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Airplanes in World War II   第二次世界大戦の飛行機

 This Web page introduces airplanes of the Lone Star Flight Museum (LSFM), located in Galveston, Texas in USA.  The LSFM is an aerospace museum that displays more than 40 historically significant aircraft and many hundreds of artifacts related to the history of flight.  The museum's collection is rare because most of the aircraft are flyable.  Located next to Scholes International Airport at Galveston, Schlitterbahn Galveston Island Waterpark, and Moody Gardens, the museum is housed on about 100,000 ft2 (10,000 m2) of property, including its own airstrip.
 The LSFM was damaged by Hurricane Ike September 13, 2008.  Aircraft flown out of harm's way in advance include their B-25, F6F, F4U, SBD, and the F8F.  Most of the airworthy planes were flown out of the museum prior to the hurricane.  Those remaining as well as the static displays were largely destroyed or heavily damaged.  The museum is in the process of moving to Houston to avoid a repeat of the devastation suffered during Hurricane Ike.(*1)
 These photographs were got when I visited the LSFM in autumn, 2007 before the disaster by the Hurricane Ike.

  Notes *1: This sentence is quoted from Wikipedia in USA.

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1. F4U-5N Corsair (Side View)

 The F4U CORSAIR was designed by Vought Aircraft in 1938 as a very powerful single-seat fighter suitable for operation from aircraft carriers.
 It first flew in May, 1940, and after entering service in October, 1942 quickly proved to be the fastest fighter in any branch of the American Armed Forces and one of the finest carrier-based fighters of World War II.
 Ultimately, some 12,500 CORSAIRs of all types were produced and used effectively during World War II and the Korean War.
 The F4U-5N, of which 509 were built, was manufactured shortly following World War II.
 It is painted in midnight blue night-fighter colors representing the aircraft flown by Navy Lieutenant Guy P. Bordelon--The top Naval Night-fighter Ace during the Korean War and the only Ace to fly a propeller-driven aircraft in that conflict.

Wingspan 40 ft. 12 in.
Length 33 ft. 6 in.
Height 14 ft. 9 in.
Max. Weight 14,330 lbs
Max. Speed -
Service Ceiling 41,500 ft.
Range 1,120 miles
Engine Manufacture Pratt & Whitney
Engine Type R-2800-99W
Engine Horse Power 2,300 hp
Manufacture Chance Vought Aircraft
Armament Four 20 mm Cannon
2,000 lbs bomb capacity
Crew 1
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1.1 F4U-5N Corsair (Side Close-up View)
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1.2 F4U-5N Corsair (Front View)
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2. F6F Hellcat (Side View)

 In combat the last two years of the war, the F6F Hellcat downed more Japanese air craft than any other American Naval fighter, with a kill-to-loss ratio of 19-1.
 Used in both the Pacific and European theater by Americans, as well as Great Britain, the Hellcat was easier to fly than a trainer and extremely rugged - a trade mark of Grumman products.
 This example is painted to honor Lt. Alex Versiu USN, a 19 victor ace in the Pacific.

Wingspan 42 ft. 10 in.
Length 33 ft. 7 in.
Height 13 ft. 1 in.
Max. Weight -
Max. Speed 380 mph
Service Ceiling 23,400 ft.
Range 950 miles
Engine Manufacture Pratt & Whitney
Engine Type R-2800-10
Engine Horse Power 2,000 hp
Manufacture Grumman Aircraft
Armament -
Crew -
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2.1 F6F Hellcat (Back View)
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3. F8F Bearcat (Side View)

 The F8F BEARCAT is the last of the Grumman WW II "CAT" family. Designed as a carrier-based interceptor, it first entered service in May 1945, just missing the end of WW II.
 In 1948 it was selected as the aircraft of the Navy's new demo team "Blue Angels". By 1951 the French were using it to support ground troops in Vietnam.
 Although BEARCATs ended their service in the US Navy in 1955, they continued to operate in the royal Thai air force until the early 1960's.
 The LSFM BEARCAT is painted to represent the F8F-1 flown by the original blue angel's lead, LT. Commander Butch Voris.

Wingspan 35 ft. 6 in.
Length 27 ft. 6 in.
Height 13.67 ft
Max. Weight 12,947 lbs
Max. Speed 455 mph
Service Ceiling 40,800 ft.
Range 1,105 miles
Engine Manufacture Pratt & Whitney
Engine Type R-2800-30W
Engine Horse Power 2,250 hp
Manufacture Grumman
Armament Four 20 mm Cannon
Crew 1
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4. SBD-5 Dauntless (Front View)

 The first of the SBD (Scout Bomber, Douglas) series of aircraft went into production in June, 1940. By December, 1941, the SBD-3 was the standard dive bomber for the U.S. Navy, and equipped units on the aircraft carriers USS Enterprise, Lexington, Yorktown, and Saratoga.
 The Dauntless participated in all five aircraft-only Naval engagements during WWII.
 The SBD was directly responsible for sinking three of four Japanese aircraft carriers during the battle of Midway -- A devastating defeat for the Japanese Naval Forces that many consider the turning point of the Pacific War.
 Production of the "Slow But Deadly" Dauntless ceased in July, 1944, when it was replaced by the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver.
 This aircraft is the 1997 Reserve Grand Champion Warbird at the Experimental Aircraft Association's (EAA) competition in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and the recipient of the Snap-On tool's golden wrench award for restoration excellence.

Wingspan 41 ft. 6 in.
Length 33 ft. 1 in.
Height 13 ft. 7 in.
Max. Weight 10,676 lbs
Max. Speed 255 mph
Service Ceiling 25,530 ft.
Range 773 miles
Engine Manufacture Wright
Engine Type R-1820-60
Engine Horse Power 1,200 hp
Manufacture Douglas
Armament Front: 2x12.7MM guns, Rear:7.62MM flexible-mounted gun, 1,200lbs of bomb
Crew 2
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4.1 SBD-5 Dauntless (Back View)
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5. TBM-3U Av enger (Front View)

 Built by General Motors (Eastern Div.) under license from Grumman Aircraft, the TBM differs little from the Grumman built TBF, and was far more numerous.
 The finest torpedo bomber of the war, the Avenger was extremely stable, rugged, and roomy. Pilots and crew found it simple to master despite its dangerous mission of boring in on enemy ships at wave top level in anti-aircraft fire.
 Heavy on the controls, yet easy to bring aboard ship, it could sustain heavy battle damage.
 In recent times, the Avenger has gained fame as the type of air craft that President Bush flew in WW II. Lone Star Flight Museum's example is the even rarer - 3U, or utility version, converted to allow target tow or on board delivery to the aircraft carrier, of people or cargo.  With the deletion of the rear turret, the 3U is considerably faster in cruise.

Wingspan 54 ft. 2 in.
Length 40 ft. 12 in.
Height 16 ft. 5 in.
Max. Weight -
Max. Speed 276 mph
Service Ceiling 30,000 ft.
Range 1,000 miles
Engine Manufacture Wright
Engine Type R-2600-20
Engine Horse Power 1,900 hp
Manufacture General Motors Eastern Division
Armament -
Crew -
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6.SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE MK LF XVI(Side View)

 Fewer in number than the hawker hurricane, the supermarine spitfire became synonymous with the raf's desperate defense of the British isles in the summer of 1940 - The battle of Britain.
 Against the Luftwaffe the spitfire was the better of the two British interceptors and an even match for Luftwaffe fighters, especially at altitude.
 Over 20,334 spitfires were built, including 5,665 MK XVI'S.
 The LSFM spitfire, donated by B. D. Hunter, is painted in the colors of wing CDR. Lance "Wildcat" wade. Wing CDR wade, born in Reklaw, Texas, joined the RAF in December 1940, and shot down 25 enemy aircraft.

Wingspan 32 ft. 7 in.
Length 31 ft. 3 in.
Height 12 ft. 3 in.
Max. Weight 6,035 lbs
Max. Speed 360 mph
Service Ceiling 34,700 ft.
Range 434 miles
Engine Manufacture Packard-Merlin
Engine Type -
Engine Horse Power 1,720 hp
Manufacture Supermarine
Armament -
Crew -
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7. B-25 MITCHELL (Side View)

 Used by all services in WWII, the B-25 is probably best known for the Army/Air Corp raid on Tokyo in 1942.
 Led by General Jimmy Doolittle, the planes had been launched from the Aircraft Carrier, USS Hornet, and struck the first blow to Japan following the raid on US Forces at Pearl Harbor 7 December 1941.
 Many modifications were performed to the B-25, including mounting a 37 MM cannon in the nose as a "tank buster", although, the recoil did tend to loosen the rivets in the airframe.
 The B-25 was on active service as an Air Force multi-engine trainer well into the 1950's.

Wingspan 67 ft. 7 in.
Length 52 ft. 11 in.
Height 16 ft. 4 in.
Max. Weight -
Max. Speed 272 mph
Service Ceiling 24,200 ft.
Range 1,350 miles
Engine Manufacture Wright
Engine Type R-2600-35
Engine Horse Power -
Manufacture North American
Armament -
Crew -
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8. PB4Y-2 PRIVATEER (Side View)

 Based on the Consolidated B-24 built for the Army Air Corps, the U.S. Navy needed a low level, long range patrol bomber with increased stability at lower levels and speeds.
 Working together Consolidated and the Navy found that a much more stable aircraft could be produced using the tall single tail. Moreover, to reduce pilot fatigue on long over water flights the Navy wanted a flight engineer's station and added a seven foot extension just behind the cockpit.
 PB4Y's were also used in Korea for flare dropping "Firefly" missions, often working with Marine F7F TIGERCAT night fighters.
 Lone Star Flight Museum's PB4Y was converted to a forest fire fighter and worked for a living with T&G Aviation of Chandler, Arizona until Jan, 1991 when acquired by the Museum.
 Restoration back to military status is to begin in 1992.

Wingspan 110 ft. 0 in.
Length 73 ft. 4 in.
Height 29 ft. 2 in.
Max. Weight 60,000 lbs
Max. Speed 303 mph
Service Ceiling 32,000 ft.
Range 2,850 miles
Engine Manufacture -
Engine Type -
Engine Horse Power -
Manufacture Consolidated Aircraft
Armament -
Crew 10

Other Aircrafts ------ その他の飛行機

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9. C-1A TRADER (Side View)

 The C-1A Trader is really one example of a series of three different roles played by one design. The Trader was built for "Carrier On-board Delivery" or COD. of mail, parts and people - a flying, carrier based "truck".
 Another example was fitted with a torpedo bay, radar and a search light for hunting submarines.
 The third example had a huge Radome mounted on top that actually covered the entire fuselage and served until the 1970's as a carrier based early warning aircraft.

Wingspan 72 ft. 7 in.
Length 43 ft. 6 in.
Height 16 ft. 7 in.
Max. Weight -
Max. Speed 267 mph
Service Ceiling 30,000 ft.
Range 1,300 miles
Engine Manufacture Wright
Engine Type R-1820-82 WA
Engine Horse Power 1,525 hp
Manufacture Grumman
Armament -
Crew -
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10. H18 BEECHCRAFT (Side View)

 It was designed in the 1930's for corporate transportation the "Twin Beech" quickly gained favor with the U.S. Military, serving both the U.S. Navy and the Army Air Corps.
 It was used for V.I.P. transportation, cargo, gunnery, bombing, and navigation training.
 Post-war uses again were corporate transportation, mail routes and general cargo. Nearly all of the "Twin Beech" aircraft had conventional landing gear, however, in 1964 Beechcraft's latest (and last) model featured the nose gear, some of which did serve in the U.S. Army.
 This aircraft displayed was the result of 30 years of development.

Wingspan 49 ft. 7 in.
Length 35 ft. 3 in.
Height 12 ft. 0 in.
Max. Weight 9,909 lbs
Max. Speed 256 mph
Service Ceiling 20,300 ft.
Range 1,530 miles
Engine Manufacture -
Engine Type -
Engine Horse Power -
Manufacture Beechcraft Corp.
Armament -
Crew 1, co-pilot optional
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11. TB-58 HUSTLER (Top View)

 The convair TB-58 Hustler is the only supersonic strategic bomber to enter squadron service in the West.
 It was characterized by its small size, advanced design with weapons and sensors carried in an external pod, and comparatively brief service career.
 The design evolved from an Air Force Competition in 1949 which sought to develop a supersonic strategic bomber and reconnaissance aircraft.
 A relatively small number of B-58S served in S A C for the decade of the 1960s.

Wingspan 56 ft. 8 in.
Length 96.8 ft.
Height 12 ft.
Max. Weight 163,000 lbs
Max. Speed 1,419 mph
Service Ceiling 70,000 ft.
Range 4,712 miles
Engine Manufacture G.E.-
Engine Type -
Engine Horse Power J-79
Manufacture -
Armament -
Crew 4 in the TB-58 version

Airplanes in Japan ----- 日本の航空機

 These photographs were got when I visited IBARAKI airport in Ibaraki, Japan.
 These airplanes were displayed on the fields beside the airport park.

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12. F-4FJKai PHANTOM II (Side View)

 F-4EJKai is the upgrade type of the F-4EJ fighter used by Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) from 1971 and has been improved radar system and so on.
 The F-4 fighter has excellent fight capability of not only interceptor but also ground/battleship attack. Therefore, the families of the F-4 fighter are served in 12 countries of world.
 The airframe displayed here was built by Mitsubishi licensed from McDonnell in 1973. OJIROWASHI living in Hokkaido is drawn on the vertical tail of the airframe as the team symbol of the 302nd Hikotai, which is now assigned in Hyakuri air base and has been using as the team symbol since it began as flying team in Chitose air base.
 This displayed airframe, which had really been used in Hyakuri air base, is lent from JASDF.

Wingspan 38 ft. 5 in.
Length 63.0 ft.
Height 16 ft. 6 in.
Max. Weight 61,795 lbs
Max. Speed 1,615 mph
Service Ceiling 60,000 ft.
Range 1,615 miles
Engine Manufacture G.E.
Engine Type J79-GE/
IHI-17
Engine Horse Power
Manufacture License-built by Mitsubishi/
McDonnel
Armament -
Crew 2
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12.1 F-4EJKai PHANTOM II(Front View)
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12.2 F-4EJKai PHANTOM II (Cockpit View)
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13. RF-4FJ PHANTOM II (Side View)

 RF-4EJ was converted from the F-4EJ as to install the reconnaissance equipment so as to refill RF-4E reconnaissance jet in Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).
 Reconnaissance flight team, whose mother base is Hyakuri air base, is only one team in JASDF. In peacetime, it utilizes the high capability in disaster such as earthquake and volcano eruption, and supplies movie information to related organization with shooting damage condition and surveilling volcano activity.
 The displayed airframe was converted to the reconnaissance configuration in 1991. "Wood Pecker", which is the team symbol of the 501st Hikotai, is drawn on the vertical tail. And nose art so called as "Shark Mouse" is drawn on the nose of the airframe.
 This displayed airframe, which had really been served in Hyakuri air base, is lent from JASDF.

Wingspan 38 ft. 5 in.
Length 63.0 ft.
Height 16 ft. 6 in.
Max. Weight 61,795 lbs
Max. Speed 1,615 mph
Service Ceiling 60,000 ft.
Range 1,615 miles
Engine Manufacture G.E.
Engine Type J79-GE/IHI-17
Engine Horse Power
Manufacture License-built
by Mitsubishi/
McDonnel
Armament -
Crew 2
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13.1 RF-4EJ PHANTOM II (Right View)
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12.2 RF-4EJ PHANTOM II (Cockpit View)

Others ----- その他

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