Once in a while, my camera (Canon EOS 5) and I get the chance to rub shoulders with the wonderful folks of the U.S. Navy, and others. These are a few of the more interesting scenes I've been lucky enough to capture.
The VF-154 CAG Bird (F-14A) sits amid the steam of the catapults on the deck of CV-62 Independence. June 1995. Hasegawa makes a nice kit of this aircraft in both 1/72 and 1/48.
The same aircraft a few minutes later, coming off the #4 catapult.
The VA-115 CAG Bird (A-6E) roars down the #3 catapult on CV-62. This is the very aircraft that was later shot down accidentally by the Japanese destroyer Yugiri during the joint U.S.-Japan RIMPAC '96 exercises. The crew escaped with minor (ejection-related) injuries. June 1995.
A rather unique view of a VFA-192 F/A-18C, seen during carrier landing practice on Iwo Jima, March 1996. CVW-5 aircraft shifted their NLP (Night Landing Practice, better known as "bouncing") sessions from Atsugi to Iwo Jima two years ago to address noise complaints by residents near the base. Note the yellow-painted undercarriage of the VFA-192 aircraft, a trademark of the Golden Dragons.
One of the more unique sites I came across during my trip to Iwo Jima -- the inverted, rusting hulk of an M4 Sherman, imbedded in the black sands of the invasion beaches. That's Mt. Suribachi in the background.
The business end of an A-10, seen while on display at the annual Atsugi spring air show. The Hog is about the only Air Force aircraft I find interesting.
Pacific Fighters' gorgeous F4U seen over Chino, California in the summer of 1994. I bought a ride in the Planes-of-Fame P-51 and this Corsair showed up as a free bonus! Mustang fans abound, but I'm a firm believer that the F4U Corsair was not only the coolest-looking WWII single-seater, but also the best piston-engined fighter ever built.
The Planes of Fame A6M5 Zero seen in the skies of Hokkaido, Japan in August, 1995. That's Steve Hinton, of Red Baron air racer fame, at the controls. This is the only flyable Zero in the world that is powered by a genuine Sakae engine.
