Thursday, August 16, 2012

Navy Pilot



This is a picture of a Navy Pilot. He is being trained at the Corpus Christi Naval Air Base in Texas. The picture was taken in 1942. I bet someone out there can tell us more about what this airplane is.
Posted by at

12 comments:

  2. THis looks like an AT 6 Texan which was the primary trainer for most service in the 40's.

    ReplyDelete

  3. Yes, I would say a T-6 also.

    ReplyDelete

  4. I know you didn't ask, but the pilot is Cadet Leo T. Deitz of Queens, New York. He would go on to become a 2nd Lieutenant and navigator of the B-24 called "Dina Might" of the 460th Bomb Group, 761st Bomb Squadron. He was stationed in Spinazzola, Italy and was sent on a September 13, 1944, mission to bomb I.G. Farben Industries (the company that produced poison gas for the concentration camps) in Auschwitz, Poland. Deitz' aircraft was shot down over Jeleśnia, Poland. Deitz and the co-pilot on the plane died, the other eight crew members were captured and sent to POW camps. Leo's body was returned home and is buried in the Long Island National Cemetery, but in Jeleśnia there is also memorial to the men on the plane. The inscription reads, "In memory of those who brought us freedom."

    ReplyDelete
    Replies

    2. ... a well documented (and moving!) story !
      thanks Nate!

      Delete

    3. Thank you, Nate, for your input. It is good that these men are still remembered and honoured. I think that is one of the most positive things about the Internet. Memories and tributes to these heroes are posted in an everlasting form. Thanks to the information you supplied I was able to find this site http://www.wondersofwwii.com/bomber-vets.html
      Leo Deitz was only 23 when he died. Such grave responsibilities at such young ages and I'm grateful the "Greatest Generation" unflinchingly gave their all.

      Delete

  5. It's an SNJ, which is the navy version of the Army AT-6. One difference is the airspeed indicator, which is in knots for a Navy plane as opposed to MPH for Army.

    ReplyDelete

  6. You are correct, Anom. I failed to notice the Marine uniform on the pilot.

    ReplyDelete

  7. What was a Marine pilot doing in an Army heavy bomber in the MTO?

    ReplyDelete

  8. Sorry. ETO, not MTO.

    ReplyDelete

  9. Nice to meet you! I just stumbled on your blog while searching for a picture of a woman hanging clothes on a clothesline. I copied it to my blog and gave you credit. I really like your pictures here!

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)