Monday, March 25, 2019

War To War

This is the A.E.G. G.IV, a twin engine bomber built in Germany for the First World War. It was a tactical bomber used for short range work around its base. This happens to be the only surviving one left in the world.


The Nieuport 12 was used by Allied forces primarily as a reconnaissance or escort plane for bombers. This is one of two left in the world. It is perched over the others.


In the group shot above, this plane is at ground level. This is a Curtiss JN-4, nicknamed the Canuck, the first Canadian aircraft to go into mass production. Used as a training aircraft during the Great War, these were often used by barnstormers afterwards. This one was purchased after the war by an American and ultimately acquired by the museum in 1962. The aircraft's restoration work included a paint job matching that of the No. 85 Canadian Training Squadron. The black cat on the fuselage is the insignia of the Squadron.


The Second World War would see new advances in aerial combat, and several planes are clustered together. I'm going to start with this small one, nestled beneath the wing of a Lancaster. The Messerschmitt Komet was an experimental rocket plane that proved to be impractical in combat. Its high speed made it difficult for pilots to strike targets, and it burned fuel rapidly.

36 comments:

  1. That Komet looks really cool!

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  2. Isn't it great that people have preserved the last remnants of old aircraft so there is still one left in the world.

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  3. I go with Joan Elizabeth though I really, as a German... well... war...

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  4. Well preserved and probably very valuable too.

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  5. ...war to war to war, it never seems to end!

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  6. I love to see these old warriors restored to their former glory. I seem to remember making a Canuck from a plastic kit when I was a small boy.

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  7. idon't like all these military things ! Probably because of my childhood in Germany. Uniforms and all that stuff meant danger to me !

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  8. I enjoy seeing old airplane...isn’t amazing how far we have come, and so fast.

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  9. I would like to read: "there is no more war" ...
    The plane piloted by my grandfather was shot down by a Messerschmitt.
    He had severe burns but survived!

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  10. I love aviation; for purposes of fighting, not so much.
    Have a great week, William

    Janis
    GDP

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  11. That Messerschmitt Komet seems almost a precursor of the Bell X-1 with which Chcuk Yeager broke through the sound barrier for the first time many years later.

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  12. looks like a friendly plane with that green and light coloring ... way cool. ( :

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  13. I like seeing these old planes but am glad I'm not in one. That Komet is an attractive plane.

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  14. That last one looks fast. It looks so tiny next to the big ones.

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  15. So wars were the main driver of development of the air industry.

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  16. I love the black cat on that one plane!

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  17. My husband would definitely enjoy this museum. I hate to be such a girly-girl but must admit that I’d rather go play in that beautiful field of tulips in your header shot! )))

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  18. @Linda: it does.

    @Joan: I agree.

    @Iris: I can see that being problematic.

    @Sami: I would think so.

    @Tom: part of the nature of the beast.

    @John: I didn't do model work myself.

    @Gattina: I do tend to go for them.

    @Francisco: thank you.

    @Janey: that's true.

    @Ella: the Messerschmitt planes were formidable.

    @Janis: this museum looks at both aspects.

    @Jan: I can see that.

    @Beth: considering its purpose, not quite friendly!

    @DJan: it's a neat looking plane.

    @Anvilcloud: it is a good size.

    @RedPat: it does. Of course, the Lancaster is huge.

    @Red: that's true.

    @Sharon: so do I.

    @Sallie: I enjoyed the museum.

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  19. I love to see all these planes preserved so that the generations of the future can see them.

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  20. That Messerschmitt looks like it could have been a Japanese kamikaze plane with it's odd nose.

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  21. The Komet is pretty impressive!

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  22. Not sure that says much about the aircraft to be the last survivor. :-)

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  23. The Kornet may not have served its purpose (just as well) but it's still kind of cute.

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  24. @Shammickite: I do as well.

    @Catalyst: it does have an odd one.

    @Bill: I think so too.

    @Revrunner: in some cases a plane type might not have put out a lot of numbers. In many cases the planes are destroyed in the course of a war, neglected afterwards, and wind up in a situation where there might only be a handful, or even just one, in a museum collection like this.

    @Kay: it seems more that way when it's overshadowed by that Lancaster.

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  25. Wonderful to see these old aircraft.
    Thanks for all the photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  26. So nice to see all these old planes.

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  27. Son would love this display ~ so historic ~ thanks !

    Happy Moments to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  28. Amazing to see these rare planes William.. love the black cat emblem ✨

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  29. @Marie: very rare.

    @Jan: it is indeed.

    @Happyone: I think so.

    @Lady Fi: thank you.

    @Italiafinlandia: indeed.

    @Carol: you're welcome.

    @Grace: I do too.

    @Klara: thanks.

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