Description: The aircraft that won the Schneider Trophy outright for Britain in 1931/1932 after its predecessor the SE-4 won the race in 1929. Designed by R.J. Mitchell though not directly related as often claimed, much of what was learned in these racers helped in the development of the Spitfire.
Description: The de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito was one of the greatest aircraft of WW2 and arguably the first multi-role aircraft. It had roles as Night fighter, bomber, and reconnaissance. It was light, fast and lethal and loved by its pilots and was almost uniquely constructed of a wooden sandwich construction not only making it light but freeing it from desperately needed materials. Much copied it was never matched and continued in production after the war. It was in great demand by US forces and first operated with them after Operation Torch in North Africa greatly influenced by the efforts of Airman and specialist reconnaissance Officer Elliot Roosevelt, the President's son .
Description: The de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito was one of the greatest aircraft of WW2 and arguably the first multi-role aircraft. It had roles as Night fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, even carrying out top secret transport roles. It was light, fast and lethal and loved by its pilots and was almost uniquely constructed of a wooden sandwich construction not only making it light but freeing it from desperately needed materials. Much copied it was never matched and continued in production after the war.
Description: The Bearcat was one of fastest fighters of the late 2nd WW and the pinnacle of the Grumman series of piston engined fighters.
Bearcat T-Shirt
$24
Description: The Whirlwind was a classic WW2 fighter that never fulfilled its true potential. This was the aircraft that was to replace the Spitfire after the initial batch were built because of its potentially lethal cannon armament. Sadly it was never to be, trouble with its ('safe option') Perigrine engines led to them being cancelled meaning little more than 100 of the aircraft were produced. It was proposed a mk would use 2 Merlins but there simply wasn't enough to go round and so the plane un updated went on to be a very effective low level bomber where it was still faster than most of the opposition even by the time they run out of airframes in 1943. When it was in prototype form in 1938 it was so fast indeed it gained the nickname 'CRICKEY'
Description: The Mk14 (Mk XIV) Spitfire was a later war design that was designed as a filler till the full Mk18 could be produced. Before the Mk18 could appear there was an operational demand in 1943, for an improved Spitfire capable of greater performance at higher altitudes. To meet this demand, yet another interim type was evolved by the mating of a Mk VIII airframe and the Griffon engine. The result was the Spitfire Mk 14( XIV). Not only was it one of the most beautiful Spitfires it was built in far greater numbers than the eventual Mk 18 (XVIII).
Description: Mustang ‘Old Crow’ These Mustangs, both nick named Old Crow, had an illustrious past along with pilot Clarence Emil "Bud" Anderson. Anderson who flew two tours of combat against the Luftwaffe while with the 363d Fighter Squadron of the 357th Fighter Group, based at RAF Leiston, England, and was the group's third leading ace with 16¼ aerial victories. The others only flew one tour however so they had less time in the air. His P-51 Mustangs, represented here, both nicknamed Old Crow (after the whiskey of the same name), carried him safely through 116 missions without being hit by fire from enemy airc
Description: This Mustang, Was flown by Benjamin O. Davis the leader of the Tuskagee Airmen during December 1944 out of Ramitelli in Italy. Admitted to the first training class at Tuskegee Army Air Field, Davis became the first African-American pilot to solo in an Army Air Corps aircraft. Winning his wings on March 7, 1942, he was one of the first five African-American officers to graduate from the program being followed by nearly 1,000 more "Tuskegee Airmen." Promoted to lieutenant colonel in May, Davis was given command of the first all-Black combat unit, the 99th Pursuit Squadron. Working up through the fall of 1942, the 99th was directed to the Mediterranean in support the campaign in North Africa. Equipped with Curtiss P
Description: The S6B was the most classic of the Schneider Cup racers winning the trophy permanently for Britain in 1931 (albeit with no opposition). Designed by R.J. Mitchell It was in many ways the precursor of the Spitfire and its engine the base design for the Griffon that late war Spitfires used.
Description: The Macchi M.C. 72 was an experimental seaplane designed and built by the Italian aircraft company Macchi Aeronautica. Though it was designed to confront the all conquering Supermarine seaplanes in the final Schneider Trophy race a troubled development prevented this leaving the former to race alone. However the M.C. 72 held the world speed record for all aircraft for five years. In 1933 and 1934 it set world speed records for piston engine-powered seaplanes and the latter still stands. After the second record setter it never flew again but a preserved Macchi M.C.72 can be seen at the Museo storico dell'Aeronautica Militare di Vigna di Valle, Italy.
Description: The Macchi MC-72 was the ultimate seaplane speed king. Though built for the lats Schneider Trophy race development and reliability prevented it from doing so but later it twice broke the all time seaplane speed record which still stands after which in 1933 it never flew again and is now displayed in a museum in Italy. Like the Supermarine racers it did inspire future fighter designs in WW2.
