Daily Photo - 2013 - # - mreldridge's Photos

A mix of old and new I try to post daily. I've been a "shutter bug" for years, love the different styles on this site and am seeking any advice you may wish to share. Please feel free to comment at your discretion, any feedback is much appreciated. Thanks!

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"Corsair II with teeth aboard the USS Intrepid" - Daily Photo - 05/21/13

These planes were once described to me as "rugged and simple to maintain" by a Navy vet, though I like the description of them as "a drainage pipe with wings" even better. They flew when I was born and served after I left the Marine Corps.

Hope you enjoy and thanks for the comments!

http://www.combataircraft.com/en/Military-Aircraft/Vought/A-7-Corsair-II/

Vought A-7 Corsair II

Overview:

Going by aesthetics, the A-7 Corsair II bears an uncanny resemblance to a drainage pipe with wings. However, the fact that A-7s can still be found serving today with various air forces, despite the technology demonstrators first flight in 1965, is proof that under the aircraft's bulky exterior lurks serious power. Allowing large loads of Air-to-Ground (AG) munitions to be delivered at high speeds, the A-7 Corsair II proved to be one of the most valuable striking tools US Navy (USN) carriers had at their disposal, attacking targets in a variety of theatres, from Vietnam to the 1991 Gulf War. A-7s succeeded Skyhawks and Intruders as carrier strike fighters until they themselves were replaced in USN service by McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s.

"USS Intrepid Flight Deck, New York" - Daily Photo - 05/20/13

As a kid, I made models of this vessel in the World War II configuration and of a sister ship the USS Hornet in this refitted more up-to-date version, so I was familiar with the layout. It was quite a thrill wandering around the decks and getting a sense of the history that has occurred here. I'm an equipment and weapons nut spending hours aboard loving every minute.

http://www.ussintrepid.com/voyage.html

Timeline from the website:

* December 1, 1941: Intrepid's keel laid at Newport News, Virginia.
* December 7, 1941: Japanese attack Pearl Harbor.
* April 26, 1943: Launched.
* August 16, 1943: Commissioned CV-11.
* December 3, 1943: Sailed for Pearl Harbor via the Panama Canal and San Francisco.
* January-February, 1944: Participated in the Marshall Islands invasion.
* February 1944: Participated in raid on Truk.
* February 17, 1944: Damaged by Japanese aerial torpedo.
* September-October 1944: Participated in attacks on invasion of the Palaus.
* Strikes against the Philippines, Formosa, and Okinawa.
* Operated out of Utilic fleet anchorage in the Carolinas as unit of Task Force 38.
* October 24, 25, 26, 1944: Participated in Battle of Leyte Gulf. Helped sink the super-battleship Musashi.
* October 30, 1944: Hit by kamikaze--slight damage.
* November 25, 1944: Hit by two kamikazes--heavily damaged.
* March 1945: Strikes against Tokyo and Okinawa. Near miss by a Japanese heavy bomber kamikaze.
* April 6, 1945: Helped sink the Japanese super-battleship Yamato.
* April 16, 1945: Damaged during invasion by kamikaze attack off Okinawa.
* August 1945: Reported back to the Fast Carrier Force. War ended.
* August-December 1945: Policed the coasts of China and Korea, aiding in repatriation of Allied POW.
* December 1945: Arrived back in the United States after Japan occupation duty.
* 1946: Put in reserve at San Francisco.
* October 1954: Completed modernization at the same yard at which she was built.
* 1955-1962: Operated in the Mediterranean with the Sixth Fleet.
* 1956: Refitted at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. Angled deck added.
* May 24, 1962: Served as Recovery Ship for Mercury VII space capsule (astronaut Scott Carpenter) .
* March 23, 1965: Acts as Recovery Ship for Gemini III space capsule (astronauts Gus Grissom and John Young).
* May 1966-1968: Served with the Pacific Fleet off Vietnam in three combat cruises.
* 1974: Decommissioned at Quonset Point R.I. Towed to Philadelphia for bicentennial celebration.
* July 1982: Opens as the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum in New York City.

"Angel Joey" - Daily Photo - 05/19/13

I was taking pictures in a local cemetery, Mt. Olivet, Aurora, Illinois. This statue reminded me of my friend's son when he was young especially the eyes. Now in his twenties, Joey is a convicted felon and heroin addict trying to make his way back from the brink. Such a sad waste of youth, he is a talented intelligent soul and my prayers are with him that he can find his way.

"Quonset Hut on the Prairie" - Daily Photo - 05/18/13

Having spent some time in Quonset Huts while in the Marine Corps., this building held some nostalgia for me. Nice to see it put to use. You may remember these from World War II photos, films in the 1950s or Gomer Pyle. Surprised to see an organization formed focused on these structures and the hyperbole is a little over the top, though they are trying to sell a book. Hope you enjoy!

http://www.quonsethuts.org/index.htm

The Book:

Quonset Hut: Metal Living For A Modern Age tells the story of this unique architectural phenomena, from its birth during WWII as a mass-production shelter to its new status as an icon of American pragmatism, ingenuity, perseverance, and individuality.

When World War II came along, the American military found itself in need of a prefabricated, lightweight shelter that could be easily shipped and quickly assembled. The Quonset hut, that sliced tube of corrugated metal, was the answer. More than 153,000 were produced as part of the war effort. In its aftermath, even more were built and existing huts were adapted to house the postwar population boom. Of course, it couldn't last: the American desire for permanence meant decay and neglect for many of these rough-and-ready shelters and quickie warehouses.

But in the midst of its almost tragic tale of extinction, the Quonset hut has emerged as an unexpected icon of Americana and an oasis of architectural imagination. Travel the back roads of America and you will find the Quonset's distinctive shape enclosing everything from houses of worship to houses of pancakes.

Quonset Hut tells the story of this unique architectural phenomena, from its birth during WWII as a mass-production shelter to its new status as an icon of American pragmatism, ingenuity, perseverance, and individuality.

"Last of my Daffodils" - Daily Photo - 05/17/13

Love these flowers, wish they lasted longer!

"USS Growler with a Regulus pointed at Manhattan" - Daily Photo - 05/16/13

Wish the sky was nicer, but the angle with the nuke pointed at the city ready for launch and the storage hatch up ... couldn't resist!

http://www.navy.mil/navydata/cno/n87/usw/issue_11/regulus.html

As the Cold War intensified in the decade following World War II, and particularly with the Soviet Union’s success in matching the United States in developing atomic weapons, nuclear deterrence became a key element of global diplomacy. By the early 1950s, both superpowers had deployed large manned bomber forces capable of reaching each other’s homelands with either forward basing or aerial refueling, and additionally, the United States had begun to deploy atomic weapons on aircraft carriers.

Both sides were also quick to take advantage of captured German V-1 and V-2 technology from World War II to begin development of both guided and ballistic missiles for tactical and strategic use, with the U.S. Army initially taking the lead in the United States. Not to be out-done, the U.S. Navy converted two World War II fleet boats, USS Carbonero (SS-337) and USS Cusk (SS-348) to carry a U.S. variant of the German V-1 pulse-jet missile, known as the Loon, first launched at sea in February 1947. Loon’s nominal range under command guidance was approximately 50 nautical miles, but using a second submarine as a relay, it could be effective out to 135 nautical miles, with a reported Circular Error Probable (CEP) of 6,000 yards.

By this time, the Navy had also let development contracts for two more ambitious bombardment missiles, the supersonic Grumman Rigel (SSM-N-6) and the subsonic Chance-Vought Regulus (SSM-N-8), each intended to carry a 3,000 pound warhead for 500 nautical miles. Although Rigel fell by the wayside in 1953, Regulus was successfully developed into America’s first sea-going nuclear deterrent and was first deployed on the heavy cruiser USS Los Angeles (CA-135) in 1955. Eventually, five submarines were fitted to carry and launch Regulus also, and they became the principal deterrent force.

The Regulus I missile itself was essentially a small turbojet aircraft, 42 feet long, with a wingspan of 21 feet. Gross launch weight was just under seven tons, including a ton of fuel, and its Allison J33-A-14 engine could propel the missile to Mach 0.91 (about 550 knots). Regulus was launched from an inclined ramp – later trainable – and it required two 3,300 pound-thrust Jet Assisted Take-Off (JATO) units to get up to speed. The weapon was command-guided, initially out to the radar horizon by superimposing steering commands onto the launch platform’s tracking radar waveform, and then by using a relay submarine nearer the target to track and steer the missile to the final aim point. Either a 40-50 kiloton nuclear warhead or a 1-2 megaton thermonuclear device could be carried.

"Dials" - Daily Photo - 05/15/13

Color coded measurement dials for the electric generators and engines. Just not sure what the color coding means, I assume it is risk based. Anyway, thought the display was interesting so I took the shot. Hope you enjoy!

"Periscope on the USS Growler" - Daily Photo - 05/14/13

I wandered around the USS Intrepid exhibit that included this submarine for about four hours. I'm a Cold War baby and still mourn the passing of that era. Then we were trying to save the world from communism, now we are preserving the planet by purchasing different light bulbs.

"USS Growler, New York" - Daily Photo - 05/13/13

I went to the USS Intrepid exhibit, part of which includes the USS Growler, an early Cold War nuclear armed submarine. These vessels had to surface to fire the cruise missile and were diesel powered. Therefore, the USS Growler represented an interim weapon between the World War II fleet and the modern nuclear navy.

Please see: http://www.ussgrowler.com/growler.html

U.S.S. GROWLER was a pioneer when she departed on her first Nuclear Deterrent Patrol in 1960. Armed with Regulus nuclear cruise missiles, she helped usher in a new era of strategic defense. She was one of the predecessors which led to the deployment of a large fleet of sophisticated submarines armed with Polaris nuclear missiles. The concept of strategic deterrent was revolutionized when these missiles were sent out to sea in large numbers. Hidden deep in the oceans, they were nearly undetectable. Even more significant, underwater-positioned missiles greatly reduced the risk of nuclear attack against the U.S. mainland. It was suicide for a hostile power to strike at population centers while retaliatory missiles were poised beneath the sea. Prior to GROWLER and her companions, all of America's strategic nuclear weapons had been based on land, relatively close to people.

Sending the missiles out to the sea on submarines like GROWLER proved to be the most effective nuclear deterrent ever used. All of the world powers followed the example, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of all-out war.

Compared to today's awesome Trident nuclear missile submarines, which have replaced the aging Polaris vessels, GROWLER is rudimentary and undersized. However, she is historically significant because of the vital role she played as a deterrent to nuclear war. That concept continues to be a cornerstone of America's strategic defense today.

As such, GROWLER is still relevant to the everyday lives of all Americans. GROWLER is on permanent display as part of the Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum at 46th Street and 12th Avenue in New York City. Visit the museum via the link at the bottom of this page.

"Corsair II with teeth aboard the USS Intrepid" - Daily Photo - 05/21/13

These planes were once described to me as "rugged and simple to maintain" by a Navy vet, though I like the description of them as "a drainage pipe with wings" even better. They flew when I was born and served after I left the Marine Corps.

Hope you enjoy and thanks for the comments!

http://www.combataircraft.com/en/Military-Aircraft/Vought/A-7-Corsair-II/

Vought A-7 Corsair II

Overview:

Going by aesthetics, the A-7 Corsair II bears an uncanny resemblance to a drainage pipe with wings. However, the fact that A-7s can still be found serving today with various air forces, despite the technology demonstrators first flight in 1965, is proof that under the aircraft's bulky exterior lurks serious power. Allowing large loads of Air-to-Ground (AG) munitions to be delivered at high speeds, the A-7 Corsair II proved to be one of the most valuable striking tools US Navy (USN) carriers had at their disposal, attacking targets in a variety of theatres, from Vietnam to the 1991 Gulf War. A-7s succeeded Skyhawks and Intruders as carrier strike fighters until they themselves were replaced in USN service by McDonnell Douglas F/A-18s.

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