P-47D Thunderbolt ‘NELLIE’, G-THUN

P-47D Thunderbolt ‘NELLIE’, G-THUN

  © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Précédent Suivant The largest and heaviest single-seater piston-engined fighter in history, and the most numerous American fighter ever produced, the 'Jug' was a hugely successful high altitude escort and a formidable ground attack aircraft. 'Nellie' was built in 1945 at Republic's Evansville factory in Indiana. Serialled 45-49192 the aircraft was built originally as a P-47D-40-RA. Detail of its service with the USAAF is not known, although it did serve with the Air Training Command during the last few months of the War, and was eventually stored at Tinker…
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Spitfire Mk XVI, OO-XVI

Spitfire Mk XVI, OO-XVI

  © Xavier Méal   Spitfire Mk. XVI - OO-XVI   Spitfire Mk. XVI - OO-XVI   Spitfire Mk. XVI - OO-XVI   Spitfire Mk. XVI - OO-XVI   Spitfire Mk. XVI - OO-XVI   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Previous Next The Spitfire Mk XVI ‘SL721’ left the production plant in August 1945 for the 6 Maintenance Unit, then it was delivered to the Fighter Command Communications Squadron, then to the Metropolitan Communications Squadron, where it became the personal aircraft of the Air Chief Marshal Sir James Milne Robb adorned…
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Corsair F4U-5NL, F-AZEG

Corsair F4U-5NL, F-AZEG

  © Frederick Vandentorren   © Frederick Vandentorren   © Nicolas Peraud   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Previous Next When the Chance Vought FG-1D Corsair was introduced in 1940 it boasted the most powerful engine along with the largest diameter propeller of any fighter aircraft in history. The result of this engine and propeller combination was the first fighter to exceed 400mph. Corsairs were built right up to 1952, giving the type the honour of having the longest production run of any American piston-engined fighter. The first service engagement for the Corsair was with the US Marine Corps operating from makeshift…
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F4U-4 CORSAIR FLYING BULLS

F4U-4 CORSAIR FLYING BULLS

  Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair © Vali Muresan / Flying Bulls   Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair © Vali Muresan / Flying Bulls   Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair © John Dibbs / Flying Bulls   Chance Vought F4U-4 Corsair © John Dibbs / Flying Bulls Previous Next The Chance Vought F4U Corsair was designed to achieve a maximum speed with minimum drag. Walking around it, you will notice how this was accomplished at perfection. Not a rivet, not a footstep or handle sticks out! The aluminium skin is perfectly smooth and all lines are ideally conceived to improve the aerodynamic qualities…
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Corsair FG-1D G-FGID

Corsair FG-1D G-FGID

Corsair FG-1D G-FGID © Harry Measures Corsair FG-1D G-FGID © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Corsair FG-1D G-FGID © Jean-Pierre Touzeau When the Chance Vought FG-1D Corsair was introduced in 1940 it boasted the most powerful engine along with the largest diameter propeller of any fighter aircraft in history. The result of this engine and propeller combination was the first fighter to exceed 400mph. Corsairs were built right up to 1952, giving the type the honour of having the longest production run of any American piston-engined fighter.The first service engagement for the Corsair was with the US Marine Corps operating from makeshift land…
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Boeing Stearman 75, N56938

Boeing Stearman 75, N56938

© Jean-Pierre Touzeau Boeing Stearman modèle 75, N56938 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau © Jean-Pierre Touzeau This Boeing Stearman Model 75 was built in 1941 at the Stearman factory in Wichita acquired by Boeing.This ‘US Navy N2S-3’ version is equipped with a 220 hp Continental W-670 engine.It was delivered to the Canadian air forces under the registration FJ 804. Once the aircraft was demobilised, it was sold to the United States, which reformed it in stride in 1946. It was bought in 1947, and then became a crop duster aircraft.It received a more powerful engine, modified wings and a crop-dusting system with a tank mounted in the…
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Spitfire Mk. XIV, G-SPIT

Spitfire Mk. XIV, G-SPIT

  © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau   © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Previous image Next image The Rolls-Royce Griffon engine was designed in answer to Royal Naval specifications for an engine capable of generating good power at low altitudes. Concepts for adapting the Spitfire to take the new engine had begun as far back as October 1939; Joseph Smith felt that "The good big 'un will eventually beat the good little 'un." and Ernest Hives of Rolls-Royce thought that the Griffon would be "a second power string for the Spitfire”. The first of the Griffon-engine Spitfires flew on 27 November…
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Hurricane F-AZXR

Hurricane F-AZXR

Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Built as Hurricane Mk I (serial number P3351) in 1940, this aircraft first served with RAF No No. 73 Squadron RAF during the Battle of France. Relegated to training duties, it was wrecked in September 1941 and rebuilt as a Hurricane Mk Iia, then taking serial number DR393, and was transferred to the USSR, where it was shot down in the winter of 1943. The wreck was recovered in 1991. Its restoration as a Mk…
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Morane 406 HB-RCF

Morane 406 HB-RCF

Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Hurricane P3351 © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Built as Hurricane Mk I (serial number P3351) in 1940, this aircraft first served with RAF No No. 73 Squadron RAF during the Battle of France.Relegated to training duties, it was wrecked in September 1941 and rebuilt as a Hurricane Mk Iia, then taking serial number DR393, and was transferred to the USSR, where it was shot down in the winter of 1943.The wreck was recovered in 1991. Its restoration as a Mk II was…
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Grumman Wildcat FM2, G-RUMW

Grumman Wildcat FM2, G-RUMW

Wildcat ©Harry Measures Wildcat © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Wildcat © Jean-Pierre Touzeau Wildcat © Jean-Pierre Touzeau& Australian War Memorial The Grumman Wildcat is an American designed carrier-based fighter aircraft. It served in the US Navy as well as in the British Naval Air Force during the Pacific War.Despite the performance of the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, its main adversary, the Wildcat demonstrated a very effective force during the great battles of 1942, such as those of the Coral Sea, Midway, or Guadalcanal.The Royal Navy adopted it, preferring it to the Sea-Hurricane and Seafire that were more difficult to operate on aircraft…
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