Here are some of the best images we could find of warbirds over the Pacific. Hellcats, Wildcats, Catalina’s, Kingfishers, Corsairs, Aircraft Carriers and many more!
A U.S. Navy Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless of bombing squadron VB-16 flies an antisubmarine patrol low over the battleship USS Washington (BB-56) en route to the invasion of the Gilbert Islands, 12 November 1943. The ship in the background is USS Lexington (CV-16), the aircraft’s home carrier.
Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat fighter, of Fighting Squadron Six (VF-6) has its six .50 caliber machine guns tested on the flight deck of USS Enterprise (CV-6), 10 April 1942. Note open gun bays in the plane’s wings.
Grumman F6F-5 Hellcats of fighter squadron VF-19 Bulldogs and a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver of bombing squadron VB-19 on the deck of the aircraft carrier USS Lexington (CV-16) during an attack in November 1944.
A U.S. Navy Grumman FM-2 Wildcat fighter gets a “wave-off” from the Landing Signal Officer while attempting to land on the escort carrier USS Makin Island (CVE-93), about 1944/45.
Vice Admiral Marc A. Mitscher on board USS Lexington (CV-16), at the time of the Marianas campaign, June 1944.
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bombers in flight in 1943.
Jimmy Flatley sits in his F4F-4 Wildcat—decorated with his victories at Coral Sea, Santa Cruz, Guadalcanal, and Rennell Island—aboard the USS Enterprise’s deck. 1943
A North American PBJ-1D Mitchell bomber of U.S. Marine Corps bombing squadron VMB-611 on the deck of the escort carrier USS Manila Bay (CVE-61) during transport of the squadron’s flight echelon to its operating area in the Pacific, August 1944.
Flight deck of USS Hornet (CV-8) on the morning of 4 June 1942. Aircraft are spotted and ready to take off for strike on Japanese Kido Butai during Battle of Midway.
A U.S. Navy Grumman FM-2 Wildcat fighter of composite squadron VC-84 launching from the escort carrier USS Makin Island (CVE-93) in the Pacific in 1945.
A U.S. Marine Corps Vought F4U-1 Corsair of Marine fighter squadron VMF-213 Heck Hawks is warming up for fight from the flight deck of the escort carrier USS Copahee (ACV-12), on 29 March 1943.
