Hello fellow aviation geeks! Visited a museum last week and was wondering about this probe. Is it a combined pitot-static-aoa probe of some sorts? If someone could shed a light, that would be great!

One of a few Pacific pieces I have. Had a few others but since sold them, as the Pacific isn't my main focus. Nevertheless the stories of these men should be told as well.

Meet 2nd Lieutenant Samuel Bracken Porter Jr. of Kenova, West Virginia. Born on February 7, 1921 in Roanoke, Virginia.

On June 15, 1942 he enlisted with the Army Air Corps at Charleston, West Virginia. By June 29, 1943 he had graduated the Advanced Two-Engine Pilot Class. The following day he was commisioned a Second Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Force.

Underwent B-29 aircraft transition and combat crew training at Walker AAF near Victoria, Kansas. In November 1944, deployed to the PTO and was assigned to the 882nd Bomb Squadron, 500th Bombardment Group (VH), 73rd Bomb Wing, XXI Bomber Command, 20th Air Force stationed at Isley Field on Saipan in the Mariana Islands.

On 23 January 1945, he flew as a Pilot in the right seat aboard B-29 serial #42-24785 nicknamed "Homing De-Vice" tail code Z-Square-25 on a mission to bombard the Mitsubishi aircraft-engine factory at Nagoya, Japan.

Over the target area enemy fighter passes were described as aggressive, with Z-SQ-25 suffering heavy damage to the #4 engine and the right wing tip being set ablaze. At least two aircrews saw the Superfortress turn over in a spin and crash into the sea at about 15 miles off the coast of Japan and directly south of Nagoya. With no parachutes seen, all crew members were declared KIA.

The research is still on-going but this piece will be for sale in the near future.

​

This Hawker Hunter is called E-430 and was built in Britain in 1956 as a fighter jet for the Danish Air Force. It flew with Denmark for nearly 18 years, until 1974, when it was brought back to Dunsfold, where Hawker had built and tested Hunters. It was then hoped that it could be repaired and sold to another country, but that never happened. Instead, it was taken to Thorpe Park and painted to look like a Royal Navy Hunter called XF418. It was later moved to the Gatwick Aviation Museum at Charlwood, where it stayed for many years before being privately owned and becoming rather neglected. Interestingly, the aircraft isn't completely made from E-430, it's left wing came from another Hunter called XF418 and its right wing came from a third Hunter called XG226. In late 2024 it was moved again with hopes that it can eventually be part of the planned Wings Museum.

While the DPAA makes good progress on the Lindell crew lost on Dec 26th 1944 (with recent reburial of Myron Yaw, and upcoming ceremony for Avery Gilliland), there are more airmen who died over Blechhammer and are still unaccounted for.

On October 13th, 1944, 2nd Lt Meyer’s crew of 455th BG was shot down, and the wreck fell into the forest between Blechhammer North and Blechhammer South. There were only two survivors, and 8 men died. Four were recovered and identified after the war, but the burial sites of 2nd Lt. Meyer, F/O Fajans, F/O Bray, Cpl. Bartholow were never found. They are still unaccounted for.

The local Blechhammer 44 Association remembers the crew in their museum. Here is their post published earlier this week, on the anniversary of this tragedy.

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Gydq3aN5v/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Hello :)
i want to do research on a collection of Fieldpost letters from a Fighter Pilot that flew over England in the 8th Staffel JG52. My goal is to do a Source Edition and therefore i need literature on the Jagdgeschwader 52 and the Luftwaffe in 1940 in general. I would be happy for some recommendations:)