Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

This forum is to discuss aircraft and vessels, military or otherwise.

Moderators: Niner Delta, joseyclosey

Post Reply
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11552
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Niner » Mon Jul 31, 2023 4:28 pm

The Battleship park is a a catchall for any US military involvement in the last century plus. There are WWI relics down to a tank captured in Iraq on either the Bush senior or Bush junior's watch and from every conflict in between. There are lots of things outside a big exhibition building. I took a few snaps of what's inside the building. There are some new entries since last I was at the park. One is seemingly out of place as it is a Gruman Goose Royal Canadian sea plane...complete with manikin dressed like a Canadian officer. Then there is the Huey that was used to take President Reagan to Camp David from the White House. There is also a plane flown by one of the Tuskegee Airman. There is a black bird spy plane parked outside but didn't get a good shot of it this time with the digital camera. There is also one of those super sized bombers that bombed the crap out of North Vietnam. I think they are still in the US inventory even though they are older than the crews that fly them.
Attachments
DSC05950.jpg
DSC05950.jpg (160.93 KiB) Viewed 286 times
That's a Chinese Commie jet in the near distance.
That's a Chinese Commie jet in the near distance.
DSC05964.jpg (159.01 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05969.jpg
DSC05969.jpg (201.33 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05970.jpg
DSC05970.jpg (196.76 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05971.jpg
DSC05971.jpg (182.86 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05972.jpg
DSC05972.jpg (178.12 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05974.jpg
DSC05974.jpg (149.13 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05975.jpg
DSC05975.jpg (174.06 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05976.jpg
DSC05976.jpg (180.93 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05978.jpg
DSC05978.jpg (181.55 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05980.jpg
DSC05980.jpg (168.46 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05982.jpg
DSC05982.jpg (169.52 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05985.jpg
DSC05985.jpg (187.02 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC05986.jpg
DSC05986.jpg (175.85 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC06063.jpg
DSC06063.jpg (217.24 KiB) Viewed 286 times
DSC06097.jpg
DSC06097.jpg (223.81 KiB) Viewed 286 times
User avatar
Niner Delta
Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
Posts: 4874
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:51 pm
Location: Sequim, WA

Re: Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Niner Delta » Mon Jul 31, 2023 9:03 pm

Wow, some great stuff in that park. The Chinese Commie jet fighter is a MiG-17 and a F4 Phantom way back there.
The big bomber is a Boeing B-52, some of the grandsons of original pilots now fly them. It entered service in 1955
and the last one was built in 1962 and they are expected to be used until 2050, seems they can't find anything
affordable to replace it. .... :D


.
:USA:

Peace is that brief, quiet moment in history.......... when everybody stands around reloading.
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11552
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Niner » Mon Jul 31, 2023 10:03 pm

I've got lots of photos from that park over the years. The spy plane and a couple other snaps of the B52 I'll include. The B52 actually had a place for a rear gunner. This B52 actually dropped bombs in North Vietnam.

The former Alabama rear deck catapult sea plane is now in the house.
Attachments
DSC04279.jpg
DSC04279.jpg (220.33 KiB) Viewed 275 times
This one used to be on a catapult on the rear deck of the Battleship.
This one used to be on a catapult on the rear deck of the Battleship.
DSC05970.jpg (208.57 KiB) Viewed 277 times
img769.jpg
img769.jpg (172.11 KiB) Viewed 279 times
img749.jpg
img749.jpg (228.68 KiB) Viewed 279 times
img744.jpg
img744.jpg (257.15 KiB) Viewed 279 times
User avatar
Niner Delta
Global Moderator Sponsor 2011-2017
Posts: 4874
Joined: Fri Apr 09, 2004 10:51 pm
Location: Sequim, WA

Re: Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Niner Delta » Wed Aug 02, 2023 10:58 pm

That seaplane is a Vought OS2U-3 Kingfisher. Some great planes there.

.
:USA:

Peace is that brief, quiet moment in history.......... when everybody stands around reloading.
User avatar
Niner
Site Admin
Posts: 11552
Joined: Sat Mar 15, 2003 1:00 pm
Location: Lower Alabama

Re: Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Niner » Sun Sep 03, 2023 3:13 pm

Just learned that the Grumman Goose and Boeing Stearman were recently donated to Battleship Park by Jimmy Buffett. He donated them anonymously but today, after Buffett's death they acknowledged his contribution.
Attachments
Clipboard01.jpg
Clipboard01.jpg (107.67 KiB) Viewed 261 times
Clipboard01.jpg
Clipboard01.jpg (131.71 KiB) Viewed 265 times
Clipboard01.jpg
Clipboard01.jpg (153.14 KiB) Viewed 265 times
User avatar
Miller Tyme
Moderator Sponsor 2013,2014,2015
Posts: 614
Joined: Wed Dec 26, 2012 2:54 pm
Location: Indiana/USA

Re: Mixed bag of aircraft at Battleship Park in Mobile

Post by Miller Tyme » Sat Sep 09, 2023 7:13 am

Have been to Battleship Park several times, first time in 93, last time in 2014 with my Dad and it has been nice to see the upgrading of the displays over the years to protect them from the elements.

My Great Uncle, Andrew Miller served on the Alabama from its commissioning in 42 til its decommissioning in 1947. His name is enshrined in a room on the starboard rear of the ship along with all other Alabama crew members.
“The only real power comes out of a long rifle" - Joseph Stalin
Post Reply