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Aviation History
1955
1955 - 1412.PDF
524 FLIGHT, September 1955 Bombs (2fiO0- and 1jOOO-pounders) on a Republic F-84F. HVARs, Tiny Tim, and 20 mm guns on Douglas ADS Skyraider. OFF TO PHILADELPHIA ... of course, correspondingly shortened. Here is a scheme which really pays off, and one which is assured of increasingly wide applications on several classes of aircraft. A dozen FJ-3 swept-wing carrier-borne fighters from Florida- based Fighting Squadron 61 beat up the field on a low-bombing strike to the accompaniment of impressive, though unconvincing, terrestrial explosions, and F9F-7s of the Reserve made their number before the Marines took over. The Leathernecks (in common with the other Services) had their own spokesman to introduce them, and he declaimed in these terms: — "Nearly 180 years ago, on November 10th, 1775, the United States Marine Corps was formed right here in the city of Phila- delphia. Since then your Marine Corps has fought in every war. ... In World War I the Marines, flying cumbersome de Havilland bombers, dropped a total of 52,000 lb on German submarine pens. In the Korean war they dropped 182 million lb. Marine pilots were the first to use dive-bombing techniques, during the Nicaraguan incident. ... "You remember the headlines as the Marine combined air/ground team took island after island across the Pacific. . . . They were back to join their Marine comrades in arms at Inchon, Seoul, Bunker Hill, the Hook and Vegas. The air/ground team made the difference; and here the Whirly Bird found a home. . . . Troop movements were a vital part of the Korean war, and on September 18th, 1951 (another first for Marine Aviation), a reinforced reconnaissance company of the First Marine Division relieved a force of South Korean soldiers on hill positions 884 and 854—by helicopter. "Your Marine Corps would like to demonstrate some of the techniques of the air/ground team. Look to your left. You'll see units of Marine Fighting Squadron 114. The Marine Corps has come home. . . ." Rear armament (20 mm retractable turrets) of Convair RB-36E. Now, nine sleek, midnight-blue F9Fs swept over; but hear the spokesman again: — "Supply from the air was part of the Marine Corps' operation in the Nicaraguan campaign of 1926, when the Corps was the first to supply its troops from the air, using the Trimotor Ford. Today the R4Q Flying Box Car, which you see in front of the stands, is a vital part of the air/ground team. "During World War II the four-motor B-17 carried a bomb load of 8,000 lb and a crew of ten. The single-motor plane approaching is an AD-5 Skyraider, It carries a bomb load of 9,000 lb. . . . "Here's another first for Marine Aviation. In the Korean war a Marine pilot, Major Bill Stratum, flying a Skyknight, made the first jet night fighter kill, using radar only. A Skyknight— the F3D—-is flying before you right now. "Here's an F2H-4 Banshee (Mr. Banjo we call him), a twin-jet all-weather fighter/attack plane, capable of delivery of atomic munitions and of intercepting in all weathers. "Now the F9F-6P Cougar photo-plane, capable of aerial photo- graphy from 10-40,000ft; next the FJ-2 Fury, a day fighter in the 700 m.pJi. class ... and here's the F9F-8 Cougar. . . . "You've heard the expression 'The Marines have landed . . . the situation is well in hand.' This is no idle claim. To land, take over and get established fast is the Marine plan in every operation. With this in mind the Marines have developed the structure you see approaching the field, towed by two HRS heli- copters. We call it a geodesic dome shelter. A similar dome received awards in Italy and has been described as the one new architectural development. It is sturdy, light in weight, and, as you can see, transportable. It is suitable for all types of climates where a Marine might be called upon to fight. It will withstand winds of 150 m.pii. and can be erected in just five hours. It makes possible the movement of entire units in minutes instead of days. . . . "The load that a helicopter can take off with is limited by power, altitude, temperature and terrain. To overcome these difficulties the Marines have equipped helicopters with rocket motors on the tips of the rotor blades, and when these are cut in they increase the lift capacity by 25 per cent. Of the two helicopters in front of die stands, one has ROR (rocket on rotor) and the other is standard. Notice the difference in the rate of climb. The whistling noise is the rocket motors. "One of the most important phases of a Marine Corps landing assault is the establishment, of runways for quick refuelling and rearmament. Usually the Marines try to take an existing field or, when this is not possible, they try to get enough real estate to build one. The equipment we demonstrate next is a mobile arresting gear, and with this it is possible to land jet aircraft on a 1,000ft field in the same way as we land them aboard a carrier. By using catapults or rockets for take-off it is possible to bring our striking force right into the laps of the enemy. We can also maintain a wide dispersement of fields in this way and offer a much smaller target to enemy bombers. We would like to demon- strate now how the gear operates by bringing two Marine jets on to a small landing strip. The first, an F2H-4, has just been launched from the Ticonderoga. . . . Now he begins his approach. He is picked up by the landing signals officer, who guides him into the wires of the Morest gear. . . . "Next we show you how the Marine air/ground team strikes Undercarriage and auxiliary tank of Douglas A4D-1 Sky hawk. Undercarriage and air brakes of North American F-100A Super Sabre.
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