Lex Anteinternet: Friday, March 8, 1946. Helicopters approved for civil use.

Lex Anteinternet: Friday, March 8, 1946. Helicopters approved for c...: The Civil Aeronautics Bard granted a certificate to Bell Helicopter for the Bell 47 to be sold to civilians. If you've seen M*A*S*H you...

Friday, March 8, 1946. Helicopters approved for civil use.

The Civil Aeronautics Bard granted a certificate to Bell Helicopter for the Bell 47 to be sold to civilians.

If you've seen M*A*S*H you've seen the Bell 47.

Last edition:

Tuesday, January 22, 1946. Central Intelligence Group formed.

Labels: 1940s, 1946, 1947, actors and actresses, Central Intelligence Agency, Central Intelligence Group, Iran, Kurds, Office of Strategic Services, Post War United States (and Canada), USSR, Women

Lex Anteinternet: Equipment of the Vietnam War, National Museum of Museum of Military Vehicles. UH-1.

Lex Anteinternet: Equipment of the Vietnam War, National Museum of M...: 

Equipment of the Vietnam War, National Museum of Military Vehicles, Dubois Wyoming.

UH-1 "Huey", a helicopter synonymous with the Vietnam War.

Hueys came into use in a major way during the war, and remained in use for many years thereafter. They were still the predominant helicopter when I was a National Guardsmen in the 1980s, and even now I'll occasionally see an Air Force example in Cheyenne in operation.

Lex Anteinternet: Friday, January 7, 1944. Adoption of the P59 announced.

Lex Anteinternet: Friday, January 7, 1944. Lou Henry Hoover passes ...:

Friday, January 7, 1944. Lou Henry Hoover passes away.

"Interested natives look on as armorers place 50 cal. machine guns in the nose of a North American B-25G, Mullinnix Airfield, Tarawa, Gilbert Islands. 7 January 1944. (NARA)"

A British Mosquito is shot down with its Oboe navigational aid intact, allowing the Germans to develop countermeasures.

The United States Army Air Force announced the production of the Bell P-59 Airacomet.  The first US jet fighter aircraft, it would prove to be a disappointment and provided no real advantage over existing piston engined aircraft.

Bell UH-1 with Nose Mount

This is a UH-1, a "Huey", in Casper, Wyoming painted in old Vietnam War era camouflage.  It's fitted with a nose mount, which can house cameras and electronic devices.  Nose mounts were fitted to UH-1s during the Vietnam War, and they continue to be offered for commercial UH-1s.

The odd thing about this helicopter is that even though it retains the USAF or US Army Vietnam era camouflage scheme, it lacks national markings, which most surplus aircraft which retain military paint schemes do.  Additionally, I could not see a registration number on it anywhere.  That may be because I took this photograph from a distance, with an iPhone, and it could be painted in black on the dark green aft of the helicopter.  It obviously should have this painted on it.

When I happened to arrive at the airport on the day this photo was taken, a crew was standing by it as the refueling truck was getting ready, and they were having their photograph taken.  I thought they were a military crew, but I wasn't paying much attention.  UH-1s are no longer in common US use, but the UH-1N is still used by the USAF in connection with nuclear missiles and missile silos, and that variant does in fact often have the nose mount fitting, although it should have USAF markings and this old camouflage scheme would be a surprise.

Bell UH-1. Downtown Laramie, Wyoming.

 

Eagle Copters UH-1, Casper Wyoming

Pacific Aviation Museum: UH-1

Pacific Aviation Museum: UH-1