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ORIGINAL CAPTION: "A Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder (serial number 41-4604) taxying at Mount Farm. Image by Robert Astrella 7th Photographic Reconnaissance Group." IWM FRE 7540

Mount Farm is north of Liverpool. Unfortunately the tail-number of the Fort in the background is not legible.

Just in case anybody wondered where it ended up.

This Film Replica of the Douglas Devastator Could Pass for the Real Thing

>While the Midway aircraft carrier museum doesn’t ordinarily display replicas, “we had no qualms about displaying this one,” says Walt Loftus, the museum’s airwing director. He adds, “The replica arrived in pieces [from Lionsgate’s Montreal movie studio] and took over 2,000 hours to assemble, paint, and get the cosmetics right.” Asked about its relevance in a museum setting, Loftus points out: “There is nothing like it in the world unless you go underwater to get one.”

ORIGINAL CAPTION: "Demolished Japanese 'Zero' on Munda, New Georgia, Solomon Islands."

Photo taken in December 1943.

NARA 342-C-K-004985_001

ORIGINAL CAPTION PHOTO #1: "Corsairs lined up on the flight deck of the ILLUSTRIOUS." (IWM A24274)

ORIGINAL CAPTION PHOTO #2: "USS SARATOGA, seen from the flight deck of HMS ILLUSTRIOUS." (IWM A24266)

The Illustrious and Saratoga had been operating in the Indian Ocean together since 21 Mar 1944. The Saratoga had been ordered to depart for home for a refit by 19 May and Adm. Sir James Somerville, the Royal Navy’s Eastern Fleet commander, wanted to mount one more attack before she left the Indian Ocean. He chose the naval base and oil refinery at Surabaya, Java (Operation Transom). The distance from the newly renamed East Indies Fleet's base at Ceylon required refueling at Exmouth Gulf on the western coast of Australia before the attack.

The necessity to attack from the south, across the full width of Java, meant that the target was outside the Barracuda's range, so 810 and 847 Squadrons were replaced by the 18 Grumman Avengers of 832 and 845 Squadrons for the mission.

Early on the morning of 17 May, the Illustrious launched all 18 Avengers, escorted by 16 Corsairs. One Avenger crashed on take-off and an American Avenger from VT-3 on the Saratoga was shot down over the target; only one small ship was sunk, and little damage was done to the refinery. The Saratoga and her escorts separated after refueling again in Exmouth Gulf and the East Indies Fleet was back in Trincomalee on 27 May where No. 21 Wing re-embarked on the Illustrious.

ORIGINAL CAPTION: “A British Seafire making a landing aboard the USS ESSEX (CV-9).” The photo was taken on 9 Aug 1945.

On 9 Aug 1945, Russia declared war on Japan, and the focus of the US Third Fleet Commander (Adm. Halsey) altered to support Russian attacks.

From the official War Diary of USS Essex (CV-9) on 9 Aug 1945: “TF 38 launched Strikes against airfields in North HONSHU and shipping in TSUGARU STRAITS Area from approximate position 38° N, 144°-30' E. ESSEX launched 6 Strikes composed of 38 F6F, 44 F4U, 26 SB2C and 25 TBM type aircraft.

Two BRITISH Seafires from IMPLACABLE were emergency-landed during morning watch low on fuel. Both planes crashed on landing and were damaged beyond repair; neither pilot was injured.”

On the same day that the two Seafires cracked-up on the Essex, HMS Implacable's Seafires flew 94 sorties and her Fireflies flew 14 against targets in northern Honshu and southern Hokkaido with only the loss of two Seafires as noted.

The attacks were repeated the next day by HMS Implacable, sinking two warships, numerous small merchantmen and destroying numerous railroad locomotives and parked aircraft.

Photo: NARA 80-G-0373839