Bombs Away

A Douglas SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber;
fully armed, dive brakes extended, a beautiful admirer standing by and a veteran pilot in the background displayed on the hanger deck of the USS Midway in San Diego. The Midway was in service from WWII through Desert Storm and is now a huge floating museum anchored in San Diego. Aside from being able to see the many of the most important parts of the ship's facilities, it is also a major aircraft museum with every prop plane, jet and helicopter that had operated from the carrier including the F/A 18 Hornet, F-14 Tomcat, F-4 Phantom and A-6 Avenger among many others. Beverly and I had a chance to do a quick tour last Sunday and it was well worth it. GO if you are in San Diego. Building and operating these has to be one of the more amazing feat of organization in human history. Too bad it's for blowing things up.

More pictures from our tour HERE











The George Washington,
seen over Midway's flght deck
While we were touring the Midway we were able to glimpse a currently operating carrier, the George Washington anchored across the harbor, behind big anti terrorist booms on the water. This modern nuclear powered super carrier had arrived in San Diego only a few day earlier after being damaged by a below deck fire that occurred off the coast of South America. Coincidentally, the GW was on its way to Yokosuka Naval Base, the last home port the Midway had. The GW will be the first nuke powered carrier to be based in Japan.










The Air Boss's Launch-Recovery
schedule board overlooking Midway's flight deck