The BTD-1 Destroyer had excellent performance and was intended as the successor to the Helldiver. However, the type arrived too late to see any action in WWII with '4959' being the only survivor of the 30 (26 BTD-1s) built. This aircraft had long been in the Florence Air & Missile Museum collection and then moved to the Wings of Eagles Discovery Center, Elmira-Corning Regional Airport, Elmira, New York. It is currently undergoing restoration at the Hixson Flight Museum in Rome, Georgia. Alas much to my great disappointment she still had her winter tarps on as my visit was so early in the season.

In the line up for Rwy 01R as a United 727 has just departed from 01L.

Marked for LCDR Russel Hicks, 'Jethro'

Marked for Cdr. Keith Hurley 'Liz', which was inevitable I suppose?! Light starting to go, but still well worth taking.

RX835 came in for a couple of ILS approaches and departed to NAS North Island afterwards.

Very nice visitor on a Sunday afternoon, the newest camo bird of VFA-125, 'Rough Raiders'.

This nose section is from the uncompleted eighth Martin Mars airframe, which would have become BuNo 76825 of the United States Navy. It was acquired by Forest Industries Flying Tankers in the 1960s and stored at their Sproat Lake base near Port Alberni, BC. It lay there in the brush for some 40 or 45 years until it was recovered by its new owners Coulson Flying Tankers in 2007. They restored it into their red and white colours and placed it on display in their visitor centre at Sproat Lake. Photo by: Hans van der Vlist

Photographer: Michael Grove

Dual role EKA-3B Skywarrior of VAQ-208, CVWR-20, making a courtesy visit to Mildenhall. Photo date determined from British Aviation Review magazine 1976 Nov 328.

Late build P-3C Orion of VP-49 "Woodpeckers" at its Jacksonville NAS base.

This VF-101 Grimreapers Tomcat is on static display at the Chicago Air Show. Nowadays you will find this aircraft at the USS Hornet Museum, San Francisco Bay, CA.

A Navy aggressor F-5 of VFC-13 "Fighting Saints". Based at NAS Fallon.

All flaps set on short final for RWY 03L, operated by VAQ-130 'Zappers'.

Wears toned-down markings after service in the Gulf conflict

In retro markings

Martin Mars prototype at the Martin factory, repaired following the #3 engine fire on 5 December 1941, but still before its first flight. It is seen here still in its original configuration as a patrol bomber, complete with gun turrets and provisions for bombing. However, the aircraft was soon to be converted to XPB2M-1R transport aircraft, which involved removing all armament and armored plating, and adding extra cargo hatches, cargo loading equipment and reinforcing the decking. Photo from: US Navy - National Naval Aviation Museum