....I know,this is not direct air race.
but please try to imagine the sight.
...after having their LST damaged and in tow from
Lingayen Gulf to Leyte, (Philipines 1944)
My dad was on deck watch, when from astern
came a pair of Marine (?) Corsairs,
who promply split the ship and passed within
a couple wingspans of the sides of the LST.
Dad states he was looking down onto the one passing on the starboard side.
(about 1/3 loaded,that LST deck is less than 30 feet from water surface!)
Help me with math now;
30ft height of deck
13ft+ dia prop,
water surface at 0ft
low enough to look down on
that, is a close pass!
....no need to ask where some of his love of air racing comes from.
but please try to imagine the sight.
...after having their LST damaged and in tow from
Lingayen Gulf to Leyte, (Philipines 1944)
My dad was on deck watch, when from astern
came a pair of Marine (?) Corsairs,
who promply split the ship and passed within
a couple wingspans of the sides of the LST.
Dad states he was looking down onto the one passing on the starboard side.
(about 1/3 loaded,that LST deck is less than 30 feet from water surface!)
Help me with math now;
30ft height of deck
13ft+ dia prop,
water surface at 0ft
low enough to look down on
that, is a close pass!
....no need to ask where some of his love of air racing comes from.