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Jasper has been up there dogfighting, protecting our skies from those who would do evil. He's an ace pilot to be sure. Even so, he took a few bullets to his trusty flying machine. So, Snoopy is not the only one that can pilot a doghouse!
(somewhat my inspiration. Mostly it's just remembering the Peanuts cartoon from childhood. www.drawinghowtodraw.com/stepbystepdrawinglessons/tag/how... )
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This gorgeous Hurricane is the last airworthy Mk.IV in existence.
Since this shot was taken at Duxford's Flying Legends 2005, 15 years ago today, she has gone on to become CF-TPM with Vintage Wings of Canada and now OO-HUR with Flying Aces Services & Training.
In a small bistro in the French countryside, the famous World War 2 flying ace takes a much needed respite... and spies a dark haired lass...
•───────────︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵────────────•
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Snoopy Flying Ace
'Perhaps some dark-haired lass will share my table.'
Determined Productions
1971, Japan
In our extensive Peanuts collection, this is one of my personal favorite pieces. I love Snoopy-chan's sly face here. 😊
RRRARARWWRRARARRRWW
The famous World War Flying Ace marches confidently to his faithful Sopwith Camel, barking encouragement to the other pilots.
"..............................."
RRRARARWWRRARARRRWW
We cannot hear him because of the engines, but it must be incredibly inspiring.
"..............................."
In lieu of the heart-pounding speech, let's consider the Sopwith Camel.
Commissioned in 1917, the famed biplane is credited with downing more enemy aircraft (1,294) than any other Allied fighter of the conflict.
The name "Camel" was a nickname that stuck, referring to the distinctive "hump" or metal fairing over the breeches of its twin Vickers machine guns, located just ahead of the cockpit.
While incredibly agile and a formidable dogfighter in the hands of an experienced pilot, its design (specifically the concentration of weight and the gyroscopic effect of its rotary engine) made it notoriously difficult and dangerous for novices to fly.
RRRARARWWRRARARRRWW
"..............................."
You tell 'em, Snoopy!
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Peanuts Snoopy Collection
50 Years Celebration
Flying Ace Snoopy
1998, Flambro
Flambro is another of our favorite brands for the Peanuts license. We had an account with them when we had our collectibles store and Flambro never failed to delight with their colorful and innovative designs.
This series, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Snoopy (Which occured in 2000), features six figurines, each of them incredibly cute, such as Flying Ace Snoopy here.
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/54772289279
Snoopy has a long and victorious history on the Bijou Planks as the indefatiguable Flying Ace!
Honored in BP 2023 Day 92!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52787331553
At his favorite bistro in BP 2023 Day 211!
[https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53082304079
Noting that the Sopwith Camel might need some maintenance in BP 2023 Day 267!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53210010987
About to take flight against the Dark Pumpkin in BP 2023 Day 302!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53295594591
Joiining the squadron on another mission in BP 2024 Day 140!https://www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53732542724
Spreading love in BP 2024 Day 154!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53764995994
Braving all weather on a top priority mission in BP 2024 Day 266!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/54014492130
And one of my favorite items in our entire Peanuts collection, from BP 2022 Day 345:
KRABOOOOMM!!!
RRROOOOMMMBBB
The explosions of the combustible combat are close and constant thunder.
BUDABUDABUDABUDA
The automatic weaponry from the military aircraft form a steady beat.
GREK! GREK!
But they have not been able to save this complex! Mecha Godzilla is emotionlessly, mercilessly exercising its will of destruction. Until...
POWPOWPOWPOW!!
It's the Flying Ace!!!
"WA! WawawaWA wa WAWA!"
Snoopy, shaking a furious paw, yells very un-beagle-like ephitets at the metallic monstrosity!
GREK! GREK!
POWPOWPOWPOW!!
"WA! WAWAwawaWA WA waWA!"
For the first time, a titan is halted as Snoopy flies faster and faster, forming a cyclone of canine catastrophe!
Halloween is saved, at least for this location!
Nowhere to hide,
Nothin doin,
When it's the world,
That's coming to ruin.
There's no shelter under,
It's a citywide cave-in,
As Kaiju thunder,
Through Paprihaven.
It's 13 Daze of Halloween,
On the largest scale we've ever seen,
So struggle and strive to stay alive,
We'll see you on the other side, if you survive.
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Welcome to the 2025 edition of Paprihaven's 13 Daze of Halloween! We are featuring the towering titans of terror from Toho films!
Which demands the following mention! For the absolute best Japanese vinyl kaiju photography on Flickr, (Or anywhere in the world!), you must visit John's stream, MyKaiju:
Godzilla vs Mecha Godzilla
Mecha Godzilla
1993, Bandai
The Peanuts Movie
Flying Ace Snoopy
2018, McDonald's
Sky Busters
A-10 Fairchild Thunderbolt
2023, Matchbox
Sky Busters
Boeing F-15 Eagle
2016, Matchbox
The original Mecha Godzilla was constructed by the always annoying Black Hole Planet 3 aliens known as the Simians. It was meant to impersonate Godzilla, (It initially had a Godzilla-like covering over it's metal body.), and conquer earth.
If that sounds like an unnecessarily convoluted plan, it was. But it was also great fun as the gigantic mech defeated Anguiras and proved so powerful that Godzilla needed help from King Caesar. (The Okinawan kaiju, not the Roman emperor.)
Here is a clip of Godzilla and King Caesar teaming up against Mecha Godzilla, showcasing Mecha Godzilla's power.
This is Shōwa Era Godzilla silliness. Oddly, as they cranked up Godzilla's muppet personality during this time, presumably to attract young audiences, Toho also ramped up the blood.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbuJ9FRm2zs
Here are our past Halloween countdowns for Day 6!
2017
flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/37587868770/
2018
flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/43744397390/
2019
flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/48964075778/
2020
flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/50534944777/
2021
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51642874154/
2022
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52456991290/
2023
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53285685084/
2024
Ahh.... remember the good old days?
Or otherwise known as....exercises in how to make yourself look as daft as possible.....
The World War I Flying Ace is one of the many fantasy identities that Snoopy adopted during the fifty-year run of the Peanuts comic strip.
In the early years of the strip, Snoopy would pretend to be other animals, such as a vulture, a boa constrictor or a piranha.
As his character developed, Snoopy's imaginary life became more complicated. Many strips would focus on Snoopy pretending to be a lawyer or the student "Joe Cool." However, the World War I Flying Ace would be one of Snoopy's most popular and enduring alternate identities.
Snoopy's first appearance as the World War I Flying Ace was in the Peanuts comic strip from October 10, 1965, which saw him climb on top of his doghouse (claiming it was a Sopwith Camel biplane) to do battle with the Red Baron. The fantasy ended when Linus came up behind him and imitated the noise of a machine gun.
Often, when Snoopy is seen as the World War I Flying Ace, it is hard for other characters to get his attention, because all Snoopy cares about at that point is his imaginary battles.
For instance, in the strip from June 20, 1989, when Charlie Brown comes home from camp, and really misses Snoopy, the first thing Snoopy (as the World War I Flying Ace) says when he sees the boy is, "Don't they realize how dangerous it is to let unauthorized kids on the runway?".
Often, after an imaginary battle, Snoopy will call out "Curse you, Red Baron!"
While spending time in the town Snoopy will often admit that the things that he is doing are not historically accurate to real flying aces.
The first television appearance of Snoopy as the World War I Flying Ace was in the animated special It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, initially broadcast on October 27, 1966.
In the special, Schroeder appears to be happy to go along with Snoopy's game by playing popular songs from the World War I era on his toy piano.
Other characters would participate in Snoopy's imaginary World War I exploits during the strip's run, including Woodstock and his bird friends and Snoopy's siblings, Belle and Spike.
Woodstock and the birds would most often be seen as mechanics for the Ace with Belle appearing as a nurse for the troops. Spike appeared in later years as a member of the infantry, lasting all the way to the Flying Ace's last appearance.
The most eager human participant appears to be Marcie, who is happy to accept the role of "French lass" who falls for the dashing pilot. However, Snoopy's brother Marbles refused to take part in the game and found his brother's behavior very confusing.
Various cartoon characters from outlets such as Warner Bros. and Disney have been used as mascots of US military units. Aware of the legal battle between The Royal Guardsmen and United Features Syndicate, over the band's unauthorized use of the name "Snoopy" in their song "Snoopy Vs. The Red Baron", a fighter squadron in the Vietnam War that wanted to use Snoopy the World War I Flying Ace as their mascot wrote to Charles M. Schulz to ask permission first. Schulz, a veteran himself, approved Snoopy in Red Baron-hunting mode as the squadron's mascot.
•────────────────•°•❀•°•────────────────•
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Hallmark
Peanuts Gallery
Five Decades of Charlie Brown
Pewter
2000, Hallmark Cards, Inc.
Charlie Brown seen in BP 2023 Day 50:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52699356698/
Snoopy was seen in BP 2023 Day 64:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52728633418/
Lucy was seen in BP 2023 Day 78:
RAF Tangmere, West Sussex England
Situated 3 miles from the South coast of England, this land was a former RAF fighter base of 11 Group which defended our skies during the Battle of Britain.
The Control Tower built in 1944 replaces an earlier tower destroyed during the Battle of Britain.
On the 16th August 1940 the station was attacked by German aircraft and Tangmere sustained severe damage destroying 2 hangars and several other buildings, 13 people lost their lives.
The base was home to legendary Douglas Bader who on 18th March 1940 was promoted to acting Wing Commander and became one of the 1st Wing Leaders with 145, 610 and 616 squadrons flying spitfire aircraft.
RAF Tangmere was also home to Spitfire ace Johnnie Johnson the RAF's most successful fighter ace during WW II.
The SOE (Special Operation Executive) also used RAF Tangmere as the base to fly resistance/secret agents to France to carry out sabotage missions against the Germans.
Violett Szabo "Bravest women of the war" flew from here on the mission which sadly she never returned executed in Ravensbruck concentration camp aged 23 on the 5th February 1945.
For her bravery she was awarded the:-
George Cross 1946
Croix de guerre avec étoile de bronze by the French government in 1947.
Médaille de la Resistance in 1973.
In 1956 her exploits were dramatised by the film "Carve her name with Pride" played by Virginia McKenna.
HRH Prince Charles (10-09-2022 King Charles III) learnt to fly from Tangmere in 1968 but in 1970 the base was closed.
This control tower is the only building left as a reminder to the events carried out from this former Battle of Britain RAF airfield.
"Rest in peace to all those Men/Women of the United Kingdom/ Allies and Commonwealth that gave there lives during WW II."
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN.
The memorial to local WW1 flying ace, Albert Ball, situated in the grounds of Nottingham Castle., Nottingham Castle.
© All rights reserved.
More on Albert Ball here - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Ball
The World Famous Flying Ace did not stop his aerial activities after the war.
With his famous gold-trimmed heart locket, Snoopy would fly around the world to deliver the coup de grâce for romances that had arrived at a crucial point.
When two lovers would reach a junction where their romance only needed to be expressed, but there was fear or shyness...
phwoooosh! POING!
...The Flying Ace of Hearts swoops in and, instead of guns blazing, his heart locket would open and zap the romanticist, causing them to burst forth in eloquent and poetic exhortations of adoration! Sometimes even song and dance! Always ending with a bended knee, a proffered ring, and a breathless 'YES!'
If YOU are in a romance that has stalled, just shout to the sky, "Flying Ace of Hearts, we need you!"
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Peanuts No.8257
Flying Ace Mini Photo Frame
Westland Giftware
NOS from the 90's.
Another of our favorite vendors from our days of our collectibles store is Westland Giftware. They had the loveliest line of Peanuts offerings.
I don't know if Westland is still in business but these figurines are a great legacy for them.
When all of the Peanuts figurines are lined up in a nice display it's truly amazing from their large ornate sculpts to their smaller figurines like today's photo featuring Flying Ace Snoopy.
Previous Flying Ace Snoopy appearances on the Bijou Planks:
BP 2021 Day 73!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51037083511/
BP 2022 Day 233!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52301722263/
BP 2022 Day 345!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52557136481/
BP 2023 Day 92!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52787331553/
BP 2023 Day 211!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53082304079/
BP 2023 Day 267!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53210010987/
BP 2023 Day 302!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53295594591/
BP 2024 Day 140!
“She teased Richthofen into a bundle of nerves. What burning promises were in those passionate letters she sent, that unnerved Richthofen to his ultimate doom?”
Manfred Albrecht Freiherr von Richthofen (1892 – 1918), better known as “The Red Baron,” was a fighter pilot with the German Air Force during World War I. He is considered the ace-of-aces of the war, being officially credited with 80 air combat victories. Richthofen received a fatal wound just after 11:00 am on April 21, 1918 while flying over Mortancourt Ridge near the Somme River in France.
Introducing my new Alco PA model. I have been working on this for a while, and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I used the nose design I posted a while ago, and somehow the flex tube in studio worked for the windows. The truck sideframes were designed by @flyingace. Instructions are planned.
“Strategic battle posts on the Continent! To win them, Britain’s ‘Bombays’ would hurtle crack soldiers eastward at the first shot of the next war. But could these gun-bristling troop carriers thrust through the drag-net of Nazi pursuits?” [Prologue]
“Because of the speed with which the fighting will be conducted in the next war, the troop-carrying plane is now coming to the fore as one of the most important machines in the modern air service scheme.
“Troop carriers, in the past, have not been given their proper place in military aviation. But now – particularly in Great Britain, Italy, and Russia – the troop transport is being given worthy consideration. And to simply take an ordinary transport job, daub it up with the national insignia, and call it a soldier ship is no longer enough. ‘Real’ military transports are now being turned out – machines that can carry formidable groups of fighting men long distances and at the same time offer a reasonable amount of resistance in case of interception by an enemy.
“The tracer-tanged drama of such interception is thrillingly portrayed on our cover this month. . . Our cover painting is perhaps unusual. Our artist, August Schomburg, has depicted a scene that may happen any day now – a scene that may already have happened by the time you read this!
“British Bristol ‘Bombay’ planes are shown winging their way across Europe to bring relief or military aid to one of the Balkan nations to whom England has promised backing against the Axis aggressors. These planes may carry troops, machine-gun squads, and military experts who would be needed in the area to lay the ground plans for a military defense. . .
“Undoubtedly, the ‘Bombay’ troop carriers would be accompanied by a protective escort – possibly fighter-bombers of the Fairey ‘Battle’ type, as shown on our cover. These high speed ‘Battles’ might go on ahead to bomb enemy airfields on the route in an attempt to prevent opposing pursuits from taking off and intercepting the ‘Bombays.’
“But we must also accept the fact that once the troop carriers start out, they themselves must be ready to fight off an enemy, therefore we have shown you a possible scene of action where a formation of German Heinkel 112’s is trying to break up the British troop-plane flight. . .” [Excerpts from the accompanying article]
------------------------------------------------
While the bold pre-war cover of “Flying Aces” from July 1939 imagined the Bristol Bombay as a heavily armed, aggressive weapon cutting through Nazi pursuit planes to drop elite troops directly into the teeth of the enemy, its actual operational history during World War II was far more modest and grounded. It lacked the speed, defense, and firepower to "run Hitler's gauntlet" in Europe as the magazine speculated, but it was a dependable workhorse that provided valuable utility in the Mediterranean and North African theaters. Ultimately, only about 50 Bristol Bombays were ever built before they were declared completely obsolete in 1944.
Flying Aces / Magazin-Reihe
- If War Again Strikes Belgium
Cover: Leo Morey
Magazine Publishers, Inc. / USA 1936
Reprint / Comic-Club NK 2010
ex libris MTP
KRRAAKKOOWW!!
PHHWWSSSHH!
It is a dark and stormy night as the Flying Ace pilots his doghouse Sopwith Camel just above the crashing waves and beneath a foreboding blood red moon! Lighting flashes all around him as powerful winds gust against his flying machine!
"WAWAWA WA WA!"
KRRAAKKOOWW!!
PHHWWSSSHH!
Snoopy shouts angrily at the lighting and waves! If they be the enemies arrayed to stop him, they will fail!
KRRAAKKOOWW!!
PHHWWSSSHH!
"WA! WA! WAWAWA!"
The Flying Ace has never failed to complete an 'A+ Top Priority Major' mission and, since the French Bistro with the best pizza and root beer closes in less than 30 minutes, he won't fail on this one!
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A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Westland
Snoopy Flying Ace
Snow Globe
Item No. 8201
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53826612098/
NOS from the 90's.
Another of our favorite vendors from our days of our collectibles store is Westland Giftware. They had the loveliest line of Peanuts offerings.
I don't know if Westland is still in business but these figurines are a great legacy for them.
When all of the Peanuts figurines are lined up in a nice display it's truly amazing from their large ornate sculpts to their smaller figurines like today's snow globe with Snoopy the Flying Ace!
This is certainly not the Flying Ace's first appearance!
Facing the Red Baron in BP 2021 Day 73!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51037083511/
And the Great Pumpkin in BP 2023 Day 302!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53295594591/
Enjoying French bistros in BP 2022 Day 345!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52557136481/
Demonstrating his fine-tuned Sopwith Camel in BP 2023 Day 267!
Snoopy! Are you back in action as the famous WW2 Flying Ace??*
VRRR*SPPTTR*VVR*RKRK*MMM
"WawawaW- *COUGH!*...wawa!"
Is that your Sopwith Camel??
VRRR*SPPTTR*VRR*RMRM*CHRK!
"Wawa-*HACK!!!* ...WawaWA wawa!"
Wow, I don't know who's coughing more. You or your plane.
I guess if you don't shoot em down, you can smoke em out!
*SPT*SPT*VRRRMM*SPTR*
"WaWAWAWA WAWA waWA!"
Just a joke, sorry Snoopy. 😕
"*HACK!* *COUGH!* WAAAUGH!!"
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A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Aviva Peanuts Trophies
Snoopy as Flying Ace
"World's Greatest Aviator"
1960s, Hong Kong
In the 1960s through the 1980s, the Aviva Toy Company made a wide range of licensed Peanuts products, from diecast vehicles to wind-up. Many of their offerings were quite creative in design and style.
One of the more uniquely interesting Peanuts lines Aviva produced were the trophies. A surprisingly large line, these 'trophies' consisted of a flat plastic scene with a Peanuts character, usually Snoopy, and a metal plaque in an insert in the plastic base below. The plaque had a short quote particular to the reason for the gift or something silly and amusing.
These were marketed as gifts and were found in gift shops or the gift card section of department stores.
Because the plaques were not secured in the insert, they are often missing in Aviva Peanuts Trophies found today in second hand venues.
*Snoopy has appeared as the Flying Ace in BP 2021 Day 73!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51037083511/
And in BP 2022 Day 233!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52301722263/
And in BP 2022 Day 345!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52557136481/
And in BP 2023 Day 92!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52787331553/
And in BP 2023 Day 211!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53082304079/
This shot exhausts our collection of Aviva Peanuts Trophies. The total trophies produced was much larger. We remain on the lookout for more. We hope you enjoyed!
“In these strange modern days of ours, fighting nations don’t formally declare wars. And not being any different from the others, Japan and Russia haven’t typed out any official war papers, either. Nevertheless, what’s now going on along the Manchukuo-Outer Mongolia frontier is plenty more than just a ‘border incident.’ It’s a real, honest-to-gosh international scrap!
“And that’s why we term it such without mincing words.
“For the past few weeks, both countries have been spouting amazing announcements of victories, and big air fights have been described which required no added imagination by the news observers. Regardless of which side is telling the truth (if either is) it still remains that troops, artillery, tanks, planes, and every other type of fighting equipment have been poured into the action. So, what we tell you here is not a story of what might happen but a record of what has happened.
“Reports have it that friction between the two air forces actually got going in a big way on June 22. Tokyo declares the Russians launched six air raids on that date, though Moscow claims Japan started it. The battles have been carried out near Lake Bor on the boundary separating Japan’s Manchukuo protectorate and Outer Mongolia, which is backed by the Soviets.
“Our cover painting this month shows in graphic detail the kind of battle clash which occurred after raiding Japanese planes staged revenge attacks near Handshur. The Nipponese are depicted following up with a troop, artillery, and tank action – whereupon several flights of Russian Air 7 type two-seat fighters have dived in to strafe them unmercifully. The Red airman in the foreground is doing plenty of damage – but he’s flown too low and may crash any second. For the moment, the Russians have the upper hand. Japanese Nakajima 91’s, however, are seen racing in on the right to repulse the attack. . .” [From the magazine article]
Flying Aces / Magazin-Reihe
- Can Poland Repulse The Nazis?
Cover: Alex Schomburg (as by August Schomburg)
Magazine Publishers, Inc. / USA 1939
Reprint / Comic-Club NK 2010
ex libris MTP
“England and France have declared war on Germany! That feared conflict – the Second World War – has begun! Sky raid follows sky raid as this is written. At Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven, Nazi pocket battleships wallow in their wreckage, blasted by British bombers.
“Most dramatic of all is the fact that at any minute a news flash may knock the ‘If’ off the title of this article! For there’s no ‘If’ about the way Britain is launching out on this new war. She knows she must strike hard, and she’ll call upon her great air force to do that striking. Mass flights of her deadly bombers will roar over the Nazi capital as the scene on our cover portrays.
“The Vickers Wellingtons shown on the picture are Britain’s answer to Hitler and Goering. They are not something just printed on paper. They have been built, crews have been trained to fly them, and they have made a mass sky journey to Marseille, France, and back – a total of 1,300 miles – with full loads. And plenty of fuel still remained in their tanks when they returned. These giant, two-engined bombers do 265 m.p.h. top-speed with a full war load. They cruise at well over 200 m.p.h. and carry armament sufficient to fight off any ordinary attack from the air.
“Other types in the mass flight included Handley-Page Hampdens and Bristol Blenheims. The new version of the Blenheim does 295 m.p.h. with a full fighting load. On July 25, no less than 240 of these air monsters celebrated Louis Bleriot’s history-making flight across the channel thirty years before. This was the largest mass military flight in history, and that it was carried out without a single hitch of any kind reflects the advance Britain has made in the past few months.
“A week before, five squadrons of Royal Air Force bombers and fighters flew across the channel and gave Paris a display of mass military flying that left every Frenchman gaping. This fine show was ignored in German papers at first, then later on the Nazis called it ‘war-mongering.’ At any rate, three such flights were carried out, showing that the British ‘could’ send mass formations of high-speed bombers much farther than the distance to Berlin ‘if necessary.’ They showed they could not only send the bombers, but they could send along squadrons of Hurricanes and Spitfires to protect them . . .” [Excerpt from the accompanying article]
---------------------------------------------
Britain entered the war in 1939 with courage, a modern air force, and a strong bomber doctrine on paper, but the reality of striking deep into Germany — and dominating German airspace — proved far more difficult than the pre war magazines imagined. The “Flying Aces” article captures the optimism of the moment, but not the hard constraints Britain and France faced.
Britain could not dominate the air over Germany in 1939–40 because its bombers lacked the range, accuracy, and defensive strength to survive deep-penetration raids, and because Germany’s air defenses, geography, and rapid military victories neutralized French air power and left Britain isolated. Britain did bomb Berlin — repeatedly — but these early raids were not strategically decisive.
The RAF tried daylight raids in 1939–40. Losses were catastrophic. Its early-war bombers – Wellington, Hampden, Blenheim – were too lightly armed to survive concentrated fighter interception; too slow compared to German Bf 109s; lacked self-sealing tanks; and depended on daylight for accuracy, which made them easy targets. By late 1939, the RAF had already concluded: daylight bombing over Germany was suicidal. The later Lancaster raids were massive but still failed to break German morale or industry as hoped. Only with the USSR and the USA entering the war did the balance shift.
Introducing my new Alco PA model. I have been working on this for a while, and I'm very happy with how it turned out. I used the nose design I posted a while ago, and somehow the flex tube in studio worked for the windows. The truck sideframes were designed by @flyingace. Instructions are planned.
The "Young American Assortment" from the Spencer Fireworks Co. gives a wonderful look into the mail-order pyrotechnics landscape of the late 1930s. Spencer was a prominent mail-order firework distributor at the time, located in the small village of Polk, Ohio. They heavily targeted young boys by advertising in popular pulp, hobby, and aviation magazines of the era (like “Flying Aces,” “Open Road for Boys,” and various comic books). Their business model relied on sending out massive, colorful catalogs.
For just $2.95 (which would be around $65–$70 today), a kid in 1939 could order a massive arsenal containing 200 flash crackers, cannon salutes, roman candles, "glittacracks," and even novelty items like "sky battle" rockets and "gyro flyers"—all sent directly to their doorstep without any adult verification.
The transition from open mail-order delivery to an outright postal ban happened in stages through federal and postal regulation. It began with the Federal Explosives Act in 1941, spurred by the onset of World War II, which put a damper on the golden era of unregulated, cross-country mail-order sales to minors. The definitive end for buying heavy-duty fireworks via standard consumer mail came with the creation of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In 1976, the CPSC strictly limited the amount of pyrotechnic composition allowed in consumer firecrackers to 50 milligrams (banning M-80s, cherry bombs, and large salutes from interstate commerce). Today, the U.S. Postal Service strictly prohibits all fireworks from entering the mail system, including small items like sparklers.
While you can still buy fireworks online today, companies must use specialized, pre-approved private freight carriers (like specific ground divisions of UPS or FedEx Freight). These shipments must strictly adhere to Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazmat regulations (Class 1.4G consumer fireworks), requiring special placarding, hazmat surcharges, and a signature from an adult over the age of 18 or 21 upon delivery.
[Source: Google Gemini]
Deutschland hoch in Ehren
Von Hermann dem Cherusker bis zum "Ja" am 12. Nov. 1933
Sammelalbum / Zigaretten-Bilder
> Bild: Manfred von Richthofen (1916)
Herausgegeben von Martin Brinkmann A.G. Zigarettenfabrik (Bremen / Deutschland; 1935)
ex libris MTP
'Kilroy Was Here' was perhaps the first viral meme in history. The doodle was well known throughout the theaters of World War 2 and beyond.
Not quite as well known, and mainly limited to airfields, were the familiar paw prints that could be seen across the landing strips in France, Britain, Germany, and many others.
At first wildly differing theories grew, especially among the airmen, ranging from a mystical guardian dog they called Air Cerberus, to a ghostly canine that haunted the fields.
Then, one night in a mess hall in Poland, soldiers spotted the paw prints, followed them, and found the famous World War 2 flying ace, Snoopy, enjoying a root beer and pizza.
From this point details emerged that Snoopy was prone to crashing his Sopwith Camel and would walk through fields, bogs, and marshes back to the closest airfield.
It remains in question as to what exactly Snoopy was famous for, but his aerial altercations with the hated Red Baron were well respected and the rather hefty budget assigned to Sopwith Camels was forgiven.
And so, in many arenas of combat in Europe, a cry would go up, "Face your fear, the ACE was here!" And there would be the paw prints.
⋆⋅☆⋅⋆──── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ────⋆⋅☆⋅⋆
A year of the shows and performers of the Bijou Planks Theater.
Peanuts No.8238-43
Snoopy Flying Ace Walking
Westland Giftware
NOS from the 90's.
Another of our favorite vendors from our days of our collectibles store is Westland Giftware. They had the loveliest line of Peanuts offerings.
I don't know if Westland is still in business but this is a great legacy for them. Our favorite Westland line is easily the Peanuts figurines. These are the series we've featured most often in our stream and each one is a Peanuts character with their arms outstretched presenting a different theme.
When all of the Peanuts figurines are lined up in a nice display it's truly amazing. Here are a couple of examples that we've posted:
Charlie Brown Around Town:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52628761537/
Peanuts on Parade Snoopy:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/48194187466/
Looking For Lucy:
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52528140603/
But that doesn't affect our love for Westland's other items, including their smaller figurines like today's photo featuring Flying Ace Snoopy.
Previous Flying Ace appearances on the Bijou Planks:
BP 2021 Day 73!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/51037083511/
BP 2022 Day 233!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52301722263/
BP 2022 Day 345!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52557136481/
BP 2023 Day 92!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/52787331553/
BP 2023 Day 211!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53082304079/
BP 2023 Day 267!
www.flickr.com/photos/paprihaven/53210010987/
BP 2023 Day 302!
Screen capture from a 1975 K-tel commercial for a novelty song compilation album called "Goofy Greats." The album included "Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" by the Royal Guardsmen, with a cartoon of the Red Baron turning the tables on Snoopy in a five second segment of the commercial
Commercial can be found here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyiLOPnENfE
Chase and Britney Manhattan (World War I Flying Ace G.I. Joe and Britney Spears doll) enjoy each other's company, even to the point that they missed the duck trailing them!
“Will Fascists Bomb the Canal? The sensational story behind our cover painting. Menacing creed of the Dictators are being fostered in Central and South America. And this may mean that our Navy sky fighters will have to defend the ‘Big Ditch’ of Panama against – American-built bombing planes.” [Prologue]
“Second only in importance to the defense of continental United States is the defense of the Panama Canal. Indeed, this massive engineering development which has cut nautical distances between the Atlantic and the Pacific coasts in half, is probably the real key to the successful bulwarking of the United States.
“Yes, the so-called ‘Big Ditch’ is one of the most important factors in the strategic and commercial future of our nation. And its defense offers many pertinent problems which differ strikingly from those faced by other first-class powers. . .
“As we go to press, a big portion of our Pacific Fleet is scheduled to steam through into the Atlantic to appear at New York’s World’s Fair. Well, suppose the Canal was explosively banged shut after our battle wagons got over here in the Atlantic? And suppose Japan chose this particular time to raise hob (hell) over in the Pacific? Then our fleet would have to spend a lot of extremely valuable time in making the rigorous and lengthy journey around Cape Horn. And before they arrived on the scene of action, Japan would have got in some terrible blows.
“Most of the time we keep our greatest naval strength in the Pacific. This means that in similar fashion a European enemy planning to raise the devil in the Atlantic might take a try at blocking off the Canal at the zero hour. Again, a Cape Horn trip would be required to mobilize our sea force on the Eastern Coast. And again, a lot might happen before the battleships got around. . .
“Close students of military tactics believe that eventually naval and air bases will have to be established at the Galapagos and Cocos Islands in the Pacific, and at Puerto Rico in the Atlantic. Perhaps even more might come into the picture in cooperation with the British in the West Indies and with certain friendly Central American countries.
“Meanwhile, our Army engineers have been surveying Nicaragua as a site for a supplementary canal. And if this new water highway were built, we wouldn’t be carrying all our eggs in the one basket of the Panama Canal. What’s more, a Nicaraguan canal would provide even quicker passage between our Eastern and Western coasts . . .
“It is well-known that many American airplane manufacturers are selling their products abroad. As a matter of fact, practically every military type now being turned out in the United States is on the export list, which means it can be sold abroad. Even our new Boeing B-15 Super-Fortress is available to any country that has the money to buy it. And many other bomber types have already been sold to certain South American states.
“What if a hostile coalition controlling a number of these exported American fighting jobs hurled them against the Canal?” [Excerpts from the magazine article]
-------------------------------------------------
The article frets about the Panama Canal as the single point of catastrophic failure, yet the real “eggs in one basket” vulnerability turned out to be thousands of miles away at Pearl Harbor. The article’s logic wasn’t wrong. It was simply looking in the wrong direction. It imagines a scenario where the fleet is caught on the wrong side of the Canal. What actually happened was worse: the fleet was caught in the right place, but unprepared.
“New planes have been designed, tested, and flown away, never to return. New type bombers on ordinary trips blow up in mid-air. The Boeing Flying Fortress went through a series of mysterious mishaps before they actually got all the ‘bugs’ out of it – and the bugs were probably nothing more than the wicked fingers of enemy agents.
“Probably the most outstanding item of this kind was the crash of the new Lockheed P-38 fighter which crashed on February 11th near Mitchel Field, L.I., after a trans-continental speed test. This unusual machine was on the secret list in the United States and had not been heard of prior to the unfortunate crash. But a few days before it actually piled up in a sand pit adjoining the golf course at East Hampton, actual photographs and full details of it were published in European aviation journals when American newspapers did not even know of its existence!
“The P-38 was wrecked under mysterious circumstances. It had made amazing time all the way across the continent from March Field, Riverside, California. The Lockheed was supposed to have cost approximately $80,000, and was an unusual plane inasmuch as it was a single-seater powered by two 1,000-h.p. Allison in-line engines! The engines were faired into the wing as was the covered cockpit.
“The interesting feature of the plane, however, was that it had no fuselage in the general sense of the word, but the engine nacelles were carried back into hollow outriggers and supported the tail surfaces.
“Reports given out since the crash indicate that the Lockheed P-38 had established speeds of nearly 450 miles mph. But, of course, since these tests were not made under official supervision and with the sanction of the International Aeronautical Federation, they cannot be accepted as official.
“But what caused the crash just as the plane was coming in to land at Mitchel Field? Officially we don’t know. The secret investigation findings have not been given out. . .” [From the accompanying magazine article]
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was highly successful in WWII, especially in the Pacific Theater, where it destroyed more Japanese aircraft than any other fighter. As the only American fighter in production throughout the entire war, it was renowned for its long range, heavy firepower, and versatility in roles like scouting and ground attack. [Sources: lockhheedmartin.com, and worldwariiaviation.org]
Erich Hartmann attended this school from 1937 to 1940 in my home town 'Korntal' in south of Germany before volunteering for the air force after graduating from high school.
The dormitory of the school is about 100m / 110yd away and is still preserved.
www.flickr.com/photos/196307358@N05/53887732159/in/album-...
There is no reference or memorial plate to his person in or outside of the building.
In Korntal he also met his later wife Ursula Paetsch.
The building looks much smaller than it is. History of the school you can find below.
Here you can find his career in German:
www.leo-bw.de/detail/-/Detail/details/PERSON/kgl_biograph...
With a lot of details also about the family, especially his mother, who was one of the first female sailing pilots in the "German Reich". Her airfield "Landesflughafen Stuttgart-Boeblingen (1925–1938)" is known as the airfield Boeblingen wich was overtaken from the occupation forces of the US.
language is german:
de.wikibrief.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann
Landesflughafen Stuttgart-Boeblingen (in german language):
de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flughafen_B%C3%B6blingen
also
www.flugfeld.info/de/flugfeld/geschichte.html
Traditionsgemeinschaft JG52 (information in German):
www.jg52.net/ritterkreuztraeger/erich-hartmann/
For the English version, please click here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann
____________
School History
former parish Latin school
18xx
public school built
1819
Private school, foundation of Korntal Latin school for boys
1821
Private school, first classes for girls with the educational goal of becoming housewives
1848
Private school under the direction of Dr Pfleiderer with 3 departments, introduction of physical education humanistic Progymnasium, Realprogymnasium, Realschule
1880
Purchase of the building by the religious community "Brüdergemeinde" and foundation of the "Gemeinde Lateinschule", integration into the state school system
1884
Takeover of the "Höhere Bildungsanstalt für Knaben" (secondary school for boys)
1892
Inauguration on 11 November as a community Latin school in the presence of King Wilhemlm II.
1912
Renamed "Higher School for Boys
1933
Converted into a state "Ulrich von Hutten" Secondary School
1940
Converted into a fully-fledged state grammar school, the primary educational goal was military fitness in the sense of the Third Reich
1940 - 1945
The dark chapter that is hushed up by everyone. Only that history does not disappear when you try to ignore it.
1933 - 45 general
Up to today it is difficult to get informations about the period of the "Third Reich" in the town. The archieves are 'cleaned up' and most is hidden and wished not to be covered up by the left partys especially the green ones..
1945 - 1954
Korntal grammar school and reintegration of the "Brüdergemeinde" religious community
1958
Grammar school moved to the new building in Charlottenstreet
1958 - 1976
Girls' grammar school
197x
"Pavilion" extension to the left of the building
1976
Merger of "Progymnasium" and "Gymnasium" (Grammar school)
1976
Abolition of gender segregation in the school classes in Germany
198x
Demolition of the "Pavilion" extension building
197x - 198x
Special school for pupils with learning difficulties ( ? )
and usage for secondary / high school (Realschule Korntal)
198x - today
adult education centre, art & music school
__________
Headmasters
1892 - 1908 Alfred Warth
1908 - 1926 Prof. Ernst Käller
1926 - 1934 Headmaster Theodor Reiff
1934 - 1937 Dr. Eberhard von Klemm
1937 - 1945 Dr. Hermann Hahn
1945 - 1952 Wilhelm Simpfendörfer
1953 - 1974 Dr. Albert Bayer
1974 - 1984 Theodor Botsch (new building)
1984 - 2003 Götz Heim (new building)
2003 - 2014 Angelika Nollert (new building)
2014 - today Christoph Brechtelsbauer (new building)
Flying Aces / Magazin-Reihe
- Conquest Of The Atlantic!
Cover: Alex Schomburg (as by August Schomburg)
Magazine Publishers, Inc. / USA 1939
Reprint / Comic-Club NK 2010
ex libris MTP
[Prints best within 40 x 40 cm / 16 x 16 inches]
Actor John Phillip Law passed away May 13, 2008. It is inconceivable to me that any other actor will ever equal his performance as Rittmeister Baron Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, in the 1971 film Von Richthofen and Brown. He portrayed the Baron so as to define the role itself.
Codi von Richthofen,
The Red Baron Gallery ©
[Prints best within 46 x 40 cm / 18 x 16 inches]
Actor John Phillip Law was instrumental in creating a lasting motion-picture monument to the legendary Red Baron. In his own inimitable style, he brought Manfred von Richthofen to life in the best possible way. Without a doubt, the 1971 film Von Richthofen and Brown should prove to be Law's most enduring work — It's not just an inspired movie... it's the Red Baron film.
John Phillip Law passed away May 13, 2008, possibly without even knowing that VR&B was his career defining masterpiece — Belatedly, the film is experiencing a renaissance with home video audiences worldwide.
"Brake a leg," John!
Von Richthofen and Brown can be purchased online :
Amazon.com:
www.amazon.com/Von-Richthofen-Brown-John-Phillip/dp/B000M...
Barnes & Noble:
www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dvd-von-richthofen-and-brown-tom...
Note: Some vendors state this flick is from 1970 — Actually, VR&B was released July 28, 1971... Got it? Also, despite this black & white photo, the film is in colour.
Codi von Richthofen,
The Red Baron Gallery ©
“Fascist powers now threaten England’s rocky stronghold on the Strait – and the British Empire ‘Life-Line’ hangs in the balance!
“. . . The blow at Gibraltar, if there is such a thing, would be designed to throttle British communications and commerce through the Mediterranean. Britain’s Empire Life-Line to the East is a route which passes through the Strait of Gibraltar, crosses the Mediterranean, threads through the Suez Canal and the Red Sea, and then continues on to India. If Gibraltar’s garrison is rendered helpless and Britain is blocked off from the Strait, the Empire Life Line will have to be re-routed around the West African coastline and the Cape of Good Hope, which would add thousands of miles to the ship-run to the Far East. . .” [From the accompanying article]
The Axis powers never successfully attacked or captured Gibraltar during World War II, and they were unable to permanently block Britain's access to the Mediterranean. While there were extensive plans to seize the territory, Gibraltar remained a vital British stronghold throughout the entire conflict. It remained a "lifeline" to British colonies in India and the Far East.
Although the Axis (specifically the Italian Navy and the German “Afrika Korps”) made life extremely dangerous for British shipping in the Mediterranean, they never severed the route entirely. In November 1942, Gibraltar served as the vital headquarters for the Allied invasion of North Africa. The fact that it remained in British hands allowed the Allies to eventually clear the Axis forces from North Africa and fully reopen the Mediterranean by 1943.
Rev. Jamie Flagg (DSI James Dean Ken doll) and his wife, Eileen (NY Yankees Barbie) take to the skies for Halloween at their church's Hallelujah Festival.
Jamie is wearing the G.I. Joe Tuskegee Airman uniform.
Eileen is wearing the Barbie loves Snoopy uniform.
CollectPeanuts.com on Instagram - Roll out! #snoopy #peanuts #vintage #frictioncar #toy #forsale #collectpeanuts #flyingace #pilot #snoopygrams #snoopylove #snoopycollection #snoopyfan #ilovesnoopy
Dramatic Story Behind Our Cover Painting
“With Poland already smashed between the steel pincers of the Nazi-Russian forces, Hitler has moved his crack ground and sky legions to the Western Front. That means that the “Second World War in the Air” has now begun in earnest – the great conflict in the clouds between the Franco-British skymen and Goering’s vaunted air force.
“On this month’s cover, artist Schomburg has painted a striking map of warring Europe, and in the air above he has portrayed a dramatic incident of flyers battling to the death. A gallant British airman is seen making the supreme sacrifice – giving his life to prevent equally gallant German airmen from reaching London with their destructive load of bombs.
“The machines involved are a Supermarine Spitfire interceptor and a Nazi Junkers Ju.86K bomber. It is presumed that the British pilot has been fighting for miles to head off this particular German craft. He has been carrying on a mad duel with the Junkers gunners. Withering bursts from new German Knott-Bremse machine guns have been battering the Spitfire from all angles, and in spite of the fact that this interceptor carries eight guns, the Junkers gunners are getting in deadly blows, for they are working from steadier platforms, not being impeded in their firing by such super-speed and trickiness as the Englishman finds in his Spitfire.
“There is a gun turret below the fuselage on the Junkers which can be raised or lowered at will, so that it does not offer wind resistance when not in action. Another turret directly above commands a fine arc of fire over the tail. And the front turret, a combination gun and bomber’s compartment, carries a high caliber weapon which is particularly effective against enemy aircraft.
“Thus, we see why the modern multi-turret bomber may be much more than a match for the high-speed single seater, no matter how many guns it carries. . .”
[From the magazine article]
Deutschland hoch in Ehren
Von Hermann dem Cherusker bis zum "Ja" am 12. Nov. 1933
Sammelalbum / Zigaretten-Bilder
> Bild: Kampfflieger Max Immelmann (1915)
Herausgegeben von Martin Brinkmann A.G. Zigarettenfabrik (Bremen / Deutschland; 1935)
ex libris MTP
From the John A. DeChant Collection (COLL/ 1781) at the Marine Corps History Division
OFFICIAL USMC PHOTOGRAPH
“A fifteen-mile-wide strip, less than fifty miles in length, may yet be the highway to a war embroiling the whole of Europe. And the powder keg may be the city of Danzig, which has already seen battle flags of the Polish, Pomeranian, Swedish, Russian, Prussian, and French kings flown from its historic battlements – a city that has known sacking and massacre since 1308.
“On our cover this month we show what may happen if Germany decides to send troops over a motor highway across the Polish Corridor – a maneuver which might easily be ordered to back up the Nazi cries for incorporation of the Free City of Danzig into the Reich. Our artist shows what the world today expects – the Poles fighting back!
“The German move would include modern high-speed transport of machine gun units, anti-aircraft weapons on high-speed lorries, armored cars, and light tanks. The distance across the Pomorze – the Polish Corridor proper – from Germany to East Prussia is less than 50 miles. And the distance from the Fatherland across the upper portion of Poland to the Free City of Danzig is less than 15 miles.
“On May 5, Adolph Hitler, in his much advertised speech before the German Reichstag, stated that he would be satisfied with things in Europe if he could be ‘guaranteed’ a motor road across the Corridor which would connect Naziland with East Prussia which has been cut off since the formation of Poland proper. Likewise, since there are many Germans living in Danzig, ‘Der Fuehrer’ considers it proper that this city should belong to the Reich.
“At this writing, Hitler has not yet made an effort to take Danzig by force or by simple occupation. But we understand that his usual initial system of quiet infiltration of Nazis and Nazi sympathizers has been going on for some time.
“But if, and when, Hitler’s forces march by means of motorized equipment across Poland, they will no doubt meet plenty of heavy opposition from the Poles, particularly from the air. There is every reason to believe that planes such as the Polish P.Z.L. P-37 bomber-fighters would take to the air, as depicted on our cover, and strafe the roads to break up the convoys. The P-37’s are shown pouring bursts into the troops, hounding the lorries, and battering at the anti-aircraft trucks before they can fire back effectually.
“But in the distance may be seen a formation of German Heinkels that are on hand to escort the troops and the minute they arrive the two air units will be locked in mad action. . .” [Excerpt from the accompanying article]
-------------------------------------------------
Nazi Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, beginning World War II, using a swift, combined-arms tactic known as "blitzkrieg" (lightning war). Germany utilized over 2,000 tanks and nearly 900 bombers to paralyze Polish defenses. Over 1.5 million German troops attacked from the north, south, and west, while the Luftwaffe heavily bombed Polish cities and airfields. Poland was overwhelmed within weeks. Warsaw surrendered on September 28, 1939.
The assault was unprovoked and justified by Nazi propaganda claiming Polish aggression. Following the defeat, Germany directly annexed western Poland and established the "General Government" in central Poland, resulting in the start of brutal occupation policies. The invasion sparked declarations of war on Germany from Britain and France on September 3, 1939.
‘“You’re training to pit your skill alone against – a whole, gun-bristling battleship!’ That’s the final word the Navy C.O. gives his torpedo-job flyers as he sends them aloft on their daring practice ‘shows.”’ [Prologue]
“Seldom if ever are specific tactics of aero attack played up in our aviation journals. Yet several of the precisely worked out assaults found in the aviation drill book are decidedly dramatic. And none are more daring than the tactics of the torpedo plane pilots.
“An American torpedo airman is graphically depicted on our cover this month in the act of practicing his rapier attack. We see him discharging a 1,000-pound torpedo at the racing hull of a battleship. It is by such gripping sham war tests that the accuracy of the discharging apparatus is determined as well as the efficiency of the torpedo itself as regards its course-holding and correct-depth characteristics. Likewise, the defensive measures of the battleship are checked.
“The plane shown in our colorful picture is the new all-metal low-wing Douglas TBD-1 equipped with one 850-h.p. Twin-Wasp engine, which gives it a top speed of something like 270 m.p.h. fully equipped. Believed to be the first monoplane designed for aircraft carrier operations, it is fitted with folding wings for stowing aboard the confined carriers. Most of this job’s performance and specification figures are not yet available for publication. We do know, however, that it carries a crew of two and that a great number of these ships are already regular equipment aboard our modern carriers.
“The test torpedo shown in our painting is, of course, minus its war-head or explosive-filled compartment. Instead, it carries a practice head built to take the shock of contact with the ship’s hull and to register where it strikes the bulges of the target. The average torpedo costs about $15,000 and contains some 550 pounds of high explosive. There is very little difference between torpedoes shot from submarines and destroyers and those carried by modern Navy aircraft. The former are discharged by compressed-air rams, while the latter are released from special cradles aboard the torpedo-bomber planes. . .” [Excerpt from the accompanying article]
“All hail the striking Boeing 314! With this huge, 74-passenger sky Clipper groomed for the eastward take-off, Pan American Airways is now ready to speed passengers to Europe on the fastest trans-Atlantic travel schedule in history!” [Introduction]
“The Atlantic was first spanned in 1919 in some 16 hours with only 750 hp. So, a modern flying boat with approximately 5,000 hp should have little trouble in flying from New York to London in the same length of time. . .
“Pan American is ready. They have the new Boeing ‘314’ (see our cover painting) the largest flying boat ever built in the United States. It weighs 82,500 lbs. with full load, will take 5,000 lbs. of cargo and about 40 passengers, and boasts cabins that are ultra-modern in convenience. It’s evident that these craft are capable of pay loads worthy of the effort. The maiden-voyage ship has been called the ‘Yankee Clipper.’
“The ‘314’ uses four 1,000-hp Cyclone engines, has a maximum speed of 200 mph, cruises at 175, and lands at 70. The accommodations for passengers are carried on two decks. As a normal daytime ship, she will carry 72 passengers and a crew of eight including two stewards. As a sleeper plane with berth accommodations, she will be limited to 40 passengers.
“There is a special dining salon, a galley, separate dressing rooms and lavatories for men and women, and a private drawing room aboard. The crew’s accommodations, of course, include the control cockpit, avigation room, engineer’s deck, and a very complete radio cabin. Every safety device known to man will be carried. And there is no reason why – if the traffic demand is there – Pan American should not be operating at least four of these ships before the summer is over. As a matter of fact, they have been given six Department of Commerce licenses for their planes already, which indicates that they will purchase that many Boeing ‘314’s’ for the Atlantic run.
“Over the New York-Botwood-Foynes-Southampton route these planes should be able to complete the trip non-stop in about seventeen hours in still air. Since they have a maximum range of 5,000 miles, they will have plenty of reserve for the 2,950-mile grind. . . [Excerpts from the accompanying article]