Before we get started, a bit of information. I’ll be posting my own photos but — whenever possible — the photo caption will have a link to the Museum’s own description for the plane in question. Also whenever possible, I’ll include an additional link (usually, from Wikipedia).

Yes, it’s just as expedient — if so inclined — going to the Museum’s own website and browsing their collection. This post is mostly for me since I went to the trouble of taking and processing the photos. 

Continuing where we left off in Part 1, we look at the Zero. I thought it was a more elegant plane than most from that era. 

For them who won’t read the sign, this Zero is built from parts of crashed Zero fighters found in the late 1960s . . . a Frankenstein Zero. Here’s another look . . . 

Can you see the bolts holding it together?

Right next to the zero, we find the F4F-3A Wildcat, one of the Zero’s foes. 

Next up, We have the Douglas A1-Skyraider (formerly, AD).

The interesting thing — or, what I found interesting — is this plane could carry a heavier bomb payload than the B-17 Flying Fortress. 

Next up, another plane with pleasing lines . . . or, I’m just partial to external tanks. The McDonnell F2H Banshee served as a reconnaissance platform during the Korean War.

I have to admit to having a different impression of the nature of a banshee. I thought it a monster of some kind. I mean, technically, yes, that’s what it is, but I thought it more the malevolent monster. I mean, yes, malevolent, but more in a physical way. Oh, heck, I’m not sure what I thought. I guess not knowing something lets you formulate a vague placeholder for something. A placeholder lacking any clarity or accuracy. 

Here’s one more view of it . . . 

I presume those are cameras sitting in front of the plane. Honestly, when I’m snapping photos I seldom read the information; I’m more focused on lines and composition. I usually recognize the planes I know and those I don’t know I scope out for interesting angles and compositions. 

For them not clicking on the links . . .
“The Museum’s F2H-2P Banshee spent the years between 1959 and 1988 with its fuselage filled with cement sitting in {the} sand in a playground in Vero Beach, Florida, where children pretended to soar among the clouds in its cockpit. Accessioned by the Museum in 1989, it is restored in the markings of Bureau Number 126673, a VMJ-1 aircraft of the Korean War.”

We now come to a happy-looking plane despite some calling it “four-eyes”. 

You have to admit it presents a definite happy-go-lucky-goofy visage. 

I thought the Messerschmitt Me 262 was the plane with the vertical-shooting guns triggered by photocells, but that’s actually the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet. They don’t have one in this museum . . . come to think of it, I’m not sure what this plane is doing here as I don’t think it was deployed by the German Navy. 

Before I go on to other planes, a few more photos from this area. 

Occasionally, I zoomed out and took in what I call atmosphere shots. Shots that give you a flavor for what it’s like at the expanse of jumbled landing gears, propellers, wings . . . wait . . . what’s that?

Why, that looks like the TV-2 (T-33B) Shooting Star. The TV-2 is a variant of the Lockheed T-33.

It’s a long plane and there wasn’t a great angle from which to photograph it without something else being in the way. I took this shot because it shows the rear of the Shooting Star but also the Me 262 and the Catalina hanging from the ceiling. 

Here’s the front view of the Shooting Star. 

It’s amazing how different planes look when viewed from different angles. For instance . . . 

That’s the McDonnell FH-1 Phantom and it looks different when looking at it at an angle.

Here’s the plaque describing the plane. 

Occasionally, it pays to look up . . . 

The Piasecki HUP Retriever was a utility/rescue aircraft. There were 30 HUP-3 versions built. 

Next up . . . er . . . on the floor, we have the Grumman AF-2S Guardian.

In fleet service, a pair of Guardians operated together forming submarine hunter-killer teams that were a mainstay into the mid-1950s.

Early in the war, Japanese Aviators were experienced and battle-hardened.  By the end of the war, attrition resulted in aviators with less experience . . . probably a good thing for US Aviators. 

Interesting they are shown carrying swords. I don’t know if they had the swords with then in the plane, but I can imagine that being the case.

Next up, we have “George”.

Japanese airplanes were given common names and George was the designation of the Kawanishi N1K2-J Shiden-Kai which proved to be one of the best dogfighting aircraft produced by either side.

I think this is a good place to cut off this second post. 

Here’s the gallery of the above photos. To see the photos in their original size or presented a bit better, please visit the associated SmugMug Gallery HERE.

That’s it. This post has ended . . . except for the stuff below.

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