USMC Aviator receives British DFC
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Sorry to go on a bit, but I do find medals fascinating - shame I've only got one!
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Originally Posted by Tankertrashnav
That is really interesting. I confess I had never heard of Cdr Stone, and I had always assumed that Alcock and Brown had made the first non-stop trans-Atlantic flight, but if I am reading this correctly, Stone and his crew beat them to it. Am I missing something?
Originally Posted by ian16th
Quote:
The NC-4 started from the Naval Air Station at Rockaway, New York, at 1000 hours on 8 May, 1919, in concert with the NC-1 and NC-3, and although the NC-1 and NC-3 did not complete the journey, the NC-4 successfully crossed the Atlantic and landed in Lisbon, Portugal on 27 May 1919.
I don't think that this was none stop! If it was , he went the pretty route!
The NC-4 started from the Naval Air Station at Rockaway, New York, at 1000 hours on 8 May, 1919, in concert with the NC-1 and NC-3, and although the NC-1 and NC-3 did not complete the journey, the NC-4 successfully crossed the Atlantic and landed in Lisbon, Portugal on 27 May 1919.
I don't think that this was none stop! If it was , he went the pretty route!
The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC flying boat which was designed by Glenn Curtiss and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in New York State and making the crossing as far as Lisbon, Portugal, in 19 days. This included time for stops of numerous repairs and for crewmen's rest, with stops along the way in Massachusetts, Nova Scotia (on the mainland), Newfoundland, and twice in the Azores Islands. Then its flight from the Azores to Lisbon completed the first transatlantic flight between North America and Europe, and two more flights from Lisbon to northwestern Spain to Plymouth, England, completed the first flight between North America and Great Britain.
The accomplishment of the naval aviators of the NC-4 was somewhat eclipsed in the minds of the public by the first nonstop transatlantic flight, which took 15 hours, 57 minutes, and was made by the Royal Air Force pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown, two weeks later.
The accomplishment of the naval aviators of the NC-4 was somewhat eclipsed in the minds of the public by the first nonstop transatlantic flight, which took 15 hours, 57 minutes, and was made by the Royal Air Force pilots John Alcock and Arthur Whitten Brown, two weeks later.
Thanks Green Knight and Ian - as I said, I thought I must be missing something - should have looked at the dates.
Alcock and Brown famously ended their flight upended in an Irish bog, but as they say, "Any landing you walk away from...!"
Alcock and Brown famously ended their flight upended in an Irish bog, but as they say, "Any landing you walk away from...!"
We seem to be ignoring the civilian pilot who made that trip Solo on a trip that started in California and ended in Paris....with a stop in St. Louis to thank his Sponsors and one in in New York for Fuel.
A former US Army Pilot named Lindbergh.
A former US Army Pilot named Lindbergh.
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A former US Army Pilot named Lindbergh.
'One Summer: America 1927' by Bill Bryson recounts some very interesting tales, regarding the early attempts to fly across the Atlantic.
Whenever I see a picture of Charles Lindbergh I'm always surprised that he doesn't look like James Stewart!
I'm pretty sure Lindbergh is still pretty well known, to the extent that if you asked a sample of people who was the first to fly the Atlantic non-stop, many would incorrectly reply Lindbergh, who is much more famous than Alcock and Brown, possibly because of that film.
I'm pretty sure Lindbergh is still pretty well known, to the extent that if you asked a sample of people who was the first to fly the Atlantic non-stop, many would incorrectly reply Lindbergh, who is much more famous than Alcock and Brown, possibly because of that film.
Jimmy Stewart was an Army Pilot as well....B-17's.....two DFC's!
B-17, B-24, B-36, B-47, and B-52's among his aircraft Qualifications.
Combat flying was in 20 Missions in B-24's and one in a B-52......Private to Colonel in Four Years.
20 February 1966 | This Day in Aviation
Combat flying was in 20 Missions in B-24's and one in a B-52......Private to Colonel in Four Years.
20 February 1966 | This Day in Aviation
Most B-52 crews were until they went downtown then they joined the shooting war!
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Hello SASless ! Are you a bit of an outsider for all your contributions ?
The light blue hero of my generation mostly fought his war in air-conditioned comfort ... until, as you say ...
Indeed, there is the embarrassing fact that we have started fighting the same sort of war in air-conditioned comfort on home soil. I hope nobody gets any medals for doing that.
The light blue hero of my generation mostly fought his war in air-conditioned comfort ... until, as you say ...
Indeed, there is the embarrassing fact that we have started fighting the same sort of war in air-conditioned comfort on home soil. I hope nobody gets any medals for doing that.
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" The light blue hero of my generation mostly fought his war in air-conditioned comfort ... until, as you say ..."
I would say thought that Jimmy Stewart more than earned his medals.
Except Jimmy Stewart was in more than one war and did is major bit in the first.
Re Vietnam, I thought he only ever flew on one mission over Vietnam ?
I would say thought that Jimmy Stewart more than earned his medals.
Except Jimmy Stewart was in more than one war and did is major bit in the first.
Re Vietnam, I thought he only ever flew on one mission over Vietnam ?
For the "Not Knowing" among us.....the B-52's dropped heaps of bombs all during the War in Vietnam and Cambodia/Laos at little risk of being hit by hostile Anti-Aircraft fire. They were more at risk of Mid-Air Collision when Bomber Streams going opposite directions met one another. (But that is another story....).
At the end of the War....the B-52's found themselves dispatched to Hanoi and other very highly defended areas and lost quite a few aircraft until the North Vietnamese ran out of SAM's to shoot at them.
A bit of reading on that is eye opening....and proved the SAC Mentality was a bit too deeply engrained.
A list of the B-52's lost in the War.....
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
At the end of the War....the B-52's found themselves dispatched to Hanoi and other very highly defended areas and lost quite a few aircraft until the North Vietnamese ran out of SAM's to shoot at them.
A bit of reading on that is eye opening....and proved the SAC Mentality was a bit too deeply engrained.
A list of the B-52's lost in the War.....
Boeing B-52 Stratofortress - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
