P-40 found in desert
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Wow, that engine is way overdue for an oil change!
I wonder what the oil looks like after 70 years in the desert?
I'm sure a little MMO could fix it right up. LOL
I wonder what the oil looks like after 70 years in the desert?
I'm sure a little MMO could fix it right up. LOL
Note that the pilot was a Flight Sergeant. To put it another way, he was an enlisted pilot, not an officer. This was normal back then.
I was stationed with the British back in 1960 and 1961 and even then, the British had enlisted pilots. Their ranks were Sergeant Pilot and Corporal Pilot. They flew jets, just like the officer pilots. I don't know when (or if) the British made all their pilots officers.
The US also had a very VERY few enlisted pilots up to the early 1960's, but they flew cargo planes, not combat planes. I know that in the 1950's, the US Navy had Chief Petty Officer Pilots, with officer co-pilots. When those Chief's retired, that was the end of enlisted pilots for the US.
I was stationed with the British back in 1960 and 1961 and even then, the British had enlisted pilots. Their ranks were Sergeant Pilot and Corporal Pilot. They flew jets, just like the officer pilots. I don't know when (or if) the British made all their pilots officers.
The US also had a very VERY few enlisted pilots up to the early 1960's, but they flew cargo planes, not combat planes. I know that in the 1950's, the US Navy had Chief Petty Officer Pilots, with officer co-pilots. When those Chief's retired, that was the end of enlisted pilots for the US.
You'd think with satellite photography and what not some google earth nerd would have found it before now.
That metal strip between the upright rudder and tail looks like it's not held on with all that many rivets. I know England was hard up for metal during wartime-- they shrunk bolt head sizes for comparable fasteners-- and I guess it was enough.
That metal strip between the upright rudder and tail looks like it's not held on with all that many rivets. I know England was hard up for metal during wartime-- they shrunk bolt head sizes for comparable fasteners-- and I guess it was enough.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
You'd think with satellite photography and what not some google earth nerd would have found it before now.
as much as those sands shift around, it could have been buried for years...
You'd think with satellite photography and what not some google earth nerd would have found it before now.
as much as those sands shift around, it could have been buried for years...
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Awesome find! I hope they are able to salvage it and place it into a museum for others to see.
Originally Posted By: eljefino
That metal strip between the upright rudder and tail looks like it's not held on with all that many rivets. I know England was hard up for metal during wartime-- they shrunk bolt head sizes for comparable fasteners-- and I guess it was enough.
It's an American airplane. Built in the USA.
I've worked on airplanes with less holding those fairings on.
That metal strip between the upright rudder and tail looks like it's not held on with all that many rivets. I know England was hard up for metal during wartime-- they shrunk bolt head sizes for comparable fasteners-- and I guess it was enough.
It's an American airplane. Built in the USA.
I've worked on airplanes with less holding those fairings on.
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The Sahara Desert is vast, and very old too. At times in the Earth's history, it had a much wetter climate, and the bones of Sarcosuchus and Ouranosaurus are still sometimes found sticking up out of the dunes. Caves have been found with art showing animals that today only reside in more southern parts of Africa.
When the climate dried up as the Ice Age was ending, people moved to the Nile Valley in large numbers, sparking a great civilization. But the dry air preserves things. The minefields that the Axis and Allies laid down 70 years ago are still there, and still dangerous.
In that same desert the half-insane Persian King, Cambyses II, sent an army to annex the Oasis of Siwa. These soldiers lost their way, and were never heard from again. People have been looking for the army's lost artifacts for centuries.
Cambyses was the son of King Cyrus, who overthrew the last Babylonian Empire and allowed the deported Jewish people to return home.
When the climate dried up as the Ice Age was ending, people moved to the Nile Valley in large numbers, sparking a great civilization. But the dry air preserves things. The minefields that the Axis and Allies laid down 70 years ago are still there, and still dangerous.
In that same desert the half-insane Persian King, Cambyses II, sent an army to annex the Oasis of Siwa. These soldiers lost their way, and were never heard from again. People have been looking for the army's lost artifacts for centuries.
Cambyses was the son of King Cyrus, who overthrew the last Babylonian Empire and allowed the deported Jewish people to return home.
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Cool article..
Fabric where missing , metal elsewhere .
Originally Posted By: ctrcbob
Note that the pilot was a Flight Sergeant. To put it another way, he was an enlisted pilot, not an officer. This was normal back then.
I was stationed with the British back in 1960 and 1961 and even then, the British had enlisted pilots. Their ranks were Sergeant Pilot and Corporal Pilot. They flew jets, just like the officer pilots. I don't know when (or if) the British made all their pilots officers. There are plenty of Warrant Officers flying rotary wing for the Army. If it quacks like a duck....
The US also had a very VERY few enlisted pilots up to the early 1960's, but they flew cargo planes, not combat planes. I know that in the 1950's, the US Navy had Chief Petty Officer Pilots, with officer co-pilots. When those Chief's retired, that was the end of enlisted pilots for the US.
Note that the pilot was a Flight Sergeant. To put it another way, he was an enlisted pilot, not an officer. This was normal back then.
I was stationed with the British back in 1960 and 1961 and even then, the British had enlisted pilots. Their ranks were Sergeant Pilot and Corporal Pilot. They flew jets, just like the officer pilots. I don't know when (or if) the British made all their pilots officers. There are plenty of Warrant Officers flying rotary wing for the Army. If it quacks like a duck....
The US also had a very VERY few enlisted pilots up to the early 1960's, but they flew cargo planes, not combat planes. I know that in the 1950's, the US Navy had Chief Petty Officer Pilots, with officer co-pilots. When those Chief's retired, that was the end of enlisted pilots for the US.
A number of US enlisted flying personel got bumped to warrant officer status. WO's, of course, still fly rotary wing in the Green Machine.
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