Trip to Mobile, Pensacola, & Eglin AFB

[GaryChildress]

I got back a little while ago from a week's vacation in which, along with my folks, we visited first the BB Alabama in Mobile, then it was back to Pensacola and the naval aviation museum there and finally we stopped at the armaments museum at Eglin AFB.

I stayed almost strictly to checking out all the WWII related aircraft, and stuff as that was what I was most interested in especially in lieu of this game which I love most dearly. It was a great trip! following will be some photos I took.

First is the initial shot of the Alabama coming into the memorial parking lot. I tried for the life of me to get a picture of the whole ship but couldn't get far enough away. I did manage to get a shot of her bow to stern.

Following will be my first attempt to cram as much onto a single post as possible. [8|]

[GaryChildress]

The first one worked pretty well so I'll try a few more using the same format.

[GaryChildress]

Here is the first set inside the ship.

[GaryChildress]

Here's the last set for now, still inside the Alabama.

[BrucePowers]

Gary;
Nice pictures. Thank you for sharing. May be able to get up there one day.

Bruce

[dtravel]

Stick it on the map!  http://www.frappr.com/matrixwarinthepacific

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: BrucePowers

Gary;
Nice pictures. Thank you for sharing. May be able to get up there one day.

Bruce

It's well worth the trip! Pensacola naval air station is not too far away. They have a great museum, absolutely fantastic to walk around in! [X(]

[GaryChildress]

A couple more sets and then I'll go outside on the deck. I've got probably over a hundred pictures total. I'll spare everyone and just pick out some of the more interesting ones. [:)]

[GaryChildress]

Here's the last of the internal shots I'll throw out there. After this we'll go up on deck for a quick tour.

[GaryChildress]

I'll put a few full size pictures on from here out.

[GaryChildress]

Big guns eh...

[GaryChildress]

Now for one of the "little" guns.

[GaryChildress]

Going in descending order, here's the next gun down.

[FeurerKrieg]

Great pics Gary!

I was visited the air musuem when I was in Pensacola as a kid, (11 or 12 years old maybe?) but haven't been there since. Maybe one of these days...

[GaryChildress]

Finally here is the standard issue rifle for all crewman. 20mm guns were just about everywhere on the main deck which they could be mounted without mounting them on top of one another.

[GaryChildress]

ORIGINAL: Feurer Krieg

Great pics Gary!

I was visited the air musuem when I was in Pensacola as a kid, (11 or 12 years old maybe?) but haven't been there since. Maybe one of these days...

Next up I'll show you some fo the sights at the Pensacola Naval Air museum as a teaser to whet the appetite. You have to go there and see the place yourself though. The pictures don't nearly do it justice. The WWII exhibit is awe inspiring.

[GaryChildress]

If you get to Pensacola on a Wednesday or Thursday be sure to go early in the morning to catch the Blue Angels rehearsing. Be sure to wear ear plugs, you'll have a front row seat to the show.

[GaryChildress]

First up, everyone's favorite plane the diminutive F4F Wildcat.

[GaryChildress]

F6F...

[GaryChildress]

Japanese fanboys probably wake up in a cold sweat after a dream about these babies coming in for the kill. NOTE this is the actual, one and only, surviving SBD from the Battle of Midway!! Who knows this plane may have carried one of the bombs that struck home plate on that day. [&o]