Aerial view of the June 1944 D-Day landi

[snoopy_1]

Aerial view of the June 1944 D-Day landings in Normandy, France, one of a selection of aerial photographs taken by the Royal Air Force (RAF) over Western Europe during World War II

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?g=events/wl/011704ww2photos&a=&tmpl=sl&ns=&l=1&e=2&t=&prev=3

 

[PonchoMan]

My question is , what aircraft is the photo taken from? P-38?

 

[VFR on Top]

And why was he taking pictures instead of strafing the crap outta the krauts?

 

[amaineiac]

If it was a recon mission his job was to take pictures, not to straff. Plus its kinda hard to shot people when the only thing you have onboard are cameras.

 

[TOGA]

My question is who's the History Major that wrote "undated photo" in the caption?!

 

[TOGA]

I can't figure out what type a/c it is, either. It's not a p-38, though . . . the pics were taken by the RAF. I can't wait to see the ones taken by the Luftwaffe!

 

[Dragonbravo]

No, I think it is a P-38. The cowl is just right, with two support bars, obviously a twin engine aircraft, appears to be a 3 blade prop. Plus the engine's relation to the nose cameras of the reconisance P-38's is about right. The allies often flew each other's aircraft, so being RAF doesn't rule out the P-38 either.

 

[onthebeach]

If it was RAF and recon...

...then it was probably a Mosquito.

 

[ShawnC]

It probably isn't a P-38, the pilot of the aircraft is seated too far back to get a photo like that. Most likely is the Mosquito.

http://www.aviation-history.com/dehavilland/mosquito.html

 

[Dragonbravo]

Here is the scoop. I no longer claim its a P-38. Its an F-5, a dedicated recon variant of the P-38. The F-5 was unarmed as the gun bay was filled with cameras, the pilot didn't actually carry the camera. It carried two 6 inch K17 cameras in the nose looking sideways (our mystery photo) or one 12 or 24 inch K17 vertical camera looking forward. As over 700 F-5's were made, two other posibilities exsist. One: the caption is mislabled and it is a USAAF, not RAF aircraft. Or: since the British did use P-51s, P-40s, Corsairs, Wildcats, B-24s, Hudsons, PBYs, and lord know what else, it is an RAF aircraft. Although well suited for reconasance the cowling isn't right for a Mosquito, whose radiator air intake is much more streamlined.

Yes, I guess I am a geek.

 

[furloboy]

Dragonbravo is correct. And not a geek. I guess.

 

[TOGA]

DragonBravo -
Yes, you are a major geek . . . as if I ever doubted that. Now go take your medicine, lay back down and re-start the L.o.T.R. DVD . . . or go back to your favorite porn site, whichever.

 

[Dragonbravo]

Geezzz Toga, I didn't know you were going to take it so personally. After reviewing the photo with the technicalities pointed out in your 'take your medication' theory, I can see that you are right. It's obviously a Mosquito. Probably flown by the USAAF. Now stop interrupting LOTR.

 

[Illini Pilot]

my dad showed me this story, there are 5 million aerial photos of WWII going online at www.evidenceincamera.co.uk, doesnt look to be operational yet though