"During the 1950s, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) identified the requirement for an Airborne Command Post (ABCP). The idea was for specially-equipped aircraft to be airborne at all times, should the SAC's underground command center become inoperable. The first aircraft adapted for the role of ABCP were 17 Boeing KC-135B Stratotankers. The nickname “Looking Glass” was adopted because the mission mirrored ground-based command, control and communications of US strategic nuclear forces. Operations began on February 3, 1961. By 1964, the aircraft was considered dedicated to the ABCP role and redesignated EC-135. The EC-135 Looking Glass was vital to US strategic forces. Its highly trained crew and staff ensured that there was always an aircraft ready to direct bombers and missiles from the air. Members of the battle staff formed seven operational teams and represented all branches of the armed services. When airborne, the staff was under the command of a flag officer, either an Air Force general officer or a Navy admiral. The EC-135 fleet was equipped with comprehensive, high-tech communications equipment, which allowed the airborne commander to link with national command authorities, theatre forces, assets on the ground and other airborne command posts. The Looking Glass was a versatile airframe with excellent airspeed, range and endurance. It was also capable of air refueling which allowed missions to be extended almost indefinitely. This gave the aircraft range to conduct nonstop operations to any location in the world as well. "
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"The Grumman TBF Avenger (designated as TBM by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps and was also used by a large number of air arms around the world. Grumman's first torpedo bomber was the heaviest single-engine plane of WWII and it was the first to feature a new wing-folding mechanism intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier. The Grumman TBF Avenger entered service in 1942 and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. On the afternoon December 7, 1941, Grumman held a ceremony to open a new manufacturing plant and display the new TBF to the public. Ironically, on that day, the Imperial Japanese Navy attacked Pearl Harbor, as Grumman soon found out. The plant was quickly sealed off to ward against possible enemy action. By June 1942, a shipment of more than 100 planes was sent to the Navy. On August 24, 1942, the next major naval battle occurred at the Eastern Solomons. With only the carriers USS Saratoga (CV-3) and Enterprise, the 24 TBFs present were able to sink the Japanese aircraft carrier Ryujo and claim one dive bomber, at the cost of seven planes. After hundreds of the original TBF-1 models were built, the TBF-1C began production. By 1943, Grumman began to slowly phase out production of the Avenger to produce F6F Hellcat fighters, and the Eastern Aircraft Division of General Motors took over, with these aircraft being designated TBM. Starting in mid-1944, the TBM-3 began production with a more powerful powerplant and wing hardpoints for drop tanks and rockets. The dash-3 was the most numerous of the Avengers with about 4,600 produced. However, most of the Avengers in service were dash-1s until near the end of the war in 1945. TBF/TBMs sank the two Japanese ""super battleships"", the Musashi and the Yamato. The Avengers played a major role in the American victory during World War II."
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"The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a single engine, military trainer aircraft which was derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. A 15-year production hiatus of the Model 73 Jet Mentor led to the Turboprop era, wherein in 1973, the T-34C Turbine Mentor was a powered by a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-25 turboprop engine. From the late 1940s to the 1950s, earlier versions of the T-34s were piston-engined and it was eventually succeeded by an upgraded model with a turboprop engine. The T-34C Turbo Mentor is a variant of the T-34, with a two-seat primary trainer fitted with turboprop engines. The T-34C was used by the Argentine Navy during the Falklands War. It was a primary trainer aircraft for the United States Navy and Marine Corps pilots. The T-34C was replaced by the T-6 Texan II but it was still considered as the primary aircraft at NAS Corpus Christi and NAS Whiting Field. The T-34C has a crew of two. It has a maximum speed of 280 kt IAS and a range of 600 nm."
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"The T-6A Texan II is designed by Pilatus Aircraft AG and manufactured by Raytheon Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas, USA. The T-6A Texan II is a single-engine, two-seat primary trainer aircraft, which is designed to train Joint Primary Pilot Training, or JPPT, students in basic flying skills common to U.S. Air Force and Navy pilots. The T-6A Texan II offers better performance and significant improvements in training effectiveness, safety, cockpit accommodations and operational capabilities than present aircraft. Powered by a single, Pratt & Whitney PT6A-68 turboprop engine with a four-blade propeller, it features a stepped-tandem, and cockpit configuration, with the instructor's rear seat rose slightly to improve visibility from the rear cockpit; modern avionics; and improved egress systems. Both T-6A cockpits are covered by a single, side-opening, non-jettisoned canopy. The T-6A offers increased bird strike protection over current training aircraft, and will improve the safety of landing and low-level training at Air Force and Navy bases. It has a pressurized cockpit to permit training at higher, less-congested altitudes and reduce the stress on student pilots. The aircraft is equipped with an onboard oxygen-generating system that reduces the time needed to service the aircraft between flights. The T-6A provides the highest degree of flexibility of any primary trainer. It is equally capable of training the beginner pilot or performing training missions well into an advanced training curriculum. The T-6A is currently used by the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, the Hellenic Air Force of Greece and the NATO Flying Training in Canada program as a primary trainer and weapons and navigation trainer. "
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"The Spad S. XIII is a French biplane fighter aircraft of World War II, developed from the earlier highly successful SPAD S. VII. The S. VII had been surpassed by the latest German scouts. SPAD designer Louis Bechereau initially produced the S. XII, though it had limited success which eventually led to the development of the S. XIII. The SPAD XIII's maiden flight was on April 4, 1917, and was delivered the following month to the French Air Service. The Spad XIII was flown by famous French fighter pilots such as Georges Guynemer and Rene Fonck. Italy's Francesco Baracca and the United States Army Air Service's Eddie Rickenbacker, also became leading aces with 34 and 26 confirmed victories, respectively. The SPAD XIII differed form its predecessor since it incorporates a number of aerodynamic and other refinements, including a more powerful Hispano-Suiza engine and a second VIckers .303-cal. machine gun for added firepower. The improvements greatly increased its flight and combat performance. It was also faster than its main contemporaries. The SPAD XIII has a maximum speed of 218 km/h and has an armament of 2 x .303-cal. (7.7-mm) Vickers machine guns. The SPAD XIII was one of the most capable fighters of the war and one of the most produced. There were 8,472 built and orders for around 10,000 more cancelled at the Armistice."
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"The Fairchild PT-19 was a monoplane trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), British Royal Air Force and Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. It was used by the USAAF during the primary flying training phase as the introductory pre-solo trainer for new pilots before passing them on to the more agile Kaydet biplane. Prior to World War II, basic flight training in the United States was generally provided in light biplanes, such as the Kaydet, which tended to be slow, stable and tolerant of fledgling pilots. However, given the increasingly high performance nature of the world's combat aircraft, the USAAF reasoned that the primary training was too easy, giving the student a false sense of mastery that could slow down his learning or even cause him to fail. Experienced instructors wanted the primary trainer to be a monoplane, with higher wing loading that required more careful flying. After its first flight in May 1939, the Fairchild M-62 two-seat monoplane won a fly-off competition later that year against 17 other designs for the new Army training airplane. With a wing loading factor about 43 percent higher than the Kaydet, the M-62 had a higher stalling speed and required more care at low speeds, making it exactly what the Army was looking for. It was a trainer that was more similar to the fighter aircraft the trainees would eventually fly. On September 22, 1939, the USAAF ordered 270 of the craft, with two open cockpits, as the PT-19 Cornell. Compared to the earlier biplane trainers, the PT-19 provided a more advanced type of aircraft. Speeds were higher and its flight characteristics demanded more precision and care. It was inexpensive and simple to maintain. It was one of a handful of primary trainer designs that were the first stop on a cadet's way to becoming a combat pilot. Thousands of the PT-19 series were rapidly integrated into the US and Commonwealth training programs, serving throughout World War II and beyond. Even after their retirement in the late 1940s, a substantial number found their way into civilian hands. Approximately 100 PT-19s are still flyable today. "
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"The Stearman Model 75 is a biplane, military trainer aircraft with 8,854 built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. It is perhaps the most famous biplane in the US since it was the primary basic trainer throughout World War II. The PT-17 Stearman is a variant of the Stearman 75, with a Continental R-670 engine. The PT-17 has a crew of two, for a student and an instructor. It has a maximum speed of 124 mph and a range of 505 mi. During the war, almost all American pilots undeertook basic training on either the PT-13s or the PT-17s. The PT-17 was exported to Canada as the Kaydet, Britain and other nations. After the war, the aircraft's rugged construction and good low speed handling saw large numbers converted for agricultural spraying work. Conversions involved the replacement of the aircraft's fabric covering with metal, while many were fitted with more powerful 335kW P&W R985A61 radials. There are hundreds of Stearmans which were currently flown in private hands, although its not used for crop spraying any more. "
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"The Martin PBM Mariner was a United States Navy patrol bomber flying boat of World War II and the early Cold War period. It was designed to compliment the PBY Catalina in service. 1,285 PBM Mariner were built, with the first example flying on February 18, 1939 and the type entering service in September 1940. The U.S. Navy Martin PBM-5 Mariner patrol bomber Bureau of Aeronautics (Bureau Number 59172) was one of the 1,367 PBM Mariners constructed by Navy Martin. It was delivered to the Navy in January 1945. During the World War II and Cold War eras, the PBM-5 Mariner was in service with various Navy units in a number of capacities. Its last operational assignment was Naval Air station, Seattle, Washington in late 1948. The PBM-5 Mariner was wrecked on May 6, 1949 while being ferried across Lake Washington from Naval Air Station, Seattle to the Boeing seaplane ramp at Renton, Washington, where it was intended to be placed in storage. As of today, the wreck of PBM-5 Mariner remains where the aircraft came to rest in 1949, in the Southernmost end of Lake Washington, in the vicinity of Renton, just off the old seaplane ramp at the Boeing plant. The PBM-5a is an amphibian plane with retractable landing gear. The aircraft was fitted with five gun turrets and bomb bays that were in the engine nacelles. The British Royal Airforce acquired 32 Mariners. They were not used operationally and some were returned to the United States Navy and twelve were transferred to the Royal Australian Air Force for transporting troops and cargo. The Dutch Navy acquired seventeen PBM-5a Mariners at the end of 1955 for service in former Dutch New Guinea. "
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"The P-51D Mustang was the most widely produced variant. It was equipped with an Aeroproducts propeller in place of the Hamilton Standard propeller, as well as a larger, differently configured canopy and other minor alterations. The P-51D Mustang has a crew of 1. It has a maximum speed of 437 mph and a range of 1,650 mi. It has armament of 6 0.50 in machine guns, 2 hardpoints and 10 in rockets. More famous as the first person to fly faster than the speed of sound than his wartime achievements, Chuck Yeager became an Ace in Europe flying a P-51. After he was promoted to captain, he added 1 Me-262 and 4 Fw-190s for a total of 11 career victories. "
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"The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is a long-range single-seat fighter aircraft that served with Allied forces in the middle years of World War II, becoming one of the conflict's most effective and recognizable aircraft. The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany to help ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. In late 1939, with the likelihood of full scale war in Europe a major concern, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was looking for methods of quickly increasing its fighter strength. In April 1940, the British Air Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation with the intent of having them build P-40s for the RAF. Since the P-40 design went back to 1933, James H. ""Dutch"" Kendelberger, president of North American, offered to build an entirely new advanced fighter. The British agreed and the P-51 took its maiden flight on October 26, 1940. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made and highly durable aircraft. It also saw combat against the Japanese in the Pacific War. During the Korean War, the P-51 started out as the United Nations' main fighter, but was relegated to a ground attack role when it was supplanted by jet fighters early in the conflict. One of the very few fighter pilots in World War II to achieve ace status in both the Pacific and European theaters, Colonel John Landers flew the P-51D Mustang named ""Big Beautiful Doll"". His reputable flying career was concluded with 14.5 victories, 4.5 of which and an additional 20 ground victories were achieved in the Mustang. Big Beautiful Doll was one of the most colourfully painted P-51s of the era. "
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"The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is a long-range, single-seat fighter aircraft that served with Allied forces in the middle years of World War II, becoming one of the conflict's most effective and recognizable aircraft. The P-51 flew most of its wartime missions as a bomber escort in raids over Germany to help ensure Allied air superiority from early 1944. In late 1939, with the likelihood of full scale war in Europe a major concern, the British Royal Air Force (RAF) was looking for methods of quickly increasing its fighter strength. In April 1940, the British Air Purchasing Commission approached North American Aviation with the intent of having them build P-40s for the RAF. Since the P-40 design went back to 1933, James H. “Dutch” Kendelberger, president of North American, offered to build an entirely new advanced fighter. As well as being economical to produce, the Mustang was a fast, well-made and highly durable aircraft. The British agreed and the P-51 took its maiden flight on October 26, 1940. The P-51D variant is considered the definitive Mustang. Ordered in 1943, it had a bubble canopy which provided the pilot with a valuable all-around view. It was also fitted with additional armament. The P-51D became the most widely produced version. Between 1941 and 1945, the US Army Air Force ordered 14,855 aircraft, 7,956 of which were P-51Ds. During the Korean War, the P-51D was used primarily for close support of ground forces until withdrawn from combat in1953. "
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"The P-51D Mustang Old Crow was an American fighter aircraft which was most widely produced by Mustang. The P-51D was equipped with a larger canopy and an aero products propeller to replace the Hamilton Standard propeller. The Old Crow arrived in Europe in mid 1944 and quickly became the primary USAAF fighter in the theater. In the same year, 1944, Captain Clarence “Bud†Anderson returned to the 375th Fighter Group for a second combat tour. He was assigned a new P-51D Old Crow in the dark green mask. Captain Bud was on a mission when the first drop of snow in Germany fell. Thus he noted a mixed flight of dark green and silver aluminum Mustangs below him. After his mission, he told his ground crew that the one painted the dark green stood out against the snow background and silver ones appeared to the have the best camouflage. Because of that Bud suggested to paint the Old Crow silver color the next time it was down for heavy maintenance. The next morning, Captain Bud arrived at the station to find his P-51D Old Crow to use for his mission. To his surprise he found the Old Crow in a gleaming aluminum paint scheme ready for flight. Three members of his crew worked on it through the night scrapping, rubbing and remarking. They were all tired and their hands were raw due to the cold and solvents they used. The change made to P-51D Old Crow was dedicated to Bud Anderson and all 357th crew chief and ground support personnel who maintained the P-51 Mustang during World War II. Signed by Col. Clarence ""Bud"" Anderson."
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"The P-40E Warhawk is the identical version of the P-40D. The only difference is the six wing-mounted machine guns. The P-40 aircrafts series were America’s leading fighters as World War II began. The P-40 E was engaged in the battle against Japanese aircrafts during the attack on Pearl Harbor and the incursion of the Philippines on December 1941. The Flying Tigers group used the P-40E as it fulfilled its missions in China in 1942. On the other hand, the Army Air Forces used the P-40E in North Africa in 1943. As for the P-40E Warhawk, the general characteristics are as follows: Its primary function was being a fighter. Its span is 37 feet 4 inches, length is 31 feet 9 inches, height is 12 feet 4 inches and weight is 9,100 pounds loaded. For the service ceiling, it is 30,000 feet. Its maximum speed is 362 mph, cruising speed is 235 mph, and range is 850 miles. The P-40E armament had six 50-cal machine guns which are 700 pounds of bombs externally. The P-40E Warhawk was used in copious combat areas specifically, Aleutian Islands, Italy, Middle East, Far East, Southwest Pacific and Russia. Despite being outclassed by its competitors on speed, the P-40E gained its reputation in battles for its great ruggedness. At the end of the P-40s series career, 2,320 P-40E were produced. "
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"The Super Elite P-40B Warhawk was one of the planes used by an American Volunteer Group known as the “Flying Tigersâ€. The group consisted of United States Army Forces, United States Navy and Unites States Marine Corps. Under a secret presidential sanction, the pilots of the said group were recruited by Claire Chennault. They formed a fighter group with three squadrons that were trained in China. The said group defended Burma supply line to China. This happened before the American entered World War II to fight against Japan. The P-40B Warhawk was managed and obtain by Chennault as it was in production for British and Americans. The major difference between the P-40B Warhawk and Tomahawk –IIB is the P-40B had an exterior fuel tank membrane while the Tomahawk had an interior membrane which is more effective for fuel tanks leaks. The P-40B was purchased without gun sights, radios and wing guns. As a result, there was a continual difficulty for the AVG in Burma and China. On the other hand, the good qualities of the Warhawk included the pilot armor, self sealing fuel tanks, sturdy construction, heavy armament and a diving speed that’s faster than most Japanese planes. In the year 1941, one hundred P40B aircrafts were sent to Burma on third country freighters packed in crates. At Ragoon, the Warhawk was assembled and test flown by a personnel of the Central Aircraft Manufacturing Company before they delivered it to the AVG training unit. The P-40B was the first fighter flown in action against the Japanese forces in Burma on March 13, 1941 before the US entered World War II. The Warhawk also played a vital role in the middle stages of World War II."
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"The Bell P-39 Airacobra was an all-metal, low-wing, single-engine fighter that entered service at the start of World War II. Manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation, the P-39 was flown by Robert Goebel and Bud Anderson in April 1939. The P-39 Airacobra had a tricycle landing gear, which was the first such gear ever used on a production fighter. The Airacobra battled throughout the world, particularly in the Southwest Pacific, Mediterranean and Russian theaters. Because its engine was not equipped with a supercharger, the P-39 performed best below 17,000 feet (5,200 m) altitude. It often was used at lower altitudes for such missions as ground strafing. Same with the P-63 Kingcobra, the P-39 aircraft was considered to be the most victorious mass-produced, fixed-wing aircraft manufactured by Bell Aircraft Corporation. Primarily used by the U.S Army Air Force, over 9,500 P-39s built. The P-39D variant of the Aircobra has maximum speed of 368 mph (592 km/h) @ 12,000 ft (3,658 m), a service ceiling of 32,100 ft (9,784 m) and a range of 1,545 miles (2,486 km). The first P-39D Airacobras entered service with the USAAC in February 1941, first with the 31th Pursuit Group (39th, 40th, and 41st Pursuit Squadrons) based at Selfridge Field, Michigan. Between February 12 and March 21, 1941, 27 USAAC pilots flew three P-39Ds over 160 accelerated service test hours at Patterson Field in Osborne, Ohio. In March of 1941, Bell's test pilot Vance Breese drove an Airacobra 15,000 feet to pass the final Army Air Corps test. The 39th PS participated in the ""Carolina Maneuvers"" from September to November of 1941, which was a series of war games during which five different squadrons flew Airacobras. The P-39D (along with the P-400) was the first to see combat in US service. A total of 1,767 P-39D built. "
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"The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a World War II American fighter aircraft. The P-38 was used most extensively and successfully in the Pacific Theater of Operations and the China-Burma-India Theater of Operations, where it was flown by the American pilots with the highest number of aerial victories to this date. America's top ace Richard Bong earned 40 victories (in a lightning he called Marge) and Thomas McGuire scored 38 (in Pudgy). The P-38 Lightning was designed in 1937 as a high-altitude interceptor. The P-38 was the only American fighter aircraft in active production throughout the duration of American involvement in the war, from Pearl Harbor to VJ Day. The P-38 introduced a new dimension to American fighters - a second engine. The multi-engine configuration reduced the Lightning loss rate to anti-aircraft gunfire during ground attack missions. As with any long-term production aircraft, the P-38 underwent many modifications. The fastest of the modifications was the P-38J with a top speed of 420 mph and the version produced in the greatest quantity was the ""L,"" of which 3,735 were built by Lockheed and 113 by Vultee. The P-38M was a two-seat radar-equipped night fighter, a few of which had become operational before the war ended. The P-38 was the Army's fastest and most heavily armed fighter. The concentration of firepower in the Lightning's nose was so effective that a one-second burst could destroy an enemy plane. In the Pacific Theater, Lightning pilots downed more Japanese aircraft than pilots flying any other allied plane. By the end of production in 1945, 9,923 P-38s had been built. Only 27 of the aircraft exist today."
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"The P-3 Orion is an American aircraft used for maritime patrol, reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare manufactured by Lockheed. The P-3 Orion was originally designated as P3V based on the Lockheed L-188 Electra and served as replacement for the postwar era P-2 Neptune. The first production version of the P-3 was designated as P-3V-1 and its maiden flight was on April 15, 1961. Many variants of the P-3 Orion was developed. The Orion has four turboprops, giving it a speed comparable to fast propeller powered fighters and slow turbofan jets such as the A-10. The P-3 was also designed to compete with the British Nimrod. It has an internal bomb bay under the front fuselage and underwing stations, carrying missiles such as the AGM-84 Harpoon, having a long stinger in the tail which houses the magnetic anomaly detector (MAD) and convex windows for observation. The primary users and operators of the P-3 Orion are the United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, Royal Australian Air Force and the Republic of Korea Navy. Civilian agencies also operates a number of P-3s and have been N-registered. "
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"The last OV-1 Mohawk was built in 1970 after a ten-year production run. In Vietnam they were used for photo reconnaissance, and infra red surveillance. "
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"Joe Foss was the first to Marine become an ace in a day. A recipient of the Medal of Honor and the Distinguished Flying Cross, Joe was the highest scoring Marine ace with 26 victories while flying an F4F Wildcat with VMF-121. The F4F Wildcat was one of the first monoplanes to fly from United States carrier decks. It was manufactured by Grumman and its primary users were the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the Fleet Air Arm. F4F Wildcat maiden flight was on the 2nd of September 1937 but it was introduced as an American carrier-based fighter in 1940s. The Grumman F4F Wildcat naval fighter became most successful in the hands of Joe Foss. Joe Foss was one of the heroes in the Battle of Guadalcanal as he became an executive officer in the Cactus Air Force. He led a flight of eight Wildcats known as Foss’s Flying Circus and though his own plane had been hit, he still took down a Japanese Zero. He later left Guadalcanal in 1943. His Flying Circus shot down 72 Japanese aircrafts of which 26 was credited to him. In 1943, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Medal of Honor at the White House for being America’s Ace of Aces. The Grumman F4F Wildcat was designed to meet the requirements of the US Navy in 1936 for a new carrier-based fighter. It was planned by the designers for more challenging take-offs and landings. F4F Wildcat large wings helped the plane to achieve higher levels, make slow landings, and be operated with great maneuverability. "
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"The MC-130H Combat Talon II was operated by the United States Air Force. It was designed in the early 1990s. Its role was to provide infiltration, exfiltration, and re-supply special operations forces and equipment in different territories. They were also used in psychological operations support and helicopter refueling. The Combat Talon I had been operational since the Vietnam War while Combat Talon II became active in 1990. The Combat Talon II was designed to replace Combat Talon I in 1990s following the Gulf War. Its features are stronger compared to the Combat Talon I. With its new technology, such as special radars and night vision capability, the aircraft can fly as low as 250 feet. The Combat Talon II is said to be used for the first time in Liberia to assist the evacuation of two thousand civilians. The MC-130H Combat Talon II’s mission was to help day and night and even in bad weathers as airdrop for equipments, personnel and some special operations such as evacuation missions. In April 1996, the MC-130H Combat Talon II from the 7th Special Operations units in United Kingdom entered the service in Liberia for the Operation Assured Response. This was the first combat operation of the aircraft. Troops from the Royal Air Force rescued more than 2,000 citizens from Monrovia following four days of extreme combating by rival armed forces. Similar conditions took by the Combat Talon II in 1997 in Zaire. In the end of that year, Combat Talon II assignments brought commando troops in Cambodia. In June 10, 1997, the war in the capital of Congo rage where a Combat Talon II aircrew got the Mackay Trophy for an embassy evacuation. The crew saved 30 Americans and 26 foreign nationals. The Air Force used the MC-130H to bring an American military assessment troops and evacuated 56 people from Brazzaville. The 7th Special Operations Squadron placed a European Command survey, assessment squad and vehicles for support. The team was composed of logistics, communications, security and specialists that performed infrastructure evaluations and calculated the need for additional European Command support to the United States Embassy in Brazzaville. Over 900 feet of hoses were placed for refilling of fuels of two helicopters. The plane was in blackout form that is why they were using Night Vision Goggles for them to see. "
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"Bockscar is a USAF B-29 bomber that dropped the “Fat Man” nuclear weapon over Nagasaki on August 9, 1945, the second atomic weapon used against Japan. “Bockscar” is a pun on “boxcar” after the name of its aircraft commander, Captain Frederick C. Bock. Bockscar was built at the Glenn L. Martin Aircraft Plant at Omaha, Nebraska, as a Block 35 aircraft. It was one of ten modified as a Silverplate and redesignated Block 36. Delivered on March 19, 1945 to the USAF, it was assigned to Captain Frederick C. Bock and crew C-13. Bockscar was also used in 13 training and practice missions from Tinian, and three combat missions in which it dropped pumpkin bombs on industrial targets in Japan. B29 aircraft is now on permanent display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force, Dayton, Ohio. "
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"The North American B-25 Mitchell medium bomber was used by many Allied air forces in every theater of World War II and by many other air forces after the war ended, seeing service across four decades. It is named after General Billy Mitchell, a pioneer of US military aviation. Although the B-25 was originally designed to bomb from medium altitudes in level flight, it was used frequently in the Southwest Pacific theater on treetop-level strafing and parachute-retarded fragmentation bombs missions against Japanese airfields in New Guinea and the Philippines. These heavily-armed, field-modified aircraft were used on strafing and skip-bombing missions against Japanese shipping trying to resupply their land-based armies as well. Mitchells were also responsible for devastating effects in the Central Pacific, Alaska, Mediterranean, North Africa and China-Burma-India theaters. After the war, many B-25s were employed as training aircraft. They were also used as staff transport, utility and navigator-trainer aircraft. The last B-25, a VIP transport, was retired from the USAF on May 21, 1960. Some are still flying today, most as warbirds. Signed by Richard E. Cole, 2nd Lt., Jimmy Doolitte's Copilot on plane #1"
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"The Tondelayo was one of three B-25Ds that sunk a 6,000-ton freighter in the South Pacific during World War II. Its story was unique in the fact that During the battle, the Tondelayo's engine was shot out and for over an hour it combated 50 Japanese fighter planes as it headed down the New Britain coast. The other two accompanying B-25s were shot down during the battle. The plane's turret gunner was given credit for shooting down five Japanese fighters and the crew earned the Distinguished Unit Citation and Silver Stars. Despite tremendous damage ""Tondelayo"" was returned to service after it was repaired... like a phoenix rising from the ashes. "
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"The North American B-25J Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber developed by the North American Aviation. The aircraft was used with devastating effect against German and Japanese targets in every battle scenario of World War II. The B-25J Mitchell was named General Billy Mitchell, an American general known as one of the most famous pilots in American airpower history. He was called the Father of the U.S. Air Force. The B-25 Mitchell took its first flight on August 19, 1940. It is powered by two Wright R-2600-9 Cyclone engines which delivered an amount of 3,400 horsepower. The aircraft's highest speed is 355 mph. The original airplane had difficulties during bombing runs, so the dihedral in the outer wing panels was eliminated on the 10th B-25 version onwards. The B-25J has 4,318 units. It is considered to be the most widely produced version of the Mitchell. The B-25 saw many modifications during its operating service. The series ran from the B-25A to B-25J, each type seeing variations to increase its firepower. The first 25 were armed with a. 30-caliber Browning in the nose and one at each waist position. For security, the tail of the aircraft sported a .50-caliber Browning. A Plexiglas nose and a turret gunner originated with the B-25B. The B-25G also had a retractable belly turret. "
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"The Boeing B-17 Fortress is a long range heavy bomber. The B-17G has a defensive firepower of not less than thirteen 0.50-inch machine guns, two chin guns, two guns in the dorsal turret, two guns in the ventral turret, two guns in the waist, two guns in the tail and one gun in the roof of the radio operator's position. The B-17 has a maximum speed of 472 km/h. The B-17 has crew of six to ten. It incorporates four 1,200 h.p. Wright R-1820-97 nine-cylinder radial air-cooled engines with General Electric Type B-22 exhaust-driven turbo-superchargers. In July 1943, the B-17G was introduced to Fortress production line and was produced in large numbers than any other Fortress variant. B-17G entered service with the Eighth and Fifteenth Air Forces in late 1943. In 1945, when the production of B-17G ceased , there's a total of 4,035 B-17Gs built. "
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* Stars of today!
* Collect them all!
This impressive lineup will please any collector of America's favorite pastime. MLB Series 27 features some of the best players of Major League Baseball today. 6-inch scale. The case of 8 pieces may include the following players (Subject to change):
1x Albert Pujols 4 (St. Louis Cardinals)
1x Chase Utley 2 (Philadelphia Phillies)
1x Derek Jeter 5 (New York Yankees)
1x Dustin Pedroia 2 (Boston Red Sox)
1x Joe Mauer 2 (Minnesota Twins)
1x Tim Lincecum (San Francisco Giants)
1x Curtis Granderson (New York Yankees)
1x Random Collector Level figure
Please note: this item may have variants randomly inserted throughout the production run. We are unable to accept requests for specific variants.
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Preorder for zack ryder from deluxe aggression 17 due out in november.
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This listing is a for a preorder figure of jamie noble. This is due out in late august/early september.Prototype images shown are subject to differ from final product on rare occasions.
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This listing is a for a preorder figure of batista. This is due out in late august/early september.Prototype images shown are subject to differ from final product on rare occasions.
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This listing is a for a preorder figure of the miz. This is due out in late august/early september.Prototype images shown are subject to differ from final product on rare occasions.
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This listing is a for a preorder figure of the great khali. This is due out in late august/early september.Prototype images shown are subject to differ from final product on rare occasions.
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This listing is a for an in stock and ready to ship debut ruthless aggression Hornswoggle figure if you want one get yours today as this is sure to be one of the best sellers of the year.
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This auction is for a 2 pack of figures of the former tag team champions kane and big show. This was an internet exclusive and is already sold out. This is not a preorder it is in hand and ready to ship!An internet exclusivee from jakks. A greatly designed and really cool 2 pack. It features a new head scan for the big show! Item displays awesome. A great and highly collectible ser from the great wrestlers. It comes with the tag team belts.
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This auction is for an in hand and ready to ship exclusve rey mysterio figure that came only with teh raw vs smackdown video game. Get yours now while supplies last. This is a rare exclsuive set and will come to you mint on card with only minor wear on teh package. Awesome set! Nice x-mas gift. Get yours now while they're still affordable.
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This listing is for a preorder 2 pack of figures of chuck palumbo and ecw diva michelle mccool , her first figure in the series. This is from adrenaline 31. This will come mint on card from jakks and straight from a factory case. Will display beautifully. Great and highly collectible figures from the famous wrestlers
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This listing is for a preorder 2 pack of figures of chuck palumbo and ecw diva michelle mccool , her first figure in the series. This is from adrenaline 31. This will come mint on card from jakks and straight from a factory case. Will display beautifully. Great and highly collectible figures from the famous wrestlers
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This auction is for an in hand and ready to ship shawn michaels figure from the new deluxe classic superstars 4 line from jakks. These figures are really cool and super articulated. It will come to you mint on card. Card may show minor shelfwear if any. Displays beautifully. A great and highly collectible figure from the famous wrestler. He comes with his title belt and ring skirt.
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This auction is for a preorder figure of the deadman the undertaker from the soon to be released unmatched fury platinum edition series 7 from jakks. This is a new series and is a mcfarlane style figure. Awesome figure with great detail. Dont be a punk get yours today! A greatly designed and really cool figure. It will come to you mint in box stright from a factory case. Item displays awesome. A great and highly collectible figure from the famous wrestler. Surely to go up in value. A great figure from a great series. Now thats cool! Bid now!
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This auction is for a wwe classic superstars limited edition hulk hogan canada exclsuive from jakks. This is the rare blue trunks version from the canadian exclsuive. This is long sold out and wa only available in canada. On the top it says canada exclsuive as you can see and his leg is stamped canada exclusive and has a mple leaf on it. It is mint on card and in very good shape. Just a minor ding to teh bubble on teh bottom of teh card. Here is your chance to own it. Item displays awesome. No collection would be complete without it. A great and highly collectible figure from the hall of famer. Hogan comes with the silver championship belt. Bid now!
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This auction is for a wwe classic superstars limited edition hulk hogan canada exclsuive from jakks. This is the rare red trunks version from the canadian exclsuive. This is long sold out and was only available in canada. On the top it says canada exclsuive as you can see and his leg is stamped canada exclusive and has a maple leaf on it. It is mint on card and in very good shape, pointy crown and no dings or dents. Here is your chance to own it. Item displays awesome. No collection would be complete without it. A great and highly collectible figure from the hall of famer. Hogan comes with the gold championship belt. Bid now!
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This listing is for one"mr. Wonderful"paul orndorff figure from classic superstars 5 from jakks. It is mint on card. The card is in very good shape overall. The front of the bubble is autographed by mr wonderful himself! Item displays nicely. A great and highly collectible figure from the famous wrestler.
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This auction is for one autographed terry funk figure from the classic superstars collectorse series line from jakks. It is mint on card. The card is in great shape and the autograph looks awesome. Comws with certficate of authenticity. Item displays awseomely. A great and highly collectible figure from the world famous wrestler. Figure comes with a club for hardcore fighting
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This auction is for one sgt slaughter figure from the classic superstars collectors series 2 from jakks! This is the rarer variant with the army jacket on the side instead of him wearing it. A good investment and an even better figure. Very rare. It is mint on card. The card is good shape excpet the corners are slighly curved. The crown is in excellent shape. Item displays beautifully. A great and highly collectible figure from famous and beloved wrestler. I have several wwe classic superstar figures in single, 2 packs and 3 packs if you are interested. Item comes with his camo gear and billy club
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