Yesterday I was going through an early Christmas gift I bought for myself, a copy of The Sikorsky Legacy, by Sergei Sikorsky (son or Igor and a former VP for the helicopter firm. I contacted Mr. Sikorsky and he was kind enough to autograph it for me).
It has a photo of the first American military helicopter, the XR-4, after its successful cross country flight from Connecticut to Wright Field, Ohio in May of 1942.
The photo (credit: Sikorsky archives) is well known as Orville Wright was on hand with Sikorsky to welcome the helicopter to the test base.
This time, an aircraft in the background caught my attention. Here’s a detail of the photo:
The fuselage is very narrow, and I can’t think of an American type that would fit the time period.
Looks to me like a Beaufighter….anyone have a different opinion?
Are there any photos of it at Wright Field?
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By: J Boyle - 15th December 2015 at 17:26
Why is the Swastika on the 109, the wrong way round?
Left handed painter.
By: John Aeroclub - 15th December 2015 at 15:09
Because it wasn’t put there by the Germans.:eek:
John
By: SqL Scramble. - 14th December 2015 at 13:11
Why is the Swastika on the 109, the wrong way round?
By: cthornburg - 14th December 2015 at 06:39
I have US Army Air Force
Bristol Beaufighter IIF s/n T3227, VIF pix TF.X drawing
Chris
By: Versuch - 14th December 2015 at 06:17
I have published this before…but this time its in the background.
No location given on the reverse.
Regards Mike
By: longshot - 13th December 2015 at 22:51
It’s got LH turning propellors suggesting Bristol engines, opposite way to P&W and Wright engines [unless the photo is reversed :-)] and everything checks with Beaufighter
By: brewerjerry - 13th December 2015 at 17:08
Hi
For a second i thought you might have found a photo of the whirlwind…..
….. until i saw the beaufighter
cheers
jerry
By: Mike J - 13th December 2015 at 16:56
A time-traveling one, able to be at Wright Field 4 years before it was built?
By: Sabrejet - 13th December 2015 at 16:20
Calquin?
By: farnboroughrob - 13th December 2015 at 15:37
Im thinking Beaufighter, which served in limited numbers with the USAAF.
Rob
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December 13, 2015 at 3:32 pm