Art studio

Flight Journal, Aug 1998

Calamity fane

Coming Home

by Troy White

Calamity Jane, a 15th Air Force B-24, makes its way over the Alps on the return trip to Castelluccio Airfield in Italy. The Consolidated B-W24 Liberator saw combat

in every theater in WW II and was produced in larger numbers than any other combat aircraft It could carry more bombs and had greater range than its more popular contemporary, the B-17. The greater range of the &24 made it ideal for operations in the Pacific and Mediterranean theaters.

For information, contact Stardust Studios, Troy White, 612 N. Salisbury Ave., Deland, FL 32720; (904) 738-3142; email: mojomin@aol.com.

Holding The Line

The Battle Of Britain

by Nicholas Trod 'ian

As part of Reichsmarschall Goring's prelude to Operation Sea Lionthe invasion of Britain-nine Dornier Do 17Z bombers of the 9th Staffel, KG76, ventured across the English Channel to attack the RAF airfield at Kenley. As they cleared the North Downs and spread out into attack formation, Hurricanes of the 111th Squadron came diving down on them, and suddenly, all hell broke loose. One Dornier was brought down, and two more, badly damaged by ground fire, were finished off by the

Hurricane pilots. Only one of the nine Dorniers returned to base that 18th day of August, 1940.

For information, contact Military Gallery, 821 E. Ojai Ave., Ojai, CA 93023; (805) 640-0057; fax (805) 640-0059.

Pigeons Save WWI US. Naval

Aviators Down on the North Sea

by Donald Jewell

On May 6, 1918, two U.S. Naval Aviation aircrews left their base at NAS Dunkirk, France, on an anti-submarine patrol in Donnet-Dehaut Flying Boats (814D.D. and 817D.D.). Twenty miles offshore, the 200hp Hispano-Suiza engine quit on 814D.D., sending it into the sea and killing the forward observer. Enlisted pilot QM-lc(A) Herbert Lasher was trapped with a broken leg, but he was rescued by 2nd Observer Thomas Holliday before the plane sank. The 817D.D. set down and took the survivors aboard, but sea damage prevented its takeoff. Homing pigeons were released, and NAS Dunkirk sent 825D.D., a Hanriot HD2 fighter and a motor launch to the rescue.

For information, contact Lawrence D. Sheely, 36838 Tara Ave., Zephyrhills, FL 33541; (813) 782-8656; email: lizlar12@gte.net

Touched by Lightning

by Robert Bailey

Prior to the invasion of Normandy, American fighter pilots of the U.S. 8th and 9th Air Force participated more frequently in ground attacks because communications links throughout the Continent had to be severed. While attacking a German train on May 23, 1944, Capt Cy Coenen of the 402nd Fighter Squadron was hit by ground fire. To find targets such as the boxcars full of ammunition that are exploding behind them, the P-38s had to fly at a low altitude, which exposed them to German antiaircraft fire.

For information, contact Bailey Art, Robert Bailey, 4 Brightbank Ave., Stony Plain, Alberta, Canada, T7Z 1G6; (403) 963-5480; fax (403) 963-7193.