May 29, 2024 | 7 Image Story Posts, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Nikon 1 V3, TBM Avenger Reunion 2024
TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | A-1 Skyraider The A-1 Skyraider was designed during WWII and entered service in December 1946. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly.
Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.
May 26, 2024 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S NIKKOR 300mm f/4E PF ED VR, Aviation, Events, Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger, Nikon 1 V3, T-33 Shooting Star, T-6 Texan, TBM Avenger Reunion 2024
TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story This year’s TBM Avenger Reunion was graced with really good weather and a large crowd. As usual, the event was a great way to start airshow season in the Midwest
TBM Avenger Run-up The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber. Those designated TBM were actually manufactured by General Motors. It has a crew of three; pilot, gunner, and radio operator / bombardier. Avengers are powered by a 1,900 hp Wright R-200-20 radial engine. Its armament includes two .50-in. forward-firing machine guns; one .50-in. dorsal gun; one .30-in. ventral gun.; 2,000 lb. bomb/torpedo load. Also it’s capable of carrying the Norden bombsight. Developed for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, it entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Although five Avengers were lost at Midway, it became one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of the war and remained in service until the 1960s after several modifications.
TBM Avenger Wings Retracted The Grumman TBF Avenger is a WWII torpedo bomber with folding wings for operations off of aircraft carriers. DC-3 Landing The airshow parachutists departed from this Douglas DC-3 to open the airshow at the TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. A-1 Skyraider The A-1 Skyraider was designed during WWII and entered service in December 1946. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly. T-6 Aerobatics The T-6 Texan makes a nice aerobatic machine. This image was captured looking straight up. T-6/SNJ Texan The North American T-6 Texan is a military single-engine aircraft primarily used as a trainer. Its first flight was on April 1st, 1935. Nearly 16,000 planes were built. The T-6 Texan was used extensively during WWII and the Korean conflict. Canadair CT-133 Silver Star The T-33 was the only jet at this year’s event.
| TBM Avenger Specifications |
| Length: 40 ft., 11 in. Height: 16 ft., 5 in. Wingspan: 54 ft., 2 in. Wing area: 490 sq. ft. |
| Max Speed: 276 mph at 16,500 ft. Cruise Speed: 147 mph Climb Rate: 2,060 ft./min. Ceiling: 30,100 ft. Range: 1,010 miles |
| Empty: 10,545 lb. Maximum: 17,895 lb. |
Each image from TBM Avenger Reunion 2024 | a 7 Image Story will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category TBM Avenger Reunion 2024. I post an image most days at hankconrad.com.
Click any image below for a slide show.
Aug 7, 2022 | A-1 Skyraider, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2022, Nikon 1 V3, Oshkosh 2022
Oshkosh 2022 | Douglas A-1 Skyraider The A-1 Skyraider entered service in December 1946 as the next generation of WWII dive bombers and torpedo bombers. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. With a cruising speed of 170 to 200 kts, a level attack speed of 260 kts, and a maximum sea level red-line speed of 410 kts, the Skyraider hugged the terrain below enemy radar coverage and delivered ordnance loads up to 8000 pounds. Its pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider including Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, and Firefly. The Skyraider was retired by the U.S. military in the 1970’s after a total of 3,180 planes were built. Note: I post an image everyday at hankconrad.com.
Photog MetaData
| 7/29/2022 | Douglas A-1 Skyraider |
| Gear | Nikon 1 V3 with a FT-1 Adapter and an AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR lens |
| Exposure | 70mm (189mm) f/25 1/40s -0.33ev 160iso |
Sep 16, 2020 | A-1 Skyraider, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2020, Nikon 1 V3, Remembering Oshkosh
Remembering Oshkosh | A-1 Skyraider “Bad News” Landing The A-1 Skyraider entered service in December 1946 as the next generation of WWII dive bombers and torpedo bombers. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft. The Skyraider’s most famous roles was the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. The Skyraider was retired by the U.S. military in the 1970’s after a total of 3,180 planes were built. For the whole story with all images, see Remembering Oshkosh | a 7 Image Story.
Aug 2, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2018, Nikon 1 V3, Oshkosh 2018
Oshkosh 2018 | AD-5W (EA-1E) Skyraider Landing Douglas manufactured a total of 3,180 Skyraiders in seven variations. The AD-5 was a multiple crew variant. The fuselage was lengthened and widened for side by side seating and for a crew compartment behind the pilots. Also, the engine was moved forward and the vertical tail area was increased. This Skyraider, a AD-5W (EA-1E), is a three-seat Airborne Early Warning plane with radar. It’s painted in the colors and markings it wore when in service with VAW 12 “Bats”. See Oshkosh 2018 | a 7 Image Story for more about 2018 Air Adventure.
Aug 1, 2018 | 7 Image Story Posts, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Daily Image 2018, Nikon 1 V3, Oshkosh 2018
Oshkosh 2018 | A-1 Skyraider “Bad News” Landing The A-1 Skyraider entered service in December 1946 as the next generation of WWII dive bombers and torpedo bombers. It saw extensive action in the Korean War by the U.S. Navy and USMC. In the Vietnam War, it again saw action as primary ground support attack aircraft and as one of the Skyraider’s most famous roles: the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. The Skyraider was retired by the U.S. military in the 1970’s after a total of 3,180 planes were built. See Oshkosh 2018 | a 7 Image Story for more about 2018 Air Adventure.
Jul 29, 2018 | 1 VR 10-30mm f/3.4-5.6 PD-Zoom, 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, 7 Image Stories, A-1 Skyraider, AF-S 70-300mm f4.5-5.6G IF-ED VR, Aviation, B-29 Superfortress, C-47 Skytrain, Events, Nikon 1 V3, Oshkosh 2018, P-51 Mustang, T-28 Trojan
Oshkosh 2018 | a 7 Image Story Picking seven images to represent Oshkosh Air Adventure 2018 feels like mission impossible. To narrow it down a bit; for this story, it’s all about warbirds!
Also, “Doc”, one of 1644 B-29 Superfortresses built in Witchita during WWII, came to Oshkosh. Doc was found in the Mojave Desert in 1987 and restored over the past 15+ years. Learn more about Doc!
With initial deployment in 1950, the North American Aviation T-28 was the first trainer designed to transition pilots to flying jets. Besides being a trainer, the T-28 was also used in a counter-insurgency role during the Vietnam War. In civilian use, it continues flying as an aerobatic warbird.
The Red Tail P-51C Mustang, Tuskegee Airmen, also visited Oshkosh this year. It was painted to honor the four fighter squadrons in the 332nd Fighter Group featuring the red tail indicative of the Tuskegee Airmen. Learn more about Tuskegee Airmen.
The A-1 Skyraider entered service in December 1946 and saw extensive action in the Korean War and Vietnam War. One of the Skyraider’s most famous roles was as the “Sandy” helicopter escort on search and rescue operations. It was retired in the 1970’s after a total of 3,180 planes were built.
This year the Douglas C-47 Skytrain was featured with around twelve C-47s attending, including That’s All, Brother. They attended Oshkosh as part of their preparation for the June 2019 recreation of the flight into Normandy. In the wee hours of the morning on 6 Jun 1944, “That’s All Brother”, piloted by Lt. Col John Donalsoned, led the first flight of more than 800 C-47s to drop over 13,000 paratroopers from the 101st and 82nd Airborne divisions behind enemy lines in Normandy. “That’s All, Brother” on the nose was a message meant for Adolf Hitler.
Each image will be posted individually this week with a bit more narrative under category Oshkosh 2018.
Click any image below for a slide show!
Apr 17, 2016 | 1 VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6, A-1 Skyraider, Aviation, Daily Image 2016, Nikon 1 V3
The A-1 Skyraider entered service in December 1946 and saw combat in both Korea and Vietnam. A total of 3,180 aircraft were produced before production ended in 1957. With a cruising speed of 170 to 200 kts, a level attack speed of 260 kts, and a maximum sea level red-line speed of 410 kts, the Skyraider hugged the terrain below enemy radar coverage and delivered ordnance loads up to 8000 pounds. It’s pilots and crews bestowed many names on the Skyraider: Sandy, Spad, Hobo, Zorro, Firefly. On 10 April 1968, the U.S. Navy officially retired the Able Dog.
