connor muttered to himself. Later he learned from pilots in adjacent zones that a barrage of AAA had followed him through the turn and that several SAMs had been shot toward him, enemy radar having appar- ently glimpsed him when his bomb bay opened. Concentrating on his display screens coupled with a severely limited view out- side the cockpit had kept him blissfully unaware of threats com- ing his way, but now he felt an adrenaline rush. Churchill was right. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 27

PACIFIC THUNDERBOLT ACE COLONEL NEEL KEARBY WAS AMONG THE TOP SCORERS IN THE PACIFIC WHEN HE PUSHED HIS LUCK TOO FAR WHILE CHASING EDDIE RICKENBACKER’S RECORD BY JOHN STANAWAY SOMETHING TO PROVE Lt. Col. Neel Kearby (far right) leads two flights of the 348th Fighter Group on a patrol from Port Moresby, New Guinea. Inset: Kearby, now with V Fighter Command, shows off his 15 victories as of December 3, 1943. 28 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 29

P-47 PROPONENT Kearby with his P-47D-2 Thunderbolt, the first Fiery Ginger. Opposite: A crane unloads a newly arrived P-47D in New Guinea, where it will be assigned to the 348th Fighter Group.

NEEL KEARBY the dynamic leader of the Fifth in New Guinea, was determined to take the initiative in the South- ACHIEVED SOME _M[\\8IKQÅK)T\\PW]OP)TTQMLUQTQ\\IZaXTIVVMZ[PIL decided to give priority to the European theater, REMARKABLE Kenney prevailed on American decision-makers to send him enough equipment and manpower to THINGS BEFORE UW]V\\W‫ٺ‬MV[Q^MWXMZI\\QWV[<PM \\P_I[WVMWN  the concessions sent to his command. HIS LAMENTABLY There was a general consensus against the P-47 SHORT LIFE ENDED QV\\PM8IKQÅK5W[\\KWUUIVLMZ[JMTQM^MLQ\\_I[ too heavy for combat with highly maneuverable OVER NEW GUINEA Japanese fighters, and its limited range made it undesirable for the long-distance operations IN MARCH 1944. typical in the area. Kenney, however, was inter- ested in building up his forces and knew that any He became a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot in Sep- equipment could be used to maximum capability. \\MUJMZ!IVLQV!_I[KWUUIVLQVOW‫ٻ‬- When he heard the 348th and its P-47s would cer of the 14th Pursuit Squadron in the Panama arrive at Port Moresby sometime in June, he was Canal Zone. By October 1942, he was a major in reportedly so pleased that he said he would meet command of the 348th Fighter Group. Within the Kearby with a brass band. According to Kenney, next 18 months he would take charge of the Fifth _PMV\\PMaÅVITTaLQLUMM\\\\PMÅZ[\\\\PQVO4\\+WT Air Force’s V Fighter Command, be recognized as 3MIZJaI[SML_I[_PMZMPMKW]TLÅVL\\PMVMIZM[\\ \\PM\\WX8<P]VLMZJWT\\XQTW\\QV\\PM8IKQÅKIVL Japanese. The general promised imminent action earn the Medal of Honor. IVLKWUUMV\\ML\\WPQ[[]JWZLQVI\\M[\\PI\\\\PMÅOP\\MZ leader looked like money in the bank. )TUW[\\NZWU\\PMÅZ[\\\\QUMPM\\WWS\\WIÅOP\\MZ cockpit, Kearby developed a reputation as a formi- Kearby studied the tactical situation while LIJTMLWOÅOP\\MZ0Q[NIUM[XZMIL\\W\\PMXWQV\\\\PI\\ PMPWVML\\PMÆaQVOIVLWZOIVQbI\\QWVIT other young pilots sought him out to help sharpen skills of his personnel to prepare them for their skills. One pilot pestered Kearby with such KWUJI\\?Q\\PM‫ٺ‬MK\\Q^M[]XXWZ\\NZWUIV insistence that a series of mock combats was eager Fifth Air Force command, the group’s P-47s IZZIVOMLNWZPQ[JMVMÅ\\<PM\\_WUMV\\WWSW‫ٺ‬QV were ready for action by the beginning of August. Seversky P-35s—the sire of the Republic P-47 that would carry Kearby to glory. The practice encoun- Kearby’s enthusiasm for the P-47 irritated some ter started on equal terms, but Kearby quickly ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN STANAWAY UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED; RIGHT: NATIONAL ARCHIVES gained the advantage behind his opponent. With every skill at his command the young pilot tried to M^ILMPQ[I\\\\IKSMZWVTa\\WTWWSIZW]VLIVLÅVL Kearby close enough to be seen calmly lighting a cigarette behind his windscreen! The Seversky Company became Republic Air- KZIN\\IVL\\PM8[\\IZ\\ML\\WKWUMW‫\\ٺ‬PMI[[MUJTa TQVM[QV!7VMWN \\PMÅZ[\\]VQ\\[\\WKWV^MZ\\\\W\\PM new type was the 348th Fighter Group, which was activated at the end of September. Major Kearby took charge of the unit in October 1942, and was Y]QKSTaQUXZM[[MLJa\\PM\\WVOQIV\\WN IÅOP\\MZ The 348th was assigned to the Fifth Air Force in early 1943. Lieutenant General George Kenney, j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 31

PACIFIC RIVALS P-38 Lightning devotees, who heatedly chal- KWTTQ[QWV?Q\\P\\PM \\P¼[ÅZ[\\\\_WKWVÅZUML^QK- lenged him to a mock combat. Kearby accepted \\WZQM[NWZVW)UMZQKIVTW[[M[\\PM8_I[W‫\\ٺ‬WI Kearby and his men the challenge, and on August 1 met 16-victory good start in the theater. conduct a free fighter P-38 ace Dick Bong in the skies over Port Moresby. sweep in July 1943 Witnesses judged the contest according to their Kearby himself would account for the next group (top left), while a aircraft or pilot preference, but objective opinion victories. In his combat report for the September 348th Group P-47 [MMU[\\WZI\\M\\PML]MTILZI_*WVO¼[ÆQOP\\TWO[QU- 4 bomber-interception mission along the Huon awaits its next mission ply states that he met Kearby in a mock combat 8MVQV[]TIPMZMKW]V\\ML\"¹1_I[TMILQVO\\PMÅN\\P in a revetment at Port that lasted about 35 minutes. flight and when at 25,000 feet I observed one Moresby (above). JWUJMZ_Q\\PIÅOP\\MZWVMIKP_QVOI\\ITW_IT\\Q- Kearby’s chief rivals The 348th’s tactics centered on the P-47’s high- tude. After observing them for two or three min- included Dick Bong altitude performance. Kearby stressed the abil- utes I decided to investigate. I hesitated because I (above right), with his Q\\aWN \\PMTIZOMÅOP\\MZ\\W[\\ZQSMY]QKSTaNZWU\\PM hated to lose that precious altitude, and from the weapon of choice, heights to shred unwary Japanese formations with ZILQWKWV^MZ[I\\QWV\\PMZM_MZMÆQOP\\[ITTIZW]VLº the P-38 Lightning. its eight .50-caliber guns. Flights were arranged to OQ^M\\PM)UMZQKIV[M^MZaIL^IV\\IOMQVÅVLQVO\\PM When nobody else went after the Japanese enemy below before the Japanese were aware of bomber, Kearby released his external tank and their presence. dived on the enemy. “When at about 3000 feet I saw the red balls on the wings of the Oscars and <PM \\PLZM_ÅZ[\\JTWWLL]ZQVOI\\ZIV[XWZ\\ [Mitsubishi G4M] Betty. I closed to 1500 feet and escort mission to Marilinan on August 16. After WXMVMLÅZM1TML\\PM*M\\\\aIVL7[KIZIJW]\\WVM the transports landed, about a dozen Nakajima half radii, hoping to get both of them, but was 3Q¹7[KIZ[ºI\\\\IKSML?Q\\P\\_WJ]Z[\\[WN ÅZM most interested in the Betty. Tracers were seen Lieutenant Thomas Barber sent one down into a passing around the Oscar, and then, closing in, the wild spin. Captain Max Wiecks took on another *M\\\\aJ]Z[\\QV\\WÆIUMº 7[KIZQVIPMILWVXI[[IVL\\PMMVMUaÅOP\\MZNMTT QVÆIUM[IN\\MZ\\PM\\_WXTIVM[VIZZW_TaI^WQLMLI Kearby’s wingman Lieutenant George Orr, whose guns had jammed while he pursued the sec- ond Oscar, saw the enemy fighter that Kearby attacked dive into the water. It was a spectacular vic- \\WZaQV_PQKP\\PMÅOP\\MZTMILMZUIVIOML\\WI\\\\IKS \\_W\\IZOM\\[[QU]T\\IVMW][TaNWZPQ[ÅZ[\\\\_WSQTT[ Ten days later Kearby was leading eight P-47s on a top cover mission for transports bound for Malahang when he received a radar report of bogies in the area. He shot down a Mitsubishi Ki-46 “Dinah” twin-engine reconnaissance plane NWZPQ[\\PQZLKWVÅZUML^QK\\WZa1\\_W]TLJM\\PMTI[\\ tally for him until his most celebrated combat. During this period of the New Guinea cam- paign, Lockheed’s P-38 was establishing its reputation as the premier offensive ÅOP\\MZQV\\PMIZMI1\\[ZIVOMIVLLWUQV- ion over Japanese aircraft made it the weapon of KPWQKMNWZW‫ٺ‬MV[Q^MWXMZI\\QWV[IVLQ\\NWZKMLW\\PMZ .QN\\P)QZ.WZKMÅOP\\MZ[\\W\\ISMIJIKS[MI\\3MIZJa was determined to change that situation, so he 32 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

pressed every opportunity to place his P-47s in the BY MID- IZMIWV\\PM!\\PL]ZQVO_PQKPIOZW]XWN [Q` center of battle. OCTOBER 1943, Mitsubishi F1M2 “Pete” floatplanes was spot- KEARBY WAS \\ML\\ISQVOW‫ٺ‬NZWUIVQ[TIVL<PMTQ\\\\TM2IXIVM[M One of the ways he sought to take advantage of THE FASTEST biplanes were in the worst possible situation, with the Thunderbolt’s strengths was to commit it to SCORING _PQ\\M\\ISMW‫_ٺ‬ISM[[\\QTT\\ZIQTQVOJMPQVL_PMV\\PM \\PMNZMMÅOP\\MZ[_MMX0Q[ÅZ[\\WXXWZ\\]VQ\\aKIUM AMERICAN Americans descended on them. All four P-47s WV7K\\WJMZ_PMVPMTMLNW]ZÅOP\\MZ[W^MZ\\PM PILOT OF destroyed one Pete each in the first pass, then \\MMUQVO2IXIVM[MJI[MI\\?M_IS3MIZJa¼[ÆQOP\\ THE WAR. turned for a second pass. Kearby sent another arrived over the area at 26,000 feet around 10:30 ÆWI\\XTIVMQV\\W\\PM[MI_Q\\PI!LMOZMMLMÆMK\\QWV IU.WZ\\aÅ^MUQV]\\M[TI\\MZPM[QOP\\MLI[QVOTM ACES HIGH [PW\\_PQTMIVW\\PMZ8XQTW\\KTIQUML\\PM[Q`\\P MVMUaÅOP\\MZPMZMXWZ\\MLQ\\I[IBMZWJ]\\Q\\_I[ Kearby relaxes with Japanese aircraft. almost certainly an Oscar) 1,500 feet below, and other 348th pilots QUUMLQI\\MTaI\\\\IKSML7XMVQVOÅZMNZWUIJW]\\ at the Port Moresby Kearby now had 12 victories to his credit, all aIZL[3MIZJa[I_\\PM2IXIVM[MÅOP\\MZJ]Z[\\ officer’s club. [KWZML_Q\\PQV[Q`_MMS[*a\\PQ[XWQV\\QV\\PM_IZ QV\\WÆIUM[<PMVPMbWWUMLJIKS\\WNMM\\ WVTa\\_WXQTW\\[QV\\PM8IKQÅK\\PMI\\MZJW\\PÆaQVO and searched for new prey. After 10 minutes, he 8 [_MZMIPMILWN PQUQVV]UJMZWN ^QK\\WZQM[\" saw about 36 Oscars and Kawasaki Ki-61 “Tonys” Dick Bong with 15 downed over nine months and KW^MZQVOILWbMV]VQLMV\\QÅMLJWUJMZ[ITWVO\\PM <WUUa5K/]QZM_Q\\PQV_MMS[\\PW]OPPM KWI[\\I\\NMM\\0MTML\\PMÆQOP\\LW_VQVINI[\\ had been shot down on October 17 after claiming dive onto the tail of the enemy force. \\PZMMSQTT[IVL_W]TL[XMVL\\PMVM`\\[Q`_MMS[QVI hospital). At that time Kearby was the fastest scor- +IX\\IQV2WPV5WWZM_I[ÆaQVOWV3MIZJa¼[ ing American pilot of the war. _QVOIVLPIL[MMV\\PMÅZ[\\7[KIZOWLW_VQV\\PM _I\\MZ5WWZM\\PM[\\;Y]ILZWVWXMZI\\QWV[W‫ٻ‬- On November 24, Kearby, by then a full cer, was glad to have the opportunity to go along on colonel, became the leader of V Fighter a promising mission as his commander’s wingman. Command, boosting his influence but Within a few seconds he witnessed Kearby shoot also putting the brakes on his meteoric down another Oscar and Captain Bill “Dinghy” aerial scoring. At least he was now in a position to Dunham, one of Kearby’s close comrades from PI[\\MV\\PMKWV^MZ[QWVWN ÅOP\\MZ]VQ\\[\\W\\PM8 PQ[LIa[QV8IVIUIÆIUMI<WVa\\PI\\_I[\\ZaQVO <PM_WZTL_QLM[PWZ\\IOMWN 8 [JMKIUMIK]\\M \\WKTW[MWV\\PMÆQOP\\TMILMZ¼[\\IQT?Q\\PWVTaI[TQOP\\ I\\\\PMMVLWN !M[XMKQITTaQV\\PM;W]\\P_M[\\ rudder adjustment, Kearby slipped in behind a 8IKQÅK_PQKP_I[ITW_XZQWZQ\\aWV\\PM[]XXTa third Oscar that took no evasive action before it chain and had just lost a number of Lightnings IT[W_MV\\LW_VQVÆIUM[AM\\IVW\\PMZ7[KIZ_I[ during the Rabaul campaign. above and quickly came into his sights, going down in full view of Dunham and Moore. *a2IV]IZa!IJW]\\PITN \\PMÅOP\\MZ[QV> Fighter Command were P-47s, annoying many With the four P-47s’ fuel running low, Moore NWZUMZ8 XQTW\\[_PWUQ[[ML\\PMZIVOMIVLW\\PMZ remembered in his after-action report hearing advantages of the Lockheed twin. Some pilots Dunham and Major Raymond Gallagher call became accustomed to the P-47 and learned to over the radio that they were turning for home. appreciate its merits, but most continued to dislike Moore also noted that he spotted Kearby in the the “Jug” and blamed Kearby for its proliferation. UQL[\\WN IÆWKSWN 2IXIVM[MÅOP\\MZ[,Q^QVO\\WPQ[ TMILMZ¼[IQL5WWZMWXMVMLÅZMWVI<WVaIVL[I_ By any measure, Kearby hated his job as head \\PMÅOP\\MZNITTQVOQVÆIUM[]V\\QTQ\\XI[[MLNZWU^QM_ WN \\PMKWUUIVL0M[\\QTTUIVIOML\\WKTIQU[M^MV under his wing, to become a probable victory. ^QK\\WZQM[JMNWZMPM\\WWSKWUUIVLWN \\PM!\\P OPPOSITE TOP RIGHT & BOTTOM: NATIONAL ARCHIVES <PMVZMITQ\\a[M\\QVNWZ5WWZM0M[I_IVW\\PMZ <WVaNITT\\W3MIZJa¼[ÅZMJMNWZM\\PZMMMVMUaÅOP\\- ers came down on his own tail. The Tonys followed Moore in a dive until Kearby came to his rescue IVL[PW\\LW_V\\PM\\PQZLÅOP\\MZQV\\PM[\\ZQVO5WWZM _I[PIXXa\\WKWVÅZU3MIZJa¼[[Q`\\PSQTTNWZ\\PM day. The two Americans circled the area long enough to count the plumes of smoke emerging from the green foliage and blue sea. Kearby would JMI_IZLML\\PM5MLITWN 0WVWZQV2IV]IZa! for his bravery on that mission. 7V7K\\WJMZ!\\PM \\PM[KWZ\\MLIOZW]X WN *[\\W)TM`Q[PINMVIVLLW_VMLILWbMVMVMUa interceptors for no American losses. At the same \\QUM3MIZJaTMLIÅOP\\MZ[_MMXW^MZ?M_ISIVL [PW\\LW_VIV7[KIZNWZPQ[\\PKWVÅZUMLSQTT Kearby led another P-47 sweep over the Wewak j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 3 3

Kearby felt increased pressure to win the com- petition, but there was a dark side to the race to beat Rickenbacker. Marine Corps Captain Joe Foss had equaled the record as early as January 1943, but he was shot down and nearly killed in \\PM XZWKM[[ ) NMTTW_ 5IZQVM 5IRWZ /ZMOWZa “Pappy” Boyington, was also shot down and cap- tured in his bid to break Rickenbacker’s record. )VW\\PMZ5IZQVMXQTW\\+IX\\IQV:WJMZ\\0IV[WV _I[SQTTMLR][\\I[PMZMIKPML\\PM^QK\\WZaUIZS Lynch would be killed on March 8 while chasing the record with Bong. Whether they realized it or not, all the aces were tossing prudence to the wind NWZ\\PMPWVWZWN JMKWUQVO\\PMÅZ[\\)UMZQKIV\\W attain 27 victories. TRIPLE ACE PLUS Bomb Wing on February 26. This new assign- OV5IZKP3MIZJa\\WWSW‫ٺ‬QV\\PMIN\\MZ- UMV\\I\\TMI[\\OI^MPQUUWZMWXXWZ\\]VQ\\QM[\\WÆa VWWV\\WÆaI[_MMXW^MZ\\PM<ILRQIZMI Kearby scored kills missions with his beloved 348th Fighter Group. with his old comrade, Captain Dunham, on December 22 and Meanwhile Bong had raised the scoring bar in IVL IVW\\PMZ  \\P IKM +IX\\IQV ;IU 23, 1943, raising his 6W^MUJMZ!JMKWUQVO\\PMÅZ[\\=;)ZUa *TIQZ<PM\\PZMM8[TMN\\\\PMVM_Ta_WVIQZÅMTL tally to 17. His main pilot to attain his 20th victory. Now the goal was to I\\;IQLWZR][\\VWZ\\PWN \\PM0]WV/]TNI\\W¼KTWKS opponent, the Ki-43 surpass Captain Eddie Rickenbacker’s legendary and were in the combat area an hour later. “Oscar” (below), was World War I record of 26 air victories. nimble but inferior 3MIZJa_I[\\PMÅZ[\\\\W[QOP\\I3Q<WVaÆa to the Thunderbolt Bong and Lt. Col. Thomas Lynch had been QVO JMTW_ IJW]\\  NMM\\ W^MZ \\PM IQZ[\\ZQX I\\ in most respects. taken out of combat at the end of 1943, but had ,IO]I;QVKM\\PM)UMZQKIV[_MZMI\\IVIT\\Q\\]LM ZM\\]ZVML\\W\\PM\\PMI\\MZL]ZQVO\\PMÅZ[\\UWV\\P[WN  WN NMM\\\\PMMVMUaÅOP\\MZ_I[ITTW_ML\\W !\\WÆaNZMM[_MMX[\\WOM\\PMZ_PQTMI\\\\IKPML\\W land safely. Height was critical, so Kearby kept his V Fighter Command. Bong was still the ranking ÅOP\\MZ[QVIVIL^IV\\IOMW][XW[Q\\QWV6W\\UWZM ace, with 21 victories, while Lynch returned with 16. \\PIVÅ^MUQV]\\M[TI\\MZ\\PM)UMZQKIV[WJ[MZ^ML three Japanese bombers coming in from the sea Kearby, now with 19 victories, kept the contest I\\IJW]\\NMM\\.ZWU\\PMQZPQOP^IV\\IOMXWQV\\ tight when he led yet another four-plane P-47 \\PM)UMZQKIV[\\PW]OP\\\\PMa_MZM5Q\\[]JQ[PQ/5 [_MMXW^MZ?M_ISWV2IV]IZa!)\\\\IKSQVOIOZW]X “Nell” twin-engine aircraft, but postwar review of 18 Tonys head-on directly over the harbor, he of Japanese records suggests they were in fact sent one down with smoke trailing behind. He Kawasaki Ki-48 “Lilys,” which had arrived from caught another a few miles out to sea, and watched the Hollandia area at about that time. Q\\NITTQVÆIUM[QV\\W\\PM_I\\MZNWZPQ[[\\^QK\\WZa This time Kearby ordered tanks dropped and The race of aces heated up in March, when led the three P-47s down in a fast dive on the Bong scored his 22nd victory and Lynch his 20th. enemy. Captain Blair, on the right, watched as the Japanese planes circled the airstrip, almost certainly in preparation for landing. Blair saw Dunham attack the bomber at left, and it burst into ÆIUM[IVLKZI[PML When the range was down to about 200 yards, Blair concentrated his fire on the right-hand JWUJMZ0MÆI[PMLW^MZ\\PM\\IZOM\\I\\I^MZaPQOP speed, then looked back and saw it crash into the ground. In the same moment he also saw Dunham UISMIVQVM‫ٺ‬MK\\Q^MXI[[I\\\\PMKMV\\MZ\\IZOM\\_PQKP PILM[KIXML3MIZJa¼[][]ITTaÆI_TM[[IQU Dunham broke to the left to come full around heading in the opposite direction. He could see that all three bombers had gone down in the R]VOTMIVL\\PI\\3MIZJa_I[KTI_QVONWZIT\\Q\\]LM Kearby had evidently made a complete circle to attack and destroy the third Japanese bomber, and _I[VW_ÆaQVOU]KP\\WWTW_IVL[TW_\\WM^ILMIV 7[KIZ\\PI\\_I[KTW[QVOQV\\WÅZQVOZIVOM<PM7[KIZ pilot, probably from the nearby 77th Sentai, was 34 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

LASTING LEGACY After Kearby’s death, the 348th upheld his aggressive tradition in the Pacific. OPPOSITE TOP: MYRON DAVIS/THE LIFE PICTURE COLLECTION/GETTY IMAGES; apparently intent on exacting revenge for the loss IN MEMORIUM 0WTTIVLQI0MJMKIUM)UMZQKI¼[IKMWN IKM[_Q\\P OPPOSITE BOTTOM: NATIONAL ARCHIVES; RIGHT: NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE U.S. AIR FORCE of his three comrades. Dunham frantically dived ^QK\\WZQM[J]\\_I[SQTTML_PQTM\\M[\\QVOI4WKS in a head-on attack and watched his tracers hit the Fiery Ginger IV’s PMML8 RM\\ÅOP\\MZWV)]O][\\! MVMUaÅOP\\MZM^MVI[\\PM7[KIZ[MV\\IJ]Z[\\QV\\W recovered vertical 3MIZJa¼[KWKSXQ\\IVLMVOQVM stabilizer is displayed 7VMÅVITVW\\MZMTI\\M[\\W\\PM_ZMKSIOMWN \\PM next to a P-47D 83MIZJaÆM_WVPQ[TI[\\UQ[[QWV1V\\PM Meanwhile Blair had recovered to the right bearing its full livery at ZMUIQVQVOXQMKM[WN \\IQTIVLW\\PMZZMKWOVQbIJTM IJW^M\\PM[KMVMWN \\PMÅOP\\IVL[I_,]VPIU the National Museum XIZ\\[_MZM\\ZIV[XWZ\\MLW]\\WN \\PMKZI[P[Q\\M<PW[M KTQUJIN\\MZPQ[I\\\\IKSWV\\PM7[KIZ.W]ZKWT]UV[ of the U.S. Air Force. artifacts were donated to the National Museum of of smoke now marked the demise of the Japanese \\PM=;)QZ.WZKMQV,Ia\\WV7PQWQVIVL IQZKZIN\\3MIZJa_I[VW_PMZM\\WJM[MMV KIVVW_JM^QM_MLVM`\\\\WI[UIZ\\TaLMKWZI\\ML 8,XIQV\\MLQV+WTWVMT3MIZJa¼[KWTWZ[ )N\\MZ[MIZKPQVO\\PMIZMI,]VPIUIVL*TIQZÆM_ JIKS\\WTIVLI\\;IQLWZIZW]VL\"<PMa\\ZQML\\W John Stanaway is the author of 3MIZJa¼[<P]VLMZ KITT3MIZJa[M^MZIT\\QUM[L]ZQVO\\PMÆQOP\\JIKSQV JWT\\[\"<PM \\P.QOP\\MZ/ZW]XQV?WZTL?I Z11 \\PM^IQVPWXM\\PI\\PM_I[IJTM\\WVI^QOI\\MPQ[KZQX- and 5][\\IVOIVL<P]VLMZJWT\\)KM[WN \\PM8IKQÅK XTMLÅOP\\MZPWUM,]VPIU_I[[WJM[QLMPQU[MTN  IVL+*1, which are recommended for further reading. _Q\\POZQMN \\PI\\PMPIL\\WJMZM[\\ZIQVMLNZWU\\ISQVO W‫ٺ‬WVI[MIZKPUQ[[QWVQV\\PMOI\\PMZQVOLIZS?PMV no word was received from other stations into the VQOP\\Q\\_I[WJ^QW][\\PI\\\\PMQVLWUQ\\IJTM3MIZJa PIL\\WJMTQ[\\MLI[UQ[[QVOQVIK\\QWV 6MMT3MIZJaNMTTQV\\W\\PMKZIKS[WN PQ[\\WZa_PMV PM_I[W‫ٻ‬KQITTaTQ[\\MLI[SQTTMLQVIK\\QWVI\\_IZ¼[ MVL0Q[\\ITTaWN KWVÅZUML^QK\\WZQM[_I[\\PM PQOPM[\\NWZI8XQTW\\QV\\PM8IKQÅKIVLPM_I[ WVMWN WVTa\\_W<P]VLMZJWT\\XQTW\\[\\WZMKMQ^M\\PM 5MLITWN 0WVWZQV??110Q[JWLaNW]VLIJW]\\ UQTM[NZWU?M_IS_PMZMPMPILXIZIKP]\\ML QV\\W\\PMR]VOTMIVL[]J[MY]MV\\TaLQMLNZWUPQ[ _W]VL[_I[ZMKW^MZMLJaI:WaIT)][\\ZITQIV)QZ .WZKM[MIZKP\\MIUIN\\MZ\\PM_IZIVLZM\\]ZVML\\W PQ[PWUM[\\I\\MWN <M`I[NWZIY]QM\\N]VMZITQV!! ,QKS*WVOÅVITTaJZWSM:QKSMVJIKSMZ¼[ZMKWZL WV)XZQT_PMVPMKTIQUML\\PZMM7[KIZ[W^MZ j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 3 5



NIGHT OWL HEINKEL PRODUCED ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE NIGHT FIGHTERS OF WORLD WAR II, BUT NAZI BUREAUCRATS REPEATEDLY SHOT IT DOWN BY STEPHAN WILKINSON NOCTURNAL PREDATOR An He-219 bristling with radar antennas finds a victim—an Avro Lancaster—in the night skies over Germany, in Mark Postlethwaite’s illustration. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 37

THERE WERE MANY NIGHT *M[QLM[ QV\\MV[MTa LQ[TQSQVO FIGHTERS IN WORLD WAR II, \\PMLQ[TQSIJTM-ZV[\\0MQVSMT 5QTKP _IV\\ML \\W ZMTa ]XWV VQOP\\ÅOP\\MZ[JI[MLWVM`Q[\\ BUT ONLY TWO WERE DESIGNED QVOLM[QOV[¸M[XMKQITTa\\PM 2]VSMZ[ 2]  IV ]XZI FROM THE GROUND UP TO PLAY \\ML ^MZ[QWV WN  \\PM [QUXTM ^MZ[I\\QTM IVL XZW^MV 2]  IN THE DARK: THE NORTHROP 9]IV\\Q\\a \\Z]UXML Y]ITQ\\a 5QTKPJMTQM^ML*M\\\\MZ\\WPI^M P-61 BLACK WIDOW AND THE PWZLM[WN OWWLVQOP\\ÅOP\\MZ[ ZI\\PMZ\\PIVINM_OZMI\\WVM[ RADAR-LADEN HEINKEL HE-219. ,M[QOVML QV ! IVL ÅZ[\\ÆW_VQV!\\PM=P] MV\\MZMLKWUJI\\QV2]VM! <PMZM[\\_MZMUWLQÅKI\\QWV[WN ÅOP\\MZ[IVLTQOP\\JWUJMZ[WZQOQ <PM IQZXTIVM _I[ ITT LWVM VITTaQV\\MVLMLNWZLIaTQOP\\JI\\\\TMIVL\\PMZM[]T\\[ZIVOMLNZWU TQ\\MZITTaW]\\WN OI[IVL_Q\\P []XMZJ¸XIZ\\QK]TIZTa\\PM5M[[MZ[KPUQ\\\\5M/IVL[M^MZIT \\WWNM_\\ZIQVMLKZM_[\\WNTa ^MZ[QWV[WN \\PMLM0I^QTTIVL5W[Y]Q\\W¸\\WVMIZTa][MTM[[ Q\\IaMIZIVLIPITN TI\\MZ_MTT <PM0M!_I[VMQ\\PMZ[]XMZJVWZ][MTM[[J]\\I[\\PMÅN\\P JMNWZM \\PM _IZ QV -]ZWXM PREVIOUS PAGES: ©MARK POSTLETHWAITE; ABOVE: NATIONAL ARCHIVES; OPPOSITE: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM (TOP) C 3371, (BOTTOM) CE 121 OZILMZ¼[ZMXWZ\\KIZLZMIL[Q\\LQLVW\\_WZS]X\\WQ\\[XW\\MV\\QIT1\\ MVLMLQV5Ia!<PMTI[\\ _I[IKTI[[QK]VLMZIKPQM^MZ 0M!^QK\\WZa_I[VW\\KPML <PMPIZLM[\\JI\\\\TM[\\PM0M!NW]OP\\_MZMXWTQ\\QKIT<PM WV5IZKPWN \\PI\\aMIZ IQZXTIVM_I[ZMXMI\\MLTaKIVKMTMLJa\\PM/MZUIVIQZUQVQ[\\Za 1N  \\PW][IVL[ WN  0M![ (ReichsluftfahrtministeriumWZ:45IVL\\PMV[]ZZMX\\Q\\QW][Ta PIL JMMV J]QT\\ _W]TL \\PMa WZLMZMLJIKSQV\\WXZWL]K\\QWVJaQ\\[MV\\P][QI[\\[QV\\PM4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬M PI^M KPIVOML \\PM _IZ' )\\ <PMKWV\\ZW^MZ[aW^MZ\\PM=P]¸]VW‫ٻ‬KQITTaVIUMLIN\\MZITIZOM _WZ[\\\\PMaKW]TLPI^MNWZKML -]ZI[QIVPWZVMLW_T¸PILUQVQ[\\MZ[UIV]NIK\\]ZMZ[IVLUQT \\PM:).\\WRWQV\\PM)UMZQKIV[ Q\\IZaUMVITTÅOP\\QVOTQSM\\WUKI\\[QVIÆW]Z[IKS*a\\PM\\QUM QVLIaJWUJQVO_PQKPUQOP\\ \\PM[MNWWT[_MZMÅZML\\ZIV[NMZZMLLMILWZW\\PMZ_Q[MLQ[XW[MLWN VW\\PI^MJMMVJIL\\PQVO1VI OWL BY DAY NM_MZ\\PIV0M![PILJMMVUIV]NIK\\]ZML6WJWLaSVW_[ 5Ia!QV\\MZ^QM__Q\\P4\\ An He-219A of I Gruppe, \\PMM`IK\\V]UJMZ¸ Q[INZMY]MV\\TaX]JTQ[PMLO]M[[¸[QVKM /MV+IZT;XII\\b4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬M NJG.1, shelters at Munster ZMKWZLSMMXQVO_I[VW\\I6IbQXZQWZQ\\aI[\\PM_IZ_W]VLLW_V TMILMZ 0MZUIVV /ZQVO Handorf air base during <PM0M!¼[UW[\\QV\\ZIK\\IJTMWXXWVMV\\_I[-ZPIZL5QTKP ILUQ\\\\ML\\PI\\=;)ZUa)QZ the winter of 1944-45. \\PMÅMTLUIZ[PITQVKPIZOMWN /MZUIVIQZKZIN\\XZWL]K\\QWV .WZKM[LIaTQOP\\ZIQL[_MZMNIZ 38 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

UWZMM‫ٺ‬MK\\Q^M\\PIV\\PM:).¼[VQOP\\IZMIJWUJQVO¹<PMXZMKQ- [QWVJWUJQVO_I[LMKQ[Q^Mº/ZQVO[IQL¹,M[\\ZWaMLKQ\\QM[KW]TL JMM^IK]I\\MLJ]\\LM[\\ZWaMLQVL][\\Za_I[LQ‫ٻ‬K]T\\\\WZMXTIKMº SWUM[Ia\\PM=P]KW]TLPI^MJMMV\\PMJM[\\VQOP\\ÅOP\\MZ SOME SAY THE VULNERABLE TARGETS W^MZ -]ZWXM 7\\PMZ[ XIZ\\QK]TIZTa -ZQK ¹?QVSTMº *ZW_V\\PMTI\\MOZMI\\:WaIT6I^a\\M[\\XQTW\\_PWÆM_ UHU COULD HAVE Flares silhouette a Lancaster [M^MZIT0M![IN\\MZ\\PM_IZ\\PW]OP\\Q\\_I[W^MZZI\\ML over Hamburg (above) in <PM=P]PM_ZW\\M¹PILXMZPIX[\\PMVI[\\QM[\\KPIZIK\\MZQ[\\QK BEEN THE BEST 1943. Shredded by a night \\PI\\IVa\\_QVMVOQVMIQZKZIN\\KIVPI^M¸Q\\_I[]VLMZXW_MZML fighter on a mission to Berlin, <PQ[LMNMK\\UISM[\\ISMW‫ٺ‬IKZQ\\QKITUIVM]^MZQV\\PMM^MV\\WN IV NIGHT FIGHTER this Lanc (below) somehow MVOQVMNIQTQVOIVLITIVLQVO_Q\\PWVMMVOQVMW]\\KIVJMMY]ITTa limped back to Sussex. KZQ\\QKIT<PMZMKMZ\\IQVTaKIVJMVWW^MZ[PWW\\COWIZW]VLE_Q\\P OVER EUROPE. \\PM0M!QV\\PI\\KWVLQ\\QWVº )KPQTTM[¼ PMMT Q[ Q\\[ ^]TVMZI- OTHERS THOUGHT JTM XT]UJQVO \\PM IJQTQ\\a \\W ;\\QTT\\PM0M!PIL[M^MZIT[\\ZMVO\\P[?Q\\P\\PZMMN][MTIOM KWVKMV\\ZI\\M ITT \\PM MVOQVM¼[ N]MT\\IVS[\\PM[QbMWN L]UX[\\MZ[Q\\_I[IJTM\\WTWQ\\MZNWZNW]ZWZ IT WAS OVERRATED. XQXM[PW[M[IVL\\]JQVO_Q\\PQV Å^MPW]Z[\\W_IQ\\NWZOZW]VLZILIZ\\WÅVLQ\\\\IZOM\\[_PQTMW\\PMZ I KWUXIK\\ MI[QTa IZUWZML 4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬MVQOP\\ÅOP\\MZ[\\aXQKITTaPIL\\WOWPWUMIN\\MZ!UQV- NMI\\]ZMQ[IZMX\\QTQIVKIVWXa IZMI¸VWTWVOZ]V[\\W_QVO ]\\M[WZ[W1\\[KWKSXQ\\_I[[]XMZJTaTIQLW]\\IVLZWWUaQVIVMZI \\PI\\ ]VKIVVQTa ZM[MUJTM[¸ WZJMTTaUW]V\\MLZILQI\\WZ[ _PMVXQTW\\[\\aXQKITTa_WZSMLIUQL]VXTIVVMLR]UJTM[WN KWV- ITTW_ UM IVW\\PMZ W^MZZQXM \\ZWT[[_Q\\KPM[IVLQV[\\Z]UMV\\[)\\WVMXWQV\\Q\\_I[[]OOM[\\ML UM\\IXPWZ¸\\PMKIZIXIKMWN  <PW[MZW]VLVIKMTTM[XZW- \\PI\\\\PM0M!¼[MV\\QZMJWT\\WV\\_W[MI\\KWKSXQ\\]VQ\\JMOZIN\\ML \\PM[TI^MZQVO\\PWZI`[TI[PQVO ^QLMIUXTMZMI[WV\\WI[[]UM WV\\W\\PM2] <PM0M!¼[WZLVIVKM_I[W^MZXW_MZQVO¸I UWV[\\MZQV\\PMÅTUAlien \\PM0M!_I[XW_MZMLJa UI`QU]UWN \\_WKIVVWV[QV\\PM_QVOZWW\\[NW]ZUWZMQVIJMTTa ZILQITMVOQVM[J]\\QVNIK\\\\PMa \\ZIa]VLMZIVLJMPQVL\\PMKWKSXQ\\IVLaM\\IVW\\PMZXIQZQVIV /MZUIV LM[QOVMZ[ _MZM _MZM,IQUTMZ*MVb,* ]X_IZLIVOTMLSchräge MusikQV[\\ITTI\\QWVIUQL[PQX[ OWWLI\\ZML]KQVOKWWTQVOLZIO QV^MZ\\ML >[ ;]XXW[MLTa NWZMVOQVM[\\PI\\ZMY]QZMLZILQI []XMZ\\]VML\\WX]\\W]\\ 1\\PI[JMKWUMI^QI\\QWVTWZM\\PI\\Schräge MusikUMIV[¹RIbb \\WZ[IVLZI\\PMZ\\PIV[TQVOQVO PWZ[MXW_MZ \\PM  _I[ U][QKºJ]\\\\PI\\Q[IKIVIZL\\PI\\PI[\\ISMVWVITQNMWN Q\\[W_V \\PMJQOJZI[[PMI\\M`KPIVOMZ[ WZQOQVITTaUW]V\\MLQV\\PM[Q` IUWVOIUI\\M]Z4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬MPQ[\\WZQIV[<ZIV[TI\\MLTQ\\MZITTaSchräge ]VLMZ\\PM_QVO[WZQVIJT]‫ٺ‬ _PMMT .MZLQVIVL 8WZ[KPM· MusikUMIV[¹[TIV\\MLU][QKº_PQKPUISM[XMZNMK\\[MV[M[QVKM KPQVKWVÅO]ZI\\QWV\\PMaKPW[M LM[QOVML 5MZKMLM[*MVb \\PMO]VJIZZMT[IZM[TIV\\MLIVL_MKIVIKKMX\\\\PMKWVKMX\\WN  IVV]TIZZILQI\\WZ[¸QV\\MZKWV- < TIVL[XMMLZMKWZLKIZ)\\ O]VÅZMJMQVO¹U][QKº6I\\Q^M/MZUIV[XMISMZ[I‫ٻ‬ZU\\PI\\\\PM VMK\\ML KWWTMZ[ IZZIaML QV I TQ\\MZ[¸XMZKMV\\TIZOMZ \\MZUSchräge Musik_I[VM^MZIXXTQML\\WRIbb KQZKTMIZW]VL\\PMNZWV\\WN \\PM \\PIVI:WTT[:WaKM5MZTQV¸Q\\ MVOQVM<PQ[PIL\\_WIL^IV- _I[JaNIZ\\PMTIZOM[\\>\\PM <PMO]V[_MZMVW\\WVTaW^MZXW_MZQVOJ]\\W^MZSQTT7VMWZ \\IOM[\" MNNQKQMV\\ KWWTQVO IVL 4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬MM^MZÆM_ \\_W_MTTIQUMLZW]VL[NZWUIUUKIVVWV_W]TLITUW[\\ [QVKMITQY]QLKWWTMLMVOQVM¼[ KMZ\\IQVTaJMMVW]OP\\WJZQVOLW_VIJWUJMZIVL[Q`[QUXTa <PM0M!_I[LM[QOVML [MITML\\PMLMIT5IVaKZM_[ZMUW^MLITTJ]\\\\_WWN \\PMPMI^a \\W][M\\PM PX,*/ JMTTa\\ZIaIVL_QVOZWW\\O]V[IVL[WUM[W]ZKM[[Ia\\PI\\VW\\I J]\\ \\PI\\ VM^MZ UILM Q\\ QV\\W [QVOTM0M!QV1GruppeWN Nachtjagdgeschwader162/¸ XZWL]K\\QWV ]VLMZ[KWZQVO \\PM[WTMIQZOZW]X\\WJMN]TTaMY]QXXML_Q\\P=P][¸KIZZQMLI \\PM LIVOMZ[ WN  KWUJQVQVO Schräge MusikUW]V\\ IV ]VXZW^MV MVOQVM _Q\\P I JZIVLVM_IQZNZIUM*MKI][M 5IVaIUM\\IXPWZPI[JMMVM`XMVLML\\WLM[KZQJM\\PMIXXMIZ- IVKMWN \\PM=P]1\\[TWVO[SQVVaN][MTIOMQ[ÆIVSMLJaTMVO\\Pa MVOQVMVIKMTTM[I\\WX[\\ITSaTIVLQVOOMIZIVLQ\\[UW[\\LQ[\\QVK\\Q^M j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 3 9

TECH NOTES HEINKEL HE-219A-7/R1 SPECIFICATIONS in wing roots, two 30mm MAXIMUM SPEED \\PM0M!PIL\\WÆa_Q\\PTM[[ MK 103 and two 20mm MK 151 416 mph at 22,965 feet XW_MZN]T^MZ[QWV[WN \\PM WINGSPAN cannons in ventral tray, plus two Q\\[ ZI\\M WN  KTQUJ IVL [XMML 60 ft. 8 in. 30mm MK 108 cannons firing NORMAL CRUISING SPEED VM^MZUM\\XZMLQK\\MLV]UJMZ[ WING AREA obliquely upward 335 mph <PMNIK\\Q\\_I[T]UJMZML_Q\\P 478 square feet I\\WVWN KIVVWV[IVLM^MZa LENGTH WEIGHT SERVICE CEILING XQMKMWN IQZQV\\MZKMX\\MTMK\\ZWV- 50 ft. 11¾ in. 41,660 feet QK[\\PM/MZUIV[KW]TLKZIU HEIGHT 24,692 lbs. (empty) QV\\WQ\\LQLV¼\\PMTX<PMempty 13 ft. 5½ in. 33,730 lbs. (loaded) RATE OF CLIMB _MQOP\\ WN  I \\aXQKIT 0M! ARMAMENT 1,810 feet per minute _I[OZMI\\MZ\\PIV\\PM_MQOP\\ Two 30mm MK 108 cannons ENGINE WN IN]TTaN]MTMLIUUWMLIVL RANGE AT CRUISING KZM_ML5W[Y]Q\\W 2 Daimler-Benz DB 603E SPEED 12-cylinder inverted-V 1,243 miles 6WZLQL\\PMVW[MUW]V\\ML liquid-cooled engines with IZZIaWN PQOPLZIOM`\\MZVIT 1,775 hp each ZILIZIV\\MVVI[KITTML[\\IO¼[ IV\\TMZ[ PMTX <PMa [TW_ML \\PMIQZXTIVMVW\\QKMIJTaIVL VW\\ ]V\\QT MIZTa ! LQL \\PM /MZUIV[KWUM]X_Q\\PIKI^- Q\\a UIOVM\\ZWV LQ[PML ZILIZ \\PI\\KW]TLJMUW]V\\MLQV[QLM IZILWUMTQSM=;]VQ\\[*a \\PMVQ\\_I[QZZMTM^IV\\ RWJMZ\\ 4][[MZ PIL WZQOQVITTa _WZSML I[ I LM[QOVMZ NWZ 0MQVSMTJ]\\UW^ML QV ! \\W *IaMZQ[KPM . T]O bM]O_MZSM _PMZM PM IVL ?QTTQ5M[[MZ[KPUQ\\\\TIQLW]\\ \\PM *N! NQOP\\MZ 1V !  4][[MZ ZM\\]ZVML \\W 0MQVSMT IVLLM[QOVML\\PM0M \\PM _WZTL¼[ÅZ[\\RM\\ÅOP\\MZ\\PW]OP Q\\TW[\\W]\\QVXZWL]K\\QWV\\W\\PM 5M 4][[MZ IT[W JMOIV TIaQVO W]\\ \\PM IQZ XTIVM \\PI\\ _W]TL\\PZW]OP[M^MZIT\\_Q[\\[ IVL\\]ZV[]T\\QUI\\MTaKW[\\PQU PQ[ RWJ\" \\PM 0M! ?PMV \\PM :45 \\_QKM ZMRMK\\ML 4][[MZ¼[ QVQ\\QIT 0M! XZW- XW[IT[ -ZV[\\ 0MQVSMT NQZML PQU 4][[MZ _MV\\ WV \\W .QM[MTMZ_PMZMPMZMÅVML\\PM LM[QOVWN \\PM>J]bbJWUJ IVLQV\\PMMIZTa![UILMI [UITTNWZ\\]VMJaLM[QOVQVO\\PM _WZTL¼[ NQZ[\\ UWLMZV Y]QKS ZMTMI[M[SQJQVLQVO 0MQVSMTPILITZMILaJ]QT\\I PQOP[XMMLZMKWVVIQ[[IVKM JWUJMZ XZW\\W\\aXM \\PM 0M!1VI[MV[M\\PM! _I[ \\PM XZMLMKM[[WZ WN  \\PM !LM[XQ\\M\\PMNIK\\\\PI\\Q\\[ ,*XW_MZXTIV\\¸IK\\]- ITTa\\_WKW]XTML,*QV 4 0 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

verted V-12s—was buried behind the cockpit and drove contra- IN APRIL 1944, AN KATAPULTSITZEN rotating props on its nose. The entire fuselage was cleanly cigar- HE-219 PILOT AND A German pilot shaped, and the pressurized cockpit was the fully glazed tip of RADAR OPERATOR prepares to test the the cigar, with the prop shaft running at biceps height between EJECTED DURING Uhu’s ejection seat. the two pilots. AN ATTACK BY A MOSQUITO—THE late for the Heinkel bonus. Lusser took a new cut at the concept and came up with a FIRST-EVER Heinkel’s ejection seat tricycle-gear twin that also had a pressurized cockpit and ejec- COMBAT EJECTION. tion seats, plus remotely controlled defensive armament of the was operated not by an sort that would later appear on the Boeing B-29. Many pub- explosive charge, like Saab’s, lished sources say the He-219’s nosewheel was steerable, which but by compressed air stored would have been another notable innovation. But the Uhu’s in an array of grapefruit-size nosegear was in fact free-castering, swiveling only in response spherical tanks for each seat. \\WLQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\\QITXW_MZWZJZISQVO The system was vulnerable to leakage and, of course, The ejection seat, however, was another matter. It was a major battle damage to the pneu- advance that predated anything of the sort in Allied aircraft, matics. About half the crew even though the British Martin-Baker company would go on departures from He-219s after the war to set the standard for fast-jet ejection seats. The were conventional jumps due Germans and the Swedes had been working in parallel on to inoperable ejection seats. ejection-seat design. Both Saab and Dornier were designing ÅOP\\MZ[_Q\\PX][PMZXZWX[¸\\PM2IVL\\PM,W¸\\PI\\ The He-219’s entry would Cuisinart a pilot making a conventional bailout, and into combat was Heinkel had the He-280 jet in the works. The need for assisted \\PM[\\]‫ٺ‬WN TMOMVL bailout was becoming increasingly apparent; in the case of the Only one Luft- He-219, the crew sat well ahead of the propellers, and since the waffe night-fighter group, reliability of Heinkel’s Katapultsitzen was questionable, those big 162/PILJMMVIXXWZ- props would remain a fearsome obstacle throughout the air- tioned nearly all the existing plane’s brief career. He-219s, many of them still production prototypes. On 2]VSMZ[PILXQWVMMZMLMRMK\\QWV[MI\\[_Q\\PITI\\M![XI\\- \\PMVQOP\\WN 2]VM! ent for a “bungee-assisted escape device” that fortunately never the outfit attacked a huge went beyond the patent application paperwork. Saab accom- stream of RAF bombers XTQ[PML\\PMÅZ[\\M^MZQVÆQOP\\MRMK\\QWV\\PW]OP_Q\\PIL]UUa headed toward Düsseldorf. QVIKIZ\\ZQLOMÅZML[MI\\QV2IV]IZa!4M[[\\PIVI_MMS In an hour and a quarter— later, a German test pilot did it for real, punching out of an He-280 prototype after encountering icing in a snowstorm. In )XZQT!IV0M!XQTW\\IVLZILIZWXMZI\\WZMRMK\\MLL]ZQVO IVI\\\\IKSJaI5W[Y]Q\\W¸\\PMÅZ[\\M^MZKWUJI\\MRMK\\QWV-ZV[\\ Heinkel awarded each of them 1,000 Reichsmarks (equivalent \\WIJW]\\\\WLIaNWZ\\PMQZ\\ZW]JTM[)VW\\PMZ0M!XQTW\\ ejected three times, his back-seater twice—unfortunately too ILLUSTRATION: STEVE KARP; PHOTOS: COURTESY OF WOLFGANG MUEHLBAUER CALCULATING THE RISK An He-219 crew participates in ejection-seat trials. Note calibration markings and lack of rear canopy. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 41

SURVIVING EXAMPLE [WUM[W]ZKM[[IaUQV]\\M[¸I[QVOTM=P]KZM_[PW\\LW_VÅ^M setups. Though end-of-war of the big bombers and headed for home only because they had KWVN][QWVUISM[Q\\LQ‫ٻ‬K]T\\\\W An Uhu awaits assessment expended all their ammunition. (Karma’s a bitch: Pilot Major M[\\IJTQ[PIÅZUV]UJMZ\\PMZM at Freeman Field in Indiana Werner Streib, I/NJG.1’s commander, crashed hard on landing UIaPI^MJMMVI[UIVaI[ (above) after the war. The _PMVPQ[ÆIX[JTM_JIKS]XIVL\\PW]OPPMIVLPQ[ZILQWUIV ^IZQIV\\[WN \\PM0M!_Q\\P National Air and Space []Z^Q^ML_Q\\PUQVWZQVR]ZQM[\\PM=P]JMKIUM\\PM[Q`\\P^QK\\QU !LQ‫ٺ‬MZMV\\O]V[M\\]X[ Museum is currently in the of that engagement.) final stages of restoring that Air forces hate single-mis- same He-219 for display at Legend indeed: One common He-219 myth holds that [QWVIQZKZIN\\TQSM\\PM0M! its Udvar-Hazy Center (right). during the following 10 days, Uhus shot down 20 more British They want airplanes that can A cockpit view (opposite) bombers, including six of the formerly untouchable Mosquitos. LZWXJWUJ[[\\ZINMLWOÅOP\\ reveals the oddly shaped <PMZMQ[VWM^QLMVKM\\PI\\IVa\\PQVOWN \\PM[WZ\\\\WWSXTIKM6W\\ do reconnaissance, carry tor- control yoke and sensible a single Mosquito was beaten by an He-219 during all of 1943, XMLWM[IVLÆaKTW[MIQZ[]X- instrument layout. IVL\\PM=P]LQLV¼\\LW_VQ\\[ÅZ[\\5W[[QM]V\\QT5Ia!*a\\PM port. The He-219 could do end of the war, more He-219s had been shot down by Mos- nothing but fly at night to Y]Q\\W[\\PIV\\PMZM^MZ[M shoot down large, slow bomb- ers. During the day, it was The RLM had rejected Robert Lusser’s original He-219 con- itself large and slow. This cept because of its complexity—pressurization, ejection seats, UILMQ\\LQ‫ٻ‬K]T\\\\W\\ZIQVVM_ remote-control gun barbettes, tricycle landing gear, manufac- Uhu crews, since the basics of \\]ZQVOKPITTMVOM[]V\\ZQMLMVOQVM[0MQVSMT[M\\W]\\\\W[QUXTQNa such training had to be done IVLZI\\QWVITQbM\\PM=P]IVL\\PMLM[QOV_I[ÅVITTaX]\\QV\\W in daylight in a combat zone. TQUQ\\MLXZWL]K\\QWV*]\\0MQVSMTVM^MZ[\\WXXML\\QVSMZQVO_Q\\P \\PMIQZXTIVM:I\\PMZ\\PIVKWVKMV\\ZI\\QVOWVWVMWZ\\_W^IZQIV\\[ )NI[\\JWUJMZ^MZ[QWVWN  IVLJ]QTLQVO\\PMUQVUMIVQVON]TV]UJMZ[\\PMKWUXIVaSMX\\ the He-219 was proposed, as \\ZaQVOI^IZQM\\aWN MVOQVM[KZM_KWVÅO]ZI\\QWV[IVLIZUIUMV\\ was a long-wing, high-altitude reconnaissance model. Hein- SMT XTIVVML \\W J]QTL I RM\\ powered He-219, and tested a BMW 003 turbojet in a pod under the belly. And always the phantasm of a Mosquito-beater was pur- []ML 0MQVSMT TQOP\\MVML \\PM He-219, limited fuel, deleted guns and added power to IKPQM^MIJWWS[XMMLWN  mph, but that airplane was 4 2 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

OPPOSITE: (TOP) NATIONAL ARCHIVES, (BOTTOM) NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM; RIGHT: NATIONAL ARCHIVES never produced. In the real world, the best the He-219 could THE HE-219 COULD Smithsonian restorers could achieve was parity with some of the de Havillands. The supreme DO NOTHING BUT easily mock them up from 5W[Y]Q\\W5IZSVQOP\\ÅOP\\MZPW_M^MZKW]TL[PWW\\LW_V\\PM FLY AT NIGHT TO lengths of tubing and fab- 0MQVSMTI\\_QTT<PM:45M^MVJZQMÆaX]Z[]MLIXZWRMK\\KITTML SHOOT DOWN ricated pieces based on old the Hütter Hu-211, which would have created a U-2-like He-219 LARGE, SLOW photographs, they insist on using the Uhu’s main structure and engines with high-aspect- BOMBERS. DURING creating functional replicas of ratio wooden wings and a V tail built by sailplane specialist THE DAY IT WAS the original units, and all that 0†\\\\MZ1\\_I[\\WÆaPQOPIVLNI[\\MVW]OP\\WM^ILM5W[Y]Q\\W[ ITSELF LARGE is known about them is that but the prototype was destroyed during an air raid. AND SLOW. they were made of steel, alu- minum and wood. No records Keeping complex He-219s operable became increasingly plete static restoration at the of their actual construction problematic as the war progressed. One Uhu pilot wrote: “It National Air and Space Mu- have yet been found, though _I[ZIZM\\PI\\UWZM\\PIVUIKPQVM[\\WWSW‫ٺ‬WVIVQOP\\UQ[- seum’s Udvar-Hazy Center one original antenna array sion, usually less, and of those half either returned immediately at Dulles Airport. European exists in a museum in Europe, IN\\MZ\\ISMW‫ٺ‬WZ_MZMNWZKML\\WTIVL_Q\\PQV\\PMVM`\\PITN PW]ZWV Aviation Curator Evelyn which the Smithsonian will IKKW]V\\WN UITN]VK\\QWV[WZXZWJTMU[1V\\PMUIRWZQ\\aWN KI[M[ Crellin points out that it is borrow and reverse-engineer. it was onboard electrics that failed.” actually something of a com- posite, having been reassem- Another example of the <PMIQZXTIVM[_MZMNZMY]MV\\TaXIZSMLW]\\LWWZ[IVL[]‫ٺ‬MZML bled at Freeman Field with workshop’s insistence on KWVLMV[I\\QWVIVL_I\\MZTMIS[<PW[M=P][_MZMÆW_VM^MZa engines and vertical stabilizers authenticity is that during res- two or three days to air them out. Thanks to damp electrics, one from the other two Uhus. toration, removal of the Uhu’s 0M!XQTW\\NW]VLPQU[MTN QVXMZNMK\\ÅZQVOXW[Q\\QWVJMPQVLIV _QVOZWW\\ÅTTM\\[M`XW[ML\\PM RAF bomber, but when he pressed the trigger button, his land- Crellin can’t give a firm original wave-pattern cam- ing lights came on. He admitted that it was hard to say who was date for the completion of the ouflage paint still in perfect more frightened—attacker or target. ZM[\\WZI\\QWVNWZ\\PMTI[\\UIRWZ condition. It has been left \\I[S ZMUIQVQVO Q[ ZMRWQVQVO untouched so that future When Germany surrendered in May 1945, few Uhus the fuselage and the huge, researchers and historians ZMUIQVML<PM:).NMZZQMLÅ^MWN MQOP\\ÆaIJTM one-piece wing. If it can be will be able to examine it. He-219s from a night-fighter base in Denmark done inside the Udvar-Hazy ?PMV\\PMÅTTM\\[IZM[KZM_ML to England and sent the remaining three to museum building, where the back in place, museum visi- +PMZJW]ZO_PMZM\\PMaIVLIV]UJMZWN W\\PMZ4]N\\_I‫ٺ‬MIQZ- wing and fuselage are cur- tors will never see that there craft were loaded aboard a British escort carrier and shipped rently displayed along with the are areas of the airplane that \\W6M_IZS62\\PMVÆW_VWZ\\Z]KSML\\W.ZMMUIVIVL?ZQOP\\ two restored DB 603 engines, remain unrestored. ÅMTL[QV1VLQIVIIVL7PQW)\\.ZMMUIV.QMTLWVMWN \\PM=P][ it might happen as soon as this _I[ZMI[[MUJTMLIVL\\M[\\ÆW_VNWZPW]Z[¸\\PMTI[\\\\QUMI summer. If the components The Smithsonian airplane 0MQVSMT0M!_W]TLM^MZÆa have to be reunited in the is an apt example of the U][M]U _WZS[PWX \\PM RWJ He-219’s unproductiveness. It One unusual piece of He-219 technology that intrigued the will take substantially longer. _I[J]QT\\QV2]Ta!IVLÆM_ Army Air Forces testers and has thus survived is the “ribbon exactly 3½ hours before being XIZIKP]\\Mº][ML\\W[TW_IVL[\\IJQTQbM\\PMMRMK\\QWV[MI\\IN\\MZ Even then, there will be ferried to France for shipment Q\\_I[ÅZML:QJJWVIVLZQVOKP]\\M[JI[MLWV\\PI\\/MZUIV one task left: replication of to the U.S. That time would design have since been used to brake everything from top-fuel the stag’s horn FuG 220 radar account for a single produc- dragsters to space capsules. dipoles and mast, which dis- tion test flight plus the trip appeared long ago. Though from the Heinkel factory to Of the three Uhus that came to the U.S., one was scrapped at Denmark. In 10 months, it Chicago’s Orchard Place Airport (today O’Hare). Another sim- never flew a single combat ply disappeared, doubtless scrapped elsewhere. The Freeman mission. ÆaMZPW_M^MZ[\\QTTM`Q[\\[1\\Q[\\WLIaQV\\PMÅVIT[\\IOM[WN IKWU- Contributing editor Stephan Wilkinson recommends for further reading: Heinkel He 219: An Illustrated History of Germany’s Premier 6QOP\\ÅOP\\MZ, by Roland Remp; and He 219 Uhu Volume I and Volume II, by Marek J. Murawski and Marek Rys. j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 43

OUT OF THE NIGHT Captain Bernard Smart leads the second flight of aircraft-carrier-based Sopwith 2F1 Camels to bomb the German airship base at Tondern on July 19, 1918, in an illustration by Simon Smith.

THE TONDERN RAID TO KILL GERMAN ZEPPELINS IN THEIR ROOSTS, THE BRITISH ROYAL NAVY UNVEILED A SECRET WEAPON: THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER BY DON HOLLWAY j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 45

By 1917, with the German High Seas Fleet blockaded in port, the British Royal Navy’s chief concern was not enemy battleships, but airships. VICTORY AT SEA That April the zeppelin L23 managed to capture IJW^MIVLJMPQVL\\PMIQZ[PQX¹1PILR][\\\\QUM a Norwegian bark hauling contraband lumber, to see about half a dozen [incendiary rounds] The Tondern-based dropping a bomb off its bow and alighting on enter the blunt end of the Zeppelin, and a spurt L23 (above) was shot the water to send a prize crew. On the morning WN ÆIUMº;UIZ\\ZMXWZ\\ML?QVOQVOW^MZ\\WI^WQL down by a Sopwith of August 21, L23 was shadowing the 1st Light IKWTTQ[QWVPMTWWSMLJIKS\\W[MM\\PI\\¹<PMIN\\MZ Pup launched from +Z]Q[MZ;Y]ILZWVW‫\\ٺ‬PM,IVQ[PKWI[\\7^MZWXMV MVLWN \\PMBMXXMTQV_I[VW_IUI[[WN ÆIUM[ HMS Yarmouth on water, a long way from British soil, zeppelin com- and had dropped so that the nose was pointing August 21, 1917. UIVLMZ4QM]\\MVIV\\*MZVPIZL,QV\\MZU][\\PI^M to the sky at an angle of 45 degrees while the Frederick Rutland JMMVI[\\W]VLML\\WÅVLPQ[IQZ[PQXI\\\\IKSMLJaI ÆIUM[_MZMNI[\\TQKSQVO]X\\W_IZL[\\PMVW[M takes off in a Pup [WTQ\\IZa[PWZ\\ZIVOM;WX_Q\\P8]XÅOP\\MZ C1\\EKWV\\QV]ML\\WJ]ZVWV\\PM_I\\MZNWZ\\PZMMWZ from a platform on NW]ZUQV]\\M[º Yarmouth (below). 0I^QVOTI]VKPMLNZWUIXTI\\NWZUWV\\PMKZ]Q[MZ HMS Yarmouth, Flight Sub-Lt. Bernard Arthur Shooting down the zeppelin, though, was the ;UIZ\\WN \\PM:WaIT6I^IT)QZ;MZ^QKMLQ^MLNZWU easy part. There was no great trick to launching a ?WZTL?IZ1ÅOP\\MZNZWUI[PQXJ]\\VWJWLaPIL Y]Q\\MaM\\ÅO]ZMLW]\\PW_\\WOM\\WVMJIKSIJWIZL Smart ditched his Pup near a British escort. ¹<PMLM[\\ZWaMZ_I[ITWVO[QLMQVI[PWZ\\\\QUMº PMVW\\ML¹J]\\VW\\JMNWZM\\PMVW[MWN \\PMUIKPQVM PIL[]VSIVLTMN\\UMR][\\PIVOQVOWV\\W\\PM\\IQTº 0Q[_I[\\PMÅZ[\\M^MZ[]KKM[[N]TIQZ\\WIQZI\\\\IKS from a seagoing ship, a tactic that would change VI^ITKWUJI\\NWZM^MZ A[MIZTaI[+PZQ[\\UI[,Ia!*ZQ\\Q[P seaplane carriers had attacked the bMXXMTQV JI[M I\\ +]`PI^MV /MZ UIVa¸\\PM:WaIT6I^a¼[ÅZ[\\[MIIQZ [\\ZQSM¸J]\\\\PMaIKPQM^ML^MZaTQ\\\\TM5MIV_PQTM Captain Horst Freiherr <ZM][KP ^WV *]\\\\TIZ Brandenfels, commanding zeppelin L6, made \\PMÅZ[\\IQZI\\\\IKSWVIÆMM\\I\\[MI;KWZQVOVW bomb hits, L6 struggled back to base bleeding hydrogen from 600 bullet holes, but none from *ZQ\\Q[PIQZKZIN\\¹<PMÆaQVOJWI\\[\\PM-VOTQ[PPIL LQLVW\\I\\\\IKSW]ZIQZ[PQX[ºZMXWZ\\ML*]\\\\TIZ\\PM M^MV\\]IT^M\\MZIVWN UQ[[QWV[¹JMKI][M\\PM 4 6 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6

DIVIDED DECK The crew of the converted battle cruiser Furious secures a naval airship that has just landed on its deck in 1918. PREVIOUS PAGES: ©OSPREY PUBLISHING, PART OF BLOOMSBURY PUBLISHING PLC; OPPOSITE ABOVE & RIGHT: latter could always outclimb them.” “THE AFTER edy the dog-leg landing pattern with a straight-in HISTORYNET ARCHIVE; OPPOSITE BELOW: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM Q65578; ABOVE: IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM Q20640 To cover the North Sea, in March 1915 the END OF THE approach, over the winter the British replaced ZEPPELIN WAS Furious¼IN\\\\]ZZM\\_Q\\PIVW\\PMZPIVOIZIVLÆQOP\\ Germans constructed two zeppelin sheds at NOW A MASS deck, but the ex-cruiser’s centerline superstructure Tondern, on the northernmost border with OF FLAMES and funnel created such turbulence aft that pilots Denmark, naming them Tobias and Toni. The AND…THE NOSE [\\QTTXZMNMZZML\\WLQ\\KP<PM[IKZQÅKMWN IVIQZXTIVM base included two 10,000-liter fuel storage tanks, WAS POINTING per mission mattered less than the expenditure of hydrogen production and storage facilities, bar- TO THE SKY....” a torpedo, since in those days torpedoes actually ZIKS[NWZ[WTLQMZ[IVLPIVOIZ[NWZÅ^M)TJI\\ZW[ KW[\\UWZM\\PIVÅOP\\MZ[ ÅOP\\MZ[¹1N WVTa\\PM-VOTQ[PLWVW\\SVW_IVa\\PQVO – FLIGHT SUB-LIEUTENANT IJW]\\Q\\º*]\\\\TIZPWXML¹<PM,IVQ[PNZWV\\QMZQ[ BERNARD ARTHUR SMART While the British faltered, the Germans damnably near and the spies are good.” forged ahead. Tondern, which would eventually launch more than a dozen <PM-VOTQ[PSVM_J]\\KW]TLLWTQ\\\\TMIJW]\\Q\\ different zeppelins, underwent up- Only aircraft could reach across the mine-strewn, grades to accommodate their ever-increasing U-boat-infested Heligoland Bight to attack Ton- size. By January 1917, Toska, a huge third shed LMZV<_WQVM‫ٺ‬MK\\Q^MIQZZIQL[\\PW]OPXZW^ML\\PI\\ (if that’s the proper word for a steel building 730 ÆWI\\XTIVM[[\\W]\\MVW]OP\\WWXMZI\\MW‫ٺ‬WXMV_I\\MZ NMM\\TWVONMM\\_QLMIVLNMM\\PQOPKW]TL UILMXWWZÅOP\\MZ[IVLM^MV_WZ[MJWUJMZ[ PWTL\\_WbMXXMTQV[I\\WVKM*]\\\\PMUIZ[PaIQZÅMTL XZW^MLITUW[\\I[QUXZIK\\QKITNWZÅOP\\MZ[I[I[PQX ?PI\\\\PM:WaIT6I^aVMMLML_I[IÅOP\\MZJI[M I\\[MI¹;QVKMIUIKPQVMPILKWUM\\WOZQMN ITUW[\\ at sea. For that they replaced the forward gun tur- every other day owing to the fact that the landing ret on the half-completed light battlecruiser Furious OZW]VL_I[Y]Q\\M]VÅ\\\\MLNWZIMZWXTIVM[º*]\\\\TIZ with a boxlike hangar, designating its roof as a ZMUMUJMZML¹\\PMC)TJI\\ZW[EÅOP\\QVOÆQOP\\PIL ÆQOP\\LMKS<PMVM_IQZKZIN\\KIZZQMZX]\\\\W[MIQV been taken away until such time as at least part July 1917. Now the trick was to actually land on it. of the ground could be made more or less suitable for them.” ?IZ[PQX[_MZMNI[\\MVW]OPIVLÅOP\\MZ[[\\QTT[W slow, that their speeds comfortably overlapped. On 1V2]VM! PI^QVO\\ZILMLQ\\[8]X[NWZ\\_W )]O][\\;Y]ILZWV+WUUIVLMZ-L_QV0IZZQ[ seat Sopwith 1½-Strutter reconnaissance planes Dunning, side-slipping his Pup over Furious¼ÆQOP\\ IVLIVI^IT^MZ[QWVWN \\PM;WX_Q\\P.+IUMT\\PM LMKSI\\XZIK\\QKITTaIPW^MZUILM\\PMÅZ[\\IQZXTIVM .¹;PQX[+IUMTºFurious joined the 1st Light TIVLQVOWVIUW^QVO[PQX,]ZQVOI[]J[MY]MV\\ I\\\\MUX\\PW_M^MZPQ[8]XJW]VKMLW‫\\ٺ‬PMLMKS and went over the side. Dunning drowned. To rem- j u ly 2 0 1 6 AH 47

IN A TIGHT SPOT +Z]Q[MZ ;Y]ILZWV [\\MIUQVO ]X IVL LW_V \\PM precious....We would have to use Camels. Their 6WZ\\P;MII[bMXXMTQVJIQ\\7VTaIXIQZWN /MZUIV range was not large…but Tondern would be just Furious steams ÆWI\\XTIVM[^MV\\]ZMLW]\\IOIQV[\\\\PQ[[\\ZIVOMVM_ within range from a point near the Danish coast.” toward Tondern British warship. Furious[PW\\JIKS¸\\PMWVTaWKKI (above) with its [QWVL]ZQVO\\PM_IZQV_PQKPQ\\ÅZMLQVIVOMZ¸IVL Operation F.5 was approved for late May. Two complement of Ships TI]VKPML[M^MZIT+IUMT[WVMWN _PQKPNWZKMLI ÆQOP\\[WN +IUMT[_W]TLUISM\\PMI\\\\IKS+IX\\IQV Camels. Squadron seaplane down onto the water. ?QTTQIU2IKS[WVI^M\\MZIVWN \\PMLMKSTIVLQVO Commander Edwin trials on Furious_W]TLTMIL+IX\\IQV?QTTQIU Dunning’s Pup <PMKIZZQMZ¼[IQZKWUUIVLMZ4\\+WT:QKPIZL ,QKS[WVIVL4QM]\\MVIV\\6WZUIV?QTTQIU[QV\\PM careens overboard *MTT,I^QM[INWZUMZÆWI\\XTIVMKWUUIVLMZIVL ÅZ[\\_I^M<PMZMLW]J\\IJTM;UIZ\\VW_IKIX\\IQV (below) during a fatal >QK\\WZQI+ZW[[ZMKQXQMV\\]ZOMLIVW\\PMZI\\\\IKSWV _W]TLTMIL+IX\\IQV<PWUI[<PaVMIVL4QM] landing attempt. Tondern itself. “The best and easiest place to catch \\MVIV\\[;IU]MT,I_[WVIVL?IT\\MZAM]TM\\\\QV\\PM IBMX_I[I\\PMZPWUMJI[MºPMVW\\ML¹°<PM [MKWVL;_Q\\KPQVO\\PM[\\IVLIZL+IUMTTWILWN NW]Z û;\\Z]\\\\MZ[PILWZQOQVITTaJMMVJZW]OP\\\\WKIZZQMZ[ XW]VL+WWXMZ5IZS11)JWUJ[NWZIXIQZWN  NWZ\\PQ[^MZaX]ZXW[MJ]\\\\PMV]UJMZ[I^IQTIJTM [XMKQIT 5IZS 111 !XW]VLMZ[ \\PMa XZIK\\QKML were small and as reconnaissance aircraft they were I\\\\IKS[WV[PML[QbML\\IZOM\\[UIZSMLW]\\WV\\PMQZ ;KW\\\\Q[PIQZJI[MIVLLZWXXMLTQ^MZW]VL[QV\\PM Firth of Forth to acquaint themselves with the M‫ٺ‬MK\\[,I^QM[ZMT]K\\IV\\TaK]\\!aMIZWTLAM]TM\\\\ when he could not master the technique. ;\\MIUQVOW]\\QVTI\\M5IaFuriousITUW[\\QU UMLQI\\MTaMVKW]V\\MZMLI=JWI\\KWV\\IK\\¸XW[[Q JTa\\PMÅZ[\\JZ][PJM\\_MMV\\PM\\_W[]XZMUM_IZ [PQX\\aXM[WN \\PMN]\\]ZM¸IVLZM\\ZMI\\ML\\WXWZ\\7V 2]VM\\PQ[\\QUM[KZMMVMLJa\\PM[\\4QOP\\+Z]Q[MZ ;Y]ILZWVIVL\\PM\\P,M[\\ZWaMZ.TW\\QTTIQ\\X]\\ out on Operation F.6. From midnight on the 28th I[\\WZUJ]QT\\TI[PQVO\\PM[PQX_Q\\PSVW\\_QVL[ IVLNWW\\_I^M[JaLI_VWV\\PM!\\P2][\\\\ISQVO \\PM+IUMT[W]\\WN \\PMQZPIVOIZZQ[SMLPI^QVO\\PMU JTW_VW‫\\ٺ‬PMLMKS<PMÆMM\\ZM\\]ZVML\\W;KW\\TIVL 4 8 AH j u ly 2 0 1 6