This is my first post on this forum, and I’d like to congratulate you all on a really fascinating thread. I’m sure you’re right about the left and right-hand medals, but the 3rd one seems to be odd-man-out, as it looks like the “Medaille d’honneur du Travail”, usually awarded for 20 years faithful work for the French government!
See here:
http://www.arthus-bertrand.com/fr/e-magasin/decorations/medailles_du_travail/medailles_d_honneur_du_travail/2120010020/medaille_d_honneur_du_travail_argent_20ans.html

If there’s anything I can help you translate from French, please don’t hesitate – though you seem to be doing very well on your own!

Thanks for the great photo of the ex J-1614 (WK436). Good to see she is being well looked after! Here’s something perhaps more to your taste?!

MV268 on a visit to Sion (the Venom’s old base)

And to keep the Venom theme, here’s J-1630!

I think Dave J was actually refering to the style of the tanks, not the fact that the Venom did/could carry underwing tanks.

John

So, he doesn’t like Swiss wing tanks, and you don’t like our noses – Fondue Forks at Four Feet!

Thanks Easy Tiger for a balanced, unbiased opinion. As “the wrong tanks” are those originally fitted to nearly all the airworthy Venoms, being of Swiss origin, perhaps these are truly the “right tanks?”!!:)

Apparently this Albatross is c/n 454; originally RCAF 9306. It was refurbished by Grumman in 1973, which may account for the change in engines.

Hi Laurence. My info is from Aviation Databases Global, which is usually very reliable, but Argus identities are a real minefield! The Australian F24 (currently VH-JCG) does also have c/n 416, but it’s a series R-9. It was impressed into the RAAF in 1939, and never served with the USAAC. 43-14452 c/n W41A-416, was a series UC-61A. 43-14451 was c/n W41A-415. I wonder if there is also confusion between I-MARK, and I-MARC?

Tony

Brian – as usual, beautiful pictures – many thanks for sharing,again!

Apparently the pilot was only slightly injured.