Wright Field Test Pilot WWII DVD stills

Great shots there mate, would have been great to be “a fly on the wall” back then.

Was the Focke Wulf Ta152 flown there? any shots of it air borne or on the ground?

I believe what you have there in Pic #10 is a B-23 Dragon, rather than the B-18. The Dragaon had a slimmer, pointier nose and a more streamlined appearance than the dumpier Bolo…

I’d say this twin-engined a/c is a Douglas B-18B “Bolo”

Martin

You could be right, Martin, as Dave says it’s very snub-nosed for a Lockheed twin (mind you, we do have snub-nosed Marauder as well!). I had forgotten about the B18’s existence.

Adrian

B24 with B17 “Nose Job”

Was browsing an old copy (1983 print date) of “B24 Liberator at War” from the old Ian Allan “at War” series a couple of nights ago.

In there there is another example of a B24 with a B17 nose grafted on in an attempt to improve forward defensive fire. May even be the same example?

Will try to dig details out over the weekend (Legends visit permitting of course).

Paul F

I’d say this twin-engined a/c is a Douglas B-18B “Bolo”

Martin

Here’s a couple more of the RATO B26

It appears to have spherical glazing rather than the longer pointed glass nose of the normal B26. I wonder, because of the special nose, if this was a camera ship, as they filmed every test with multiple cameras.

Thanks Adrian, yes on second looking it does look more like a Lockheed twin, but it doesn’t appear very pointy in the nose – maybe it has been shortened for some reason.

nd yes the rato Marauder does appear to be a little short in the nose, which is why I originally questioned my recognition skills and thought I’d ask the panel.

To my minces, the twin-engined “Beaufighter” in piccy 10 looks like a Lockheed of some description. I am not an expert by any means, but with that deep fuselage I reckon we are looking at Ventura/Harpoon or perhaps a Hudson. Don’t think it’s British at all.

Interesting point about the RATO Marauder – does it look to anyone else to have a very stumpy nose cone, or should I see an optician?

Adrian

This one was difficult to put into stills as it is a pan down the aircraft, but it’s an odd combo of a B24 with a B17 nose grafted on!

Heres a few more. Yes it was a Marauder. 🙂

Paul C, sorry, I meant to type P38, you’re right. It’s not a P40

and the “6-bladed prop” fighter actually is the Curtiss XP-60C with two contra-rotating 3-blade props.

Martin

the small little fighter in front of the “Dreamboat” is the Bell XP-77

Dave
could be me but that P40 with the extra cockpit looks like a P38 with a cockpit behind the port engine to me

Paul C

RATO bomber?

RATO bomber looks like a Marauder to me

Paul F

Just great ! Thanks for sharing !

the P-51A is 43-6010, the P-51B is 43-24777, both Wright-Patterson Test aicraft