Good vs Great Landings

Good vs Great Landing
Definitions:
Good landing - One you can walk away from
Great Landing- One where you can reuse the aircraft
A good landing,
MCAS K3 Pohang Korea-7/3/1953

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I walked away from this one !
Two days later, I flew my Fiftieth and last Combat Korean mission - a 6 1/2 hour mission to the Yalu.
Then on to SAC, where I flew nuclear capable B47's and had exciting more adventures. We were the "tip of the spear" -no ICBMS or "Boomers" in those days.
fwiw

Looks like the undercarriage gave way as the props seem to have remained straight.........well done ;)

We ran off a 110 foot cliff @ 130 mph into a rice paddy in a driving rainstorm with no windshield wipers on A/C.. The tail hit first then the nose. Tail broke off, then 6 gun nose went. Tower operator said he expected to see body bags requirement. Amazingly enough no one was seriously injured.
I have complete crash report and corresponded with the tower operator almost 60 years later.

Where were you sitting?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gil Boyd

Where were you sitting?

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I was in the right seat. I never saw so much water enter a cockpit.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Cosine26

Good landing

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No harm at all, there's the spares the crew chief's needed...except yours. He needs a new aircraft.

Found this interesting link to the jet crashes during the Korean War:

F9F Panther Units of the Korean War - Warren Thompson - Google Books

Two Days Later
Here I am two days later 7-5/6 1953. We almost broke this aircraft also. Sinuiju gave us a warm but not very hospitable welcome. Lots of fireworks, but we only took some non vital hits This was my FIGMO mission. The second picture shows a six gun hard nose like the one in the original aircraft pictured above originally had. My original pilot still has a bandage on his face from the crash.

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Imgur: The magic of the Internet
I am third from the left.
FWIW

I'd like to ride along for a gun run on one of those. I'll bet they could do some ploughing...

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Originally Posted by browningautorifle

I'd like to ride along for a gun run on one of those. I'll bet they could do some ploughing...

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The later B26’s had an 8 gun nose. That coupled with the six wing guns were very impressive. Unfortunately we were flying at night and a burst woul destroy the pilot’s night vision. The navigator had to shield his eyes and direct the pilot.
Unfortunately we had an 8 gun hard nose follow a train in to a tunnel..We figured that both the pilot and the navigator got “target fixation” and did not realize that the train was entering a tunnel. Fighter-Bombers discovered the wreckage the next day..

My Last ride.
B47E at RAF Station Upper Heyford, UK 5/17/1955 On alert on Armed Forces Day
I had a couple of interesting missions in this type aircraft but we never broke one though we came close a couple of times. It was a very unforgiving aircraft, but a lot of fun to fly.

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An 8 gun hard nose B26B at K Pusan East !953. This is an unusual aircraft because it was equipped with a ventral (lower) turret.

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FWIW

A better view of an eight gun B26B showing how the guns are staggered

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Originally Posted by Cosine26

an eight gun B26B

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Guns and ordnance, looks like a workhorse...

Loading the wing guns
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Imgur: The magic of the Internet
Base Defence

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Quad fifty, always a favorite when fire discipline is required. At least the platforms of the aircraft had no trouble hauling ammo. Surprised they didn't run trays back into the fuselage and just feed from giant bins there. I guess the fuel cells are in the way in the wing root?