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Name this Bomber

OK boys, here’s a tough one. This photo was probably taken in the mid to late 1920s at an airfield just outside Kansas City. The two gentlemen standing next to the wing of the bomber are my Great Uncle, John Stumfoll and my Grandfather, William Patterson.

I’ve always been told that Grandfather and Uncle John went to see the bomber on a tour of the US. Any ideas? What type of plane?

Thanks!

Steve

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By: JDK - 4th December 2004 at 10:18

Robbo,
Something like that. But you’ve got it the wrong way round. 😀
Cheers!

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By: JDK - 4th December 2004 at 09:56

They’re just sore cos they can’t find the empire.

“Yo Vicky. Wot’s that sun going dahn over there?”

“Lawks a missy me! Quick! Find the Empire and put it to bed!”

“Hey Charly – yes, you, big ears! You been asleep on the Empiresitting Biz?”

“I say, who me? Erm. Modern architecture. Bad.”

“Cor blimy he’s useless. Mustv’e been some johhny foreigner wot nicked it. A froggy. Or some Yank. Wait’ll I catch one trying to be nice to us. Grrrrrr.”

😀

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By: srpatterson - 4th December 2004 at 05:53

“Join us now, as we tune in for another exciting episode of, Bash the Yank!

“Aye Andy, look o’er there mate, it looks like a Yank!”

“A wank? I don’t want to see that Melv”

“Don’t be daft And, not a wank, a Yank…an American!”

“Ohhh, so???”

“Let’s give ’em some welly”

“Oh, I’ll ‘ave some of that!”

banf whumf ugh bam thump wham

“Aye Melv, you were right, that was cracking good fun!!!”

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By: Melvyn Hiscock - 3rd December 2004 at 23:38

I suppose they at least would have been allowed into the RAeS. 😀 😀 😀

Andy

No way. And Patty has blown his chance tool. There is a clause in the membership agreement that stipulates that “Any prospective member that dilutes the pureness of a Hawker design with a beastly colonial engine should be whipped soundly and sent packing”

MH

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By: Snapper - 3rd December 2004 at 23:37

Are you set to inherit it then?

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By: Melvyn Hiscock - 3rd December 2004 at 23:35

Hi Patty
I’ve just put a ruler across a set of drawings I have for the MB2 and going on the height of the lower wing from the ground against the drawings it makes those two gentlemen close to six feet tall!
Are you sure they’re your relatives?
I suppose they at least would have been allowed into the RAeS. 😀 😀 😀
Cheers
Andy

No Andy,

Y’know that American gallons and American pints are smaller than those over here, well the same applies to feet and inches. The measurements for the Martin are in American feet, not Imperial feet. Since an American foot is only ten inches and each inch is only 7/8 of an Imperial inch long this makes both of the gentlemen in the picture a shade over five feet two. Patty is actually one of the tall ones in his family, his dad has to stand on a box when he hits him around the ear!

Melv

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By: Skyraider3D - 3rd December 2004 at 23:11

Too many wings! 😀

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By: Andy in Beds - 3rd December 2004 at 22:16

Relations???

Hi Patty
I’ve just put a ruler across a set of drawings I have for the MB2 and going on the height of the lower wing from the ground against the drawings it makes those two gentlemen close to six feet tall!
Are you sure they’re your relatives?
I suppose they at least would have been allowed into the RAeS. 😀 😀 😀
Cheers
Andy

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By: srpatterson - 1st December 2004 at 22:20

Thanks everyone. This photo’s been in the family a long time, and I had no information on it other than it was taken here in Kansas City. I was guessing as to the time frame, based up the fact my Grandfather was born in 1903 and he was probably in his mid 20s when the photo was taken.

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By: RMAllnutt - 1st December 2004 at 18:17

The USAFM at Wright-Pat. has a reproduction Martin MB-2 built from original drawings…

Cheers,
Richard

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/ac/pg000026.htm

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By: Chris B - 1st December 2004 at 18:09

MB2 from ‘ American Combat Planes’ by Ray Wagner ….

Steve

…..the first USA designed bomber, developed from the broadly similar Martin GMB – MB1 which was contracted for 17 Jan 1918 – 10 built.

GMB first flew 15 Aug 1918.
span 71′ 5”
length 44′ 10”
wing area 1070 sq ft
2 x Liberty 12As of 400hp

In June 1920 ordered 20 developments as the MB-2
span 74′ 2”
length 42′ 8”
wing area 1121 sq ft
2 x Liberty 12A of 410hp

First flew 3 Sept 1920
Renamed NBS-1 (night bomber short range)
Flew the ‘Mitchel’ anti ship trials in July 1921
Martin undercut on a contract to build more – Curtiss got a contract for 50 in Feb 1922, 35 to LWF Engineering and 25 from Aeromarine.

Doesn’t say when left service but implication is around 1926ish

Regards

Chris

p.s. I see that my mother bought me the book for my 14th birthday in December 1961 !!!

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By: J Boyle - 1st December 2004 at 17:58

Thanks for that, SOC. Anyone know anything about the MB-2, like how long was it in service? Also, any information on a US tour in the mid-20s, perhaps after the Billy Mitchell sinking of the German ships demonstration?

Thanks!

This link will tell you a lot, and give several photos.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b1-3.htm

Enjoy!

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By: Distiller - 1st December 2004 at 17:09

http://www.purveyor.com/current.htm
Scroll down!

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By: SOC - 1st December 2004 at 16:34

Well, the MB-2 was used in those ship-bombing trials, but that was in 1921, so I don’t know if an associated tour would have still been ongoing in the mid-to-late 20’s or not.

They served from 1921-1928.

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By: Bluebird Mike - 1st December 2004 at 16:29

Name this bomber?

Hmm.

How about ‘Bob’? 😀

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By: srpatterson - 1st December 2004 at 16:15

Thanks for that, SOC. Anyone know anything about the MB-2, like how long was it in service? Also, any information on a US tour in the mid-20s, perhaps after the Billy Mitchell sinking of the German ships demonstration?

Thanks!

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By: SOC - 1st December 2004 at 04:59

Martin MB-2.

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/bombers/b1-3.htm

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