First Quarter (Jan - Mar) 2009

Volume 22, Number 1

The Newsletter of the War Eagles Air Museum Editorial e’re continuing to experiment with the content and focus of W Plane Talk to try to keep it fresh, useful and enlightening to you, our readers. Our first tweak was in the Sec- ond Quarter 2008 issue, which featured an aircraft that not only is not in the War Eagles Air Museum collection, but that does not exist anywhere in the world— the Martin XB-51. In this issue, we’re trying something else new and different. Rather than lead- ing off with a “Featured Aircraft” article covering a single airplane in considerable detail, we present a piece that we hope you’ll find equally interesting—a survey of great aviation films that offer real his- toric aircraft in real aerial action. We’re very pleased to welcome well-known El Paso film historian and movie expert Jay S Robert Shaw (l.) and Richard Todd (r.) Duncan as the guest author of “The Air- star as pilots of a Royal Air Force Lancaster plane as Cinema Star.” Be sure to read The Airplane bomber on a mission to destroy dams in the the “About the Author” profile of him on German Ruhr River valley using special Page 3. Jay was involved in presenting “bouncing bombs” in the 1954 British film the Classic Aviation Film Series that we as Cinema Star The Dam Busters. Shaw later became well known to American audiences as Quint in sponsored at the International Museum of by Jay Duncan Art in 2003 to celebrate the 100th anni- Steven Spielberg’s 1975 blockbuster Jaws. versary of the Wright brothers’ first suc- eeing historic aircraft on static dis- cessful controlled powered flight. Jay’s play at a museum is a real treat for knowledge of film is truly encyclopedic, S enthusiasts. But it is quite another and we hope you enjoy his article. experience to actually see these magnifi- Contents Speaking of cinematic aircraft and cent machines in flight. Other than at air- Editorial...... 1 shows, the opportunities for aviation fans aerial action, the first of three volumes of The Airplane as Cinema Star.....1 the complete 1958-59 Steve Canyon tele- to see and hear real flying warbirds are From the Director...... 2 vision series on DVD, containing 12 epi- limited. But there are ways for “buffs” to th sodes, has been released. You’ll find the gain such experiences—on the screens of Guy Dority’s 90 Birthday...... 5 their home television sets. whole story of this exciting series in the Membership Application ...... 7 Third Quarter 2008 Plane Talk. Cinema Star (Continued on Page 2)

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Cinema Star (Continued from page 1) morale booster for an America stunned From the Director by Japan’s seemingly endless string of Historic aircraft fans need only pop a Pacific conquests. e hosted the 5th Annual Land video tape or DVD into their player and Featuring Van Johnson as Captain of Enchantment RV Fly-In in they can vicariously place themselves in- Lawson, Robert Mitchum as Lieutenant W October, as always geared for to the cockpits of fighters, bombers, car- Bob Gray and Spencer Tracy as Lieuten- builders of the popular series of small go aircraft—even rocket planes—as they ant Colonel James Doolittle, Thirty Sec- home-built aircraft. Every time we’ve battle the enemy on nerve-rattling com- onds Over Tokyo accurately portrays the held this event, the weather has been bad, bat missions, explore the boundaries of raid. Director Mervyn LeRoy shot the with rainstorms and high winds, and this flight in dangerous experimental aircraft training footage at Eglin Field, near Pen- year was no exception. Attendance was or test the limits of man and machine in a sacola, Florida, which was the real base down 30 per cent, but even so we still at- howling storm many miles from the near- used for training the crews. The aircraft tracted over 80 aircraft and more than est landing strip. Aviation films can show were U.S. Army Air Force North Ameri- 150 visitors from around the country. Al- viewers what “it” was really like, and the can B-25C and D Mitchell bombers, very though this year’s event was marred by films that best provide this experience similar to the B-25Bs used in the raid. No the fatal crash of a Maule (not an RV) at have a common trait—they’re old. Really aircraft carriers were available to the film the airport, we look forward to hosting old. So old, in fact, that they were filmed makers, but a combination of good studio the premier RV gathering again in 2009. when the aircraft that they feature were sets and original newsreel footage recre- We’d like to welcome new Museum still in use. In short, we’re talking about ated the USS Hornet scenes faithfully. employee Chuck Faison, who works in classic films here. Let’s get started… Some critics saw the film as border- ing on propaganda (as did, in fact, most Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo From the Director (Continued on page 8) other wartime films), but their near-unan- Many critics consider Thirty Seconds imous verdict was summed up in the New Over Tokyo, released in November 1944, York Times: “Our first sensational raid on to be the finest World War II film ever Japan...is told with magnificent integrity made. The screenplay, by Dalton Trumbo and dramatic eloquence...” The Raiders (who, ironically, was convicted and im- themselves reportedly considered Thirty prisoned in 1950 for contempt of Con- Seconds Over Tokyo a worthy tribute. gress after refusing to testify about com- Twelve O’Clock High munist influence in Hollywood) was based on a 1943 book by Ted W. Law- Widely considered one of the best, if son. Lawson was the pilot of Ruptured not the best, aviation films ever made, Duck, the seventh of 16 B-25s that took Twelve O’Clock High premiered in Los off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet Angeles on December 21, 1949. While on April 18, 1942, on the “Doolittle not actually made during the War, it nev- Raid,” a mission to bomb military instal- ertheless portrays, with superb accuracy lations around Tokyo. Although techni- and stunning cinematography, the story cally a failure, the strike, just four of U.S. 8th Air Force bomber crews who months after Pearl Harbor, was a strong flew daylight raids against targets in Ger- many and occupied France from their ba- S New Museum employee Chuck Faison ses in England. Directed by Henry King shows off two of his super-detailed Japanese and starring Gregory Peck as Brigadier model aircraft, a KI–84 and an A6M2-N. General Frank Savage, Gary Merrill as Colonel Keith Davenport and Dean Jag- Plane Talk ger in an Oscar-winning performance as Published quarterly by: Major Harvey Stovall, Twelve O’Clock High had the full cooperation of the Air War Eagles Air Museum Force. The aerial battle scenes used actu- 8012 Airport Road Santa Teresa, New Mexico 88008 (575) 589-2000 Cinema Star (Continued on page 3)

Author/Editor: Terry Sunday Chief Nitpicker: Frank Harrison Final Proofreader: Kathy Sunday S In this archive photo, General James B. Editor’s Note: All images are the proper- Doolittle starts his takeoff run from the air- ties of their respective copyright holders, [email protected] craft carrier USS Hornet on April 18, 1942, and are used without permission. leading the way on a mission to bomb Japan.

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The Dam Busters About the Author The Dam Busters tells the story of Jay Duncan is an internationally recognized film historian, ar- the development and use of the legendary chivist and collector. Holding a BA degree in Mass Commu- “bouncing bomb” in World War II. The nications, he has taught accredited film history courses at the brainchild of British inventor Dr. Barnes University of Texas at El Paso, and was instrumental in sav- Wallis (played by Michael Redgrave in ing the city’s magnificent 1930s-era Plaza Theater from dem- the film), this clever bomb was intended olition in 1974. He was Film Program Chair, guest speaker to destroy dams, ships and other hard-to- and panelist at many science fiction conventions, and he attack targets. The way it worked against founded, co-edited and published SPFX Magazine, devoted dams was truly ingenious. Carried under to special effects in movies, in 1977. In the days before cable, a specially modified Avro Lancaster, the when local television stations aired local programs, he was Program Director, an- cylindrical, 9,250-pound bomb was spun nouncer and writer-producer-host of “Jay’s Pix,” a popular weekly show in which he up to 500 RPM by a hydraulic motor and provided on-screen commentary and historical backgrounds to classic films. In belt drive. Release conditions were criti- 2004, Jay originated El Paso’s IT! Came From the ‘50s science fiction film festival. cal—the aircraft had to be almost exactly 60 feet above the water of the dam’s res- ervoir at an airspeed of between 240 and Cinema Star (Continued from page 2) them hazardous to operate. There are no 250 miles per hour. On release, the bomb reports of unusual deaths among the crew bounced across the water, struck the dam al combat footage (including some from and cast. As a side note, this was not true and, due to its spin, climbed down the in- German sources). The film shows how for Howard Hughes’ epic The Conquer- side face of the dam, where it exploded hard-nosed General Savage takes over or, which was filmed in Utah in 1953 and upon reaching a pre-set depth. The water the Archbury bomber base with orders to starred John Wayne as Genghis Khan. pressure helped direct the explosive force turn around the (fictional) 918th Bomb The location was 140 miles downwind of against the dam’s structure and increased Group, which was suffering from high the Nevada Test Site, where the U.S. det- the resulting damage. combat losses and low morale. Savage onated nuclear weapons above ground. Most of The Dam Busters covers the succeeds in his task, but at a great cost, Of the 220 people at the location, 91 de- two years that Wallis spent developing as he himself becomes a psychological veloped cancer by 1981 (30 would have and testing his invention and training air- casualty of the war. been expected statistically) and 46 died, crews to use it properly. Operational use Many of the aircraft used in Twelve including Wayne (who, ironically, had quickly followed the first test in Decem- O’Clock High were ex-drone B-17Gs, re- been offered the role of General Savage ber 1942. The well-known “Dambusters fitted with turrets and repainted as 8th Air but turned it down). There is little doubt Raid” (officially Operation Chastise) Force B-17Fs, on loan from the Air Force that the deaths were caused by fallout. took place on the night of May 16, 1943, after being used in atomic tests. Presuma- Principal filming took place at Duke when 19 Royal Air Force (RAF) Lancas- bly their use in nuclear tests did not make Field in Florida and Ozark Field in Ala- ters of 617 Squadron attacked the Mohne bama. In a scene sure and Eder dams on Germany’s Ruhr Riv- to break the heart of er. The raid destroyed two of the six tar- any warbird fan, the get dams and damaged four, but at a high crash landing of the cost—German anti-aircraft fire downed B-17 early in Twelve seven Lancasters, a loss rate that caused O’Clock High is real— the RAF to discontinue the project. it’s not a special effect. The Dam Busters film was based on Hollywood stunt pilot two books—Guy Gibson’s Enemy Coast Paul Mantz, flying the Ahead (Gibson was a pilot in the raid) big bomber solo, got and Paul Brickhill’s The Dam Busters— $4,500 for destroying and was Great Britain’s biggest box-of- what would today be an fice success on its release in 1955. The invaluable historical ar- RAF supplied four late-production Avro tifact. Mantz himself Lancaster B.VIIs, which had to be taken was killed in 1965 in out of storage and specially modified. the crash of the Phoe- Flying expenses were £130 per hour per nix, an unusual aircraft S Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress Piccadilly Lily taxies in after re- aircraft, and accounted for one-tenth of that he had built especi- turning from a mission to bomb targets in Germany in the classic the film’s budget! film Twelve O’Clock High. According to the Turner Classic Mov- ally for the James ies website, many bomber crewmen regard this film as Hollywood’s Stewart film The Flight only accurate depiction of their life during the war. of the Phoenix. Cinema Star (Continued on page 4)

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Cinema Star (Continued from page 3) for a downed aircraft. Island in the Sky accurately shows the challenges rescuers Director Michael Anderson used the face in locating Dooley’s plane. This was Upper Derwent Valley in Derbyshire, long before the time of Global Position- England (the place where Wallis tested ing Systems (GPS), satellite maps—at his actual bomb) as a double for the Ruhr the time, areas such as that in which Valley. The airfield used for the ground Dooley landed really would have been shots was RAF Hemswell, just north of “uncharted”—and worldwide communi- RAF Scampton, which had been an op- cations. The only way the crew can con- erational base during the war but was not tact rescuers is with an SCR-578 hand- active when filming took place. cranked emergency radio transmitter, af- S William Holden, as U.S. Navy Lieutenant fectionately called a “Gibson Girl,” after Harry Brubaker, prepares for takeoff in a Island in the Sky artist Charles Dana Gibson’s iconic Grumman F9F Panther of Fighter Squad- A true classic aviation film, Island in drawings of tightly corseted American ron VF-192 in The Bridges at Toko-Ri. The the Sky debuted on September 5, 1953. It women at the turn of the 20th century. aircraft carrier USS Oriskany stood in for the fictional USS Savo Island. stars John Wayne as Dooley, an ex-air- The SCR-578’s “wasp-waisted” shape al- line pilot flying cargo for the U.S. Air lowed the user to hold it between the legs ture astronaut Neil Armstrong, who in Transport Command during World War while cranking it. It had to spin at 80 1969 was the first man to set foot on the II. On a routine flight over Canada, his RPM to produce enough power to be moon, was a pilot aboard the Essex. It is venerable Douglas C-47 Skytrain ices up, usable, and it was very hard to crank. not known whether Michener based any and he is forced to make an emergency The story of how the Air Transport of his characters on Armstrong. landing in uncharted wilderness near the Command, which had received Dooley’s The Bridges at Toko-Ri offers all the Quebec-Labrador border. All five crew- final radio transmission that he was “go- suspense of a good air war movie, yet it men survive the landing, but their prob- ing down,” sends other pilots aloft on a is decidedly anti-war, with a story mod- lems have just begun. They are surround- round-the-clock effort to locate his air- est in scale but large in impact. William ed by thousands of square miles of snow- craft before the crew perishes, is a sus- Holden stars as Navy Lieutenant Harry covered pine forests and frozen lakes. penseful tale of the highest order. The Brubaker, a former World War II pilot There are no landmarks to aid search details of how search operations are con- called back to active duty to fly and fight crews in finding them. Their provisions ducted to find a tiny object in a trackless again in Korea. His reluctance to do so are limited, and temperatures dip down to wilderness are especially well-done. symbolizes Americans’ war-weariness. more than 40 degrees below zero (F). The Bridges at Toko-Ri Grace Kelly plays his wife and Mickey The script is based on a true story by Rooney is chopper pilot Mike Forney. A Ernest K. Gann about a mission he flew Coming so soon after World War II, taut, honed and highly charged socio-pol- on February 3, 1943, as a search pilot out the Korean War inspired few Hollywood itical drama as well as an adventure tale, of Presque Isle Airfield, Maine, looking films. Director Mark Robson made two The Bridges at Toko-Ri won a Special of them: I Want You in Visual Effects Oscar and a well-deserved 1951 and The Bridges place among the finest combat movies. at Toko-Ri in 1954. The shipboard operation scenes were Based on the novel by shot aboard the USS Oriskany (CV-34), popular, prolific auth- an Essex-class carrier launched in 1945 or James A. Michener, but later modernized to handle the new The Bridges at Toko- jet aircraft entering service. The Grum- Ri combines aspects of man F9F-2 Panthers, Douglas AD-1 Sky- actual U.S. Navy mis- raiders and the Sikorsky S-51 Dragonfly sions to bomb North helicopter are treats to see in beautifully Korean bridges at Ma- photographed aerial action as The Brid- jon-Ni and Changnim- ges at Toko-Ri powers relentlessly to- Ni in the winter of ward its controversial conclusion. 1951–52. Michener was a correspondent Strategic Air Command aboard the aircraft car- The working title of this film was S Island in the Sky dramatically showcases Douglas C-47 cargo riers Essex and Valley Air Command. Popular and respected ac- aircraft in breathtaking black-and-white aerial photography. For Forge, so he was able tor James Stewart, like the lead character much of the filming, Donner Lake, in the Sierra Nevada mountains to tell a very accurate near Truckee, California, stood in for the fictional Labrador emer- story. Interestingly, fu- Cinema Star (Continued on page 5) gency landing site of the aircraft piloted by John Wayne.

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with a hug. With his marvelous, self-dep- Cinema Star (Continued from page 4) Guy Dority Celebrates recating sense of humor and a twinkle in th his eye, he said “I’m here for that old “Dutch” Holland who he played in the his 90 Birthday man Guy Dority’s birthday. Boy, we nev- film, had been a bomber pilot in World er thought he would live this long, but I War II, and he remained active in the Air by Cassandra Rodriguez know he is happy and very thankful.” I Force Reserve. He achieved the rank of n September 27, 2008, War Ea- laughed with him and adjusted his tie, al- Brigadier General in 1959, and retired in gles Air Museum hosted a very though it didn’t really need it. 1968 after 27 years of service. In the ear- O special birthday celebration for After the group sang “Happy Birth- ly 1950s, he persuaded Paramount Stu- our dear friend Guy Dority. A World day” and enjoyed the cake and ice cream, dios to make a picture about the Strategic War II veteran airman with hundreds of Museum Director Skip Trammell pre- Air Command (SAC), arguing convinc- missions to his credit, and the very first sented Guy with a beautiful oil painting ingly that it would be a patriotic gesture Museum volunteer, Guy turned 90 years by Colorado artist Hal Bergdahl, showing and a financially sound investment. He old on that day. His family and a few Guy as an airman in World War II. It is also convinced the studio to appoint An- close friends gathered in the Museum the perfect companion piece to Mr. Berg- thony Mann, with whom he had worked hangar on a pleasant Saturday afternoon dahl’s earlier painting of Guy’s Boeing several times, as director. for a little camaraderie, some “war stor- B-17E Flying Fortress “Jarrin’ Jenny,” Strategic Air Command, Stewart’s ies,” and cake and ice cream. which had the distinction of being the vision of a film praising the people and Guy’s daughter Mary, in from Hous- first American-manned bomber to arrive mission of SAC, turned out to be a real ton for the occasion, decorated the party in Europe in July 1942. Guy was the ra- boon for fans of Cold War aircraft in the area with yellow daisies and a display of dio operator/gunner on the crew. cinema. Filming locations were MacDill mementos of Guy’s wartime career and The new painting now hangs in the Air Force Base in Tampa, Lowry AFB in accomplishments. The attendees started Museum’s gift shop near Guy’s other Denver and Carswell AFB in Fort Worth. to arrive at about 2:00 in the afternoon, memorabilia. On Sundays, when he Paramount’s advertising claimed the film and soon the guest of honor himself comes in to volunteer and tell his stories showed “previously secret installations walked in. As always, he was dressed to visitors, Guy looks at his painting and for the first time”—a bit of hype that ap- impeccably, this time in a light blue suit says, “I still can’t believe that’s me. Do pealed to the less-sophisticated moviego- and a crisp Navy blue tie. I greeted him you really think it looks like me?” ers of the time. It was Paramount’s sec- ond wide-screen VistaVision release, and there’s still something very potent in its stunning images of graceful aircraft of a lost-but-not-forgotten age taking flight in the “wide” blue yonder. Two things keep Strategic Air Com- mand aloft for today’s audiences. First is the conviction and authenticity that Stew- art brings to a role he not only believed in passionately, but actually lived. Sec- ond is the spectacular aerial photography, seldom if ever equaled for its sheer lyri- cal beauty. Ubiquitous stunt pilot Paul Mantz did so much of the flying that he thought he deserved to share star billing with Stewart. He didn’t get his wish. Nor did aerial photographer Thomas Tutwil-

Cinema Star (Continued on page 6)

Plane Talk on the Web rchives of Plane Talk from S World War II veteran and long-time volunteer Guy Dority, celebrating his 90th birthday at the current issue back to the War Eagles Air Museum, displays the painting of him in World War II aircrew attire created by first quarter of 2003 are now Colorado artist Hal Bergdahl. With him are (from left) his daughter Mary, his granddaughter A Sarah and his great-granddaughter Emilia, all visiting from Houston. Photo by Chuck Crepas. available in full color on our website.

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was nearing the end of forces himself to take in order to prove to its service life and General Banner that he is mentally fit about to be replaced by enough to fly the supersonic rocket the new Boeing B-47 planes then being tested at Edwards is an Stratojet, which also interesting and absorbing tale, if a bit plays a prominent role drawn-out dramatically. in the film. But the aircraft are the real stars of Many government the show, and Toward the Unknown has and military dignitar- them in abundance. For example, this is ies, including General the only place to see actual footage of the Thomas White, the Air Martin XB-51 bomber (see Plane Talk, Force Vice Chief of second quarter 2008, for the full story of Staff, attended Strate- the XB-51), under cover as the fictional gic Air Command’s “Gilbert XF-120.” You’ll also enjoy see- New York premier on ing Convair’s XF-92, which was ground- April 20, 1955. The ed (and thus used in a crash rescue scene) Air Force Association at the time the film was made but which awarded Paramount its had, in earlier tests, been unable to ex- S Although not taken from the film Strategic Air Command, this annual Citation of ceed the speed of sound despite calcula- dramatic 1951 photo by famed Life Magazine photographer Mar- Honor for “distinguish- tions predicting that it should. The “area garet Bourke-White conveys the same sense of power and majesty as the film’s scenes of Convair B-36 Peacemakers. ed public service” in rule,” developed by National Advisory producing the film, and Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) en- also recognized Stew- gineer Richard T. Whitcomb, pointed the Cinema Star (Continued from page 5) art for “distinguished public service and way to better performance. Using Whit- outstanding artistic achievement.” The comb’s innovation, the XF-92’s succes- er, who had a unique way of charging film was the seventh most profitable re- sors, the F-102 Delta Dagger and F-106 static scenes with dramatic visual impact lease of 1955. Delta Dart, easily exceeded Mach 1. by placing his camera on a wing, or atop Another historic aircraft in Toward Toward the Unknown the landing gear or low in the cockpit the Unknown is the rocket-powered Bell looking up. His work is even more arrest- Another great showcase of Cold War X-2. Carried aloft by a Boeing B-50 Stra- ing today, now that the airplanes that he aircraft is Toward the Unknown, released tofortress, the X-2 was designed to inves- so lovingly filmed carry a cargo of nos- on October 20, 1956. It starred William talgia rather than nuclear bombs. Holden as Air Force Major Lincoln Bond Cinema Star (Continued on page 7) The American National Board of Re- and Lloyd Nolan as view awarded Strategic Air Command a General Bill Banner. Special Citation in recognition of its ex- An exciting story of cellence. It is the film to see if you want test pilots “pushing the to experience the sights and sounds of envelope” at Edwards Convair’s massive B-36D Peacemaker Air Force Base, Cali- intercontinental bomber in action. The fornia, in the 1950s, it largest airplane ever in Air Force service, features a reasonably and the only one that could carry the hy- good plot and outstand- drogen bombs of the day, the B-36D had ing aerial photography a wingspan of 230 feet. Its powerplants of aircraft that you will were six 28-cylinder, 3,500-horsepower not see anywhere else. Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major ra- In the story by Beirne dial piston engines and four 5,200- Lay, Jr., Bond is an ex- pound-thrust General Electric J47 turbo- fighter pilot who had jets. In addition to filming real B-36s in been shot down over the air, Paramount built a very accurate Korea and carries the mockup, based on official Air Force stigma of having bro- sources and using many actual compon- ken under the pressure of communist brain- ents, of parts of the fuselage to use for in- S Actors Lloyd Nolan (l.) and William Holden (r.), on location at terior shots. In 1954, when Strategic Air washing while he was a Edwards Air Force Base, pose in front of Martin’s radical XB-51, Command was filmed, the Peacemaker POW. The steps that he re-designated “Gilbert XF-120” for the film Toward the Unknown.

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Membership Application War Eagles Air Museum

War Eagles Air Museum memberships are available in six categories. All memberships include the following privileges:

Free admission to the Museum and all exhibits. Free admission to all special events. 10% general admission discounts for all guests of a current Member. 10% discount on all Member purchases in the Gift Shop.

To become a Member of the War Eagles Air Museum, please fill in the information requested below and note the category of mem- bership you desire. Mail this form, along with a check payable to “War Eagles Air Museum” for the annual fee shown, to:

War Eagles Air Museum 8012 Airport Road Membership Categories Santa Teresa, NM 88008 Individual $15 NAME (Please print)______Family $25 STREET ______ Participating $50

CITY ______STATE _____ ZIP ______—______ Supporting $100

TELEPHONE (Optional) _____—_____—______ Benefactor $1,000

E-MAIL ADDRESS (Optional) ______ Life $5,000 Will be kept private and used only for War Eagles Air Museum mailings.

Cinema Star (Continued from page 6) The War of the Worlds tire book chapters have been dedicated to this groundbreaking, Academy-Award- The War of The Worlds (the original tigate flight at speeds and altitudes far winning (for Best Special Visual Effects) version, not the odoriferous 2005 remake beyond those of the X-1, in which Cap- Technicolor motion picture. Indeed, in with Tom Cruise) was released in Octo- tain Charles “Chuck” Yeager first “broke 1977, I was the co-editor and publisher of ber 1953 by Paramount Pictures. Most the sound barrier” on October 14, 1947. a 32-page magazine devoted to the mak- fans of this outstanding film fully appre- Designed to reach Mach 3 (over 2,200 ing of The War of the Worlds. Its publi- ciate the magnitude of Producer George miles per hour), the X-2 had an advanced cation coincided with the 25th Anniver- Pal’s monumental cinematic effort in re- but temperamental Curtiss-Wright rocket sary of the beginning of filming at the locating (from England) and modernizing engine. Bell built two X-2s. The first was Paramount Studios. author H.G. Wells’ 1898 literary science destroyed in an explosion during a cap- With all of its state-of-the-art techni- fiction classic. Countless articles and en- tive flight over Lake Ontario on May 12, cal wizardry, however, one sequence did 1953. The second flew under power for not rely on any type of special effect or the first time at Edwards on November visual trickery whatsoever. George Pal 18, 1955. Over the next 10 months, it had had decided to have Northrop’s YB-49 reached Mach 2.87 and over 126,000 feet “Flying Wing” drop an atomic bomb on in altitude. On September 27, 1956, Air the Martian war machines in a last-ditch Force Captain Mel Apt took the X-2 to a effort to destroy the interplanetary invad- new world speed record of Mach 3.2. But ers as they lay waste to southern Califor- on turning back to return to Edwards, he nia. Mr. Pal told us: “We did use a few experienced an aerodynamic phenomen- stock shots from the Northrop and North on called “inertial coupling,” which American Aviation Companies which caused the X-2 to tumble wildly out of had to be submitted to the Department of control. Apt successfully released his S Northrop’s incredible, futuristic YB-49 Defense, but it was minor.” “escape pod,” but was knocked uncon- flying wing bomber put on a brief but im- pressive performance in the classic 1953 sci- scious and never opened his parachute. Cinema Star (Continued on page 8) ence fiction film War of the Worlds.

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Cinema Star (Continued from page 7) political problems, far beyond the scope From the Director (Continued from page 2) of this article, that caused the Govern- Still, as minor as it was in the whole ment to cancel Northrop’s innovative de- the Gift Shop most weekdays and pitches production, the visual impact of the shots sign in favor of its competitor, the more- in on any other projects that need a hand. of the “Flying Wing” taxiing, taking off conventional Convair B-36. Chuck was in the Air Force from 1959 and gracefully maneuvering in flight on The original War of the Worlds gave through 1963 as a Crash Rescue Special- the big theater screen thrilled 1953 audi- mass audiences a rare glimpse of Ameri- ist at James Connelly Air Force Base, in ences. Even today, with viewers more so- can aeronautical ingenuity at its best, and Waco, Texas, Headquarters of the 5th Air phisticated and far more jaded than back an appreciation for an aircraft design that Force and a training base for navigators in the day, the footage of the YB-49 re- was far ahead of its time but that would and Radar Intercept Officers. While he mains powerful and evocative. The “Fly- (temporarily, at least) soon fade into avi- was there, he managed to log some jet ing Wing” even resembles the Martian ation oblivion. John K. “Jack” North- time in a Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star war machines, which have been gliding rop’s vision of a highly efficient aircraft and also got a ride in a Northrop F-89 over the countryside spewing deadly heat without a fuselage, a true “flying wing,” Scorpion—one of the most fascinating, rays and disintegration beams and are un- is a reality today in the B-2 Spirit “stealth and today rarest, aircraft of all time. He affected by the atomic blast. bomber,” which, interestingly, has exact- worked at a manufacturing plant in El The YB-49 had a host of technical ly the same wingspan—172 feet—as the Paso for 10 years, transferring to San problems, including poor aerodynamic YB-49. High-speed computers and digi- Diego in 1996. After he retired in 2001, stability, and its bomb bay could not ac- tal fly-by-wire controls eliminate the in- he eventually returned to El Paso, by way commodate the primitive, large, heavy stabilities inherent in an all-wing aircraft, of Rapid City, South Dakota, in 2008. He nuclear weapons of the time (which, of and make the B-2 a capable and stable has been building 1/48-scale model air- course, makes the nuking of the Martians bomber, and the most recognizable air- planes for 40 years, specializing in super- by a YB-49 a case of “artistic license”). craft in the world. Even if you never see detailing World War II Japanese types. Some of these problems could have been one in person, you can get some sense of Welcome aboard, Chuck! fixed with further development. Howev- the power of this awesome aeronautical er, it also suffered from insurmountable triumph from The War of the Worlds. Skip Trammell

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