Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Share #1 Posted March 31, 2013 Aloha Everyone, Usually I post groups of photos from my Schofield Barracks archive or USN collection, but here's something a bit different. These are from a group that was sold a few years ago which were taken by the ground crews at Luke Field (now Ford Island) in 1920. They depict the 6th Aero Squadron at work, but mostly at play. Luke Field at this time was a bumpy rutted field scattered with guava tree stumps well known for very hairy landings. Ford Island was jointly occupied at this time by the Army and the Navy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #2 Posted March 31, 2013 Fortunately the aircraft of the day with their slow ground/air speeds were somewhat forgiving of this topography Navy Seaplane Hangar on Luke Field (Ford Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #3 Posted March 31, 2013 Pilot with bomb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #4 Posted March 31, 2013 Caption: Buck and Sport, 6th Aero Squadron Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #5 Posted March 31, 2013 How's this for a firefighting vehicle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #6 Posted March 31, 2013 Bare bones facilities in 1920 Although they could dive & swim in the Harbor Check out the Aero symbol on the swimsuit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #7 Posted March 31, 2013 Back to work Private Vine and Curtis JN-4D Jenny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #8 Posted March 31, 2013 The Bike and Sidecar was also used for play on Oahu (Kunia Road to Schofield Barracks) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #9 Posted March 31, 2013 Flying over Honolulu - Iolani Palace, the only palace in the United States Close up of the Palace. I can only imagine the type of bulky photography gear they were slinging over the side for these shots. 3,000 feet over Honolulu Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #10 Posted March 31, 2013 6th Aero Squadron 1st platoon at the Centennial parade in Honolulu, April 15th, 1920 followed by 2nd platoon at the Centennial parade in Honolulu, April 15th, 1920 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #11 Posted March 31, 2013 Those sneaky aviators playing wargames with the Navy. Note the biplane crossing the stern of the Battleship in the second photo. Close ups of their prey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #12 Posted March 31, 2013 Back to the hum drum of aviation and motorcycle mechanics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #13 Posted March 31, 2013 Sneaking up on the doggies at Schofield Barracks "I'll follow this fellow to find the rest" Gotcha! Now to buzz some balloons 2nd Observation Squadron over Fort Shafter Launching a Blimp Gee, they do look like ants from up here Nothing to hide from us as we cruise over Schofield ....and then over the shoreline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #14 Posted March 31, 2013 But although we have wings, we still have to go camping with the doggies and play soldier. Is chow ready yet? Lieutenant, I reserved a cabin..... .....with a floor, not a tent mate who snores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted March 31, 2013 Author Share #15 Posted March 31, 2013 Ah, the country life, fresh air and no drill. Life in the Interwar Aero corps is good ....and since we're winged cavalry, we get to play with horses too! Back to work again in the peacetime army in Hawaii There ya go The 6th Aero Squadron at Luke Field, T.H. 1920. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share #16 Posted April 3, 2017 ...more from the 2nd Observation Group, 6th Aero Squadron Luke Field (now Ford Island) 1920, Territory of Hawaii. The first US Army Air Service permanent organization in the islands prior to the formation of the Hawaiian Division & Hawaiian Air Force. Honolulu Harbor 1920, note the Navy Cruiser at the Aloha Tower piers and the power plant, Bishop street, the commercial hub of Honolulu, now all highrise towers. Schofield Barracks, before the Hawaiian Division, 1920. The first quads erected by the Third Engineers, NCO housing and the Engineers housing (later officer country) Schofield Quad, 1920 General's Loop, Officer's housing & one Quad completed, another to the right under construction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GWS Posted April 3, 2017 Share #17 Posted April 3, 2017 Neat photos! Looks like "rough" service to me! My father was Air Force and we lived there from 1964-67. Hickam was very busy at that time, 24/7. I haven't been back since then but I remember quite a few of the landmarks in the photos. Thanks for posting these. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BEAST Posted April 3, 2017 Share #18 Posted April 3, 2017 Back to work again in the peacetime army in Hawaii Great thread! Can you make out the cap badge that the sergeant is wearing? It doesn't look like an enlisted badge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share #19 Posted April 3, 2017 Not enough sharpness in these old snapshots unfortunately, but it looks like an officers cap he used for the photo to me, note they're also wearing sidearms 1920 aerial view of Honolulu with Diamond Head in the background. In the foreground is Punchbowl crater, long before it was the National Cemetery of the Pacific Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 3, 2017 Author Share #20 Posted April 3, 2017 ....wish the resolution and angle was better on this one so we could see the 1920 wings. Anyone have any info on the pilot? Identified on the reverse as "Lt. Elliott and Ford Flivvers at Luke Field 1920" Nice hand operated "Oooooogah!" air horn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted April 4, 2017 Share #21 Posted April 4, 2017 Salvage Sailor thank you for posting your terrific early photographs! I recently picked-up a photo album full of Luke Field images and surrounding area, but dated a few years later (1924-1925). Here's a similar photo of Punchbowl Crater with Navy Band members in the foreground and Diamond Head in the distance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cthomas Posted April 4, 2017 Share #22 Posted April 4, 2017 Back to work Private Vine and Curtis JN-4D Jenny Good afternoon. These are DH.4s. Same with posts #3 & 6. -Chuck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salvage Sailor Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share #23 Posted April 4, 2017 That's what I thought too Chuck, although they are noted on the back of the photo in pencil as "Private Vine and Curtis JN-4D Jenny" by the airman who took them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted April 13, 2017 Share #24 Posted April 13, 2017 Jumping ahead a few years, here's a 1925 Luke Field hanger dance invite prepared by the US Army Air Corps 11th Photo Section. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rustywings Posted April 13, 2017 Share #25 Posted April 13, 2017 This Aug. 18, 1924 dated aerial photograph includes a small caption: "11th Photo Section, Ilio Point & Makanalua Peninsula, Molokai, from W. 7000 Ft." Check out the sister Bi-plane ahead of the photographer... twin engine? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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