The Flickr Glennlmartinco Image Generatr

“Vanguard rocket on launching pad.”

Based on the appearance of the rocket in the below linked photos, I think this is Vanguard Test Vehicle-Two/Vanguard TV-2. Since it’s venting, possibly taken the night/early morning of its October 23, 1957 launch?

Per Wikipedia:

“Vanguard TV-2, also called Vanguard Test Vehicle-Two, was the third suborbital test flight of a Vanguard rocket as part of Project Vanguard. Successful TV-2 followed the successful launch of Vanguard TV-0, a one-stage rocket launched in December 1956 and Vanguard TV-1, a two-stage rocket launched in May 1957.

Project Vanguard was a program managed by the United States Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) and designed and built by the Glenn L. Martin Company (now Lockheed-Martin), which intended to launch the first artificial satellite into Earth orbit using a Vanguard rocket.[1] as the launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Missile Annex, Florida.

Vanguard TV-2 arrived at Cape Canaveral in June 1957. Vanguard TV-2 was a prototype as it had a liquid rocket first stage, a dummy (no fuel) second stage, and a dummy (no fuel) third stage. Three Vanguard stages were needed to put a satellite in orbit, the final goal of the Vanguard project. Since stage two and three had no power, the test flight would not achieve the same height as Vanguard TV-1.

Vanguard TV-2 lifted off on 23 October 1957 from Cape Canaveral from launch pad LC-18A. Launch pad 18A was an older Viking launch stand that was shipped from White Sands Missile Range for use at the Cape Canaveral. Pad 18A was also used on Vanguard TV-0 and TV-1. The goal of TV-2 was to test the final Vanguard first stage, as well as to test the retrorocket system of stage two and spin-up of stage three. Also new to test on TV-2 flight was a super high frequency (SHF) C-band radio beacon on the rocket and ground tracking radar gear, used to track proper propulsion and trajectory. The telemetry was picked up at the Air Force Missile Test Center's (AFMTC) tracking station.

Vanguard TV-2 was successful, the three-stage rocket achieved an altitude of 175 km (109 mi), a down range of 539 km (335 mi), and a top speed of 6,840 km/h (4,250 mph). TV-2 landed in the Atlantic Ocean. First and second stage separated on time, all controls and tracking worked. The only problems TV-2 had were on the ground getting ready for the flight, as there were many delays. TV-2 was shipped to the Cape not working (agreed and known by all parties). It took from early June to late October in 1957 at the Cape to work out all the problems that were not fixed in the manufacturing. For contrast TV-1 arrived at the cape in February 1956 and lifted off in early May 1956. The delay of TV-2 along with the failure of TV-3, put the United States behind in the Space Race. On 4 October 1957, 19 days before TV-2's lift off, a Soviet Union Sputnik rocket was used to perform the world's first satellite launch, taking away some of the joy of TV-2's success.”

Above at:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vanguard_TV-2

The linked images/associated descriptions upon which my identification is based:

“First stage of one of the Vanguard rockets being erected in the gantry at the Navy's launching site at the Air Force Missile Test Center. After the rocket has undergone tests, it is combined with "dummy" second and third stages and fired sometime soon to test its new GE 27,000 pound thrust engine under actual flight conditions. U.S plans to send earth satellite during IGY with this missile.”

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/first-stage-of-one-...

“Satellite test rocket to be fired soon. This Vanguard rocket is known as TV-2.”

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/satellite-test-rock...

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/satellite-test-rock...

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/satellite-test-rock...

www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/satellite-test-rock...

“VANGUARD TV-2: LAUNCH, 1957 Liftoff of the Vanguard TV-2 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Photograph, 23 October 1957.”

www.bridgemanimages.com/en/noartistknown/vanguard-tv-2-la...

First production run of this jacket from ATF, purchased around 2010? These aren't the ones they currently sell. The lettering was done with a stencil machine. The rest was hand copied from a well known photograph. The whole thing was applied using an ink roller.


* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The 386th Bombardment Group (Medium) was constituted on 25 November 1942, and was activated on 1 December 1942 at MacDill Field, Florida. The group was equipped with the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber. Its operational squadrons were the 552d (RG), 553d (AN), 554th (RU) and 555th (YA)

After training at several airfields in the United States, the group was deployed to Europe in June 1943 and was assigned initially to the 3rd Bombardment Wing of the Eighth Air Force at RAF Snetterton Heath, England. The group remained at Snetterton Heath only a few days, being transferred to RAF Boxted in north Essex on 10 June 1943 where the Martin B-26 Marauder groups were being consolidated for operations and retrained in medium altitude bombing after low level tactics had produced disastrous losses. The group flew its first mission on 30 July, with operations concentrating on airfields but also attacked marshalling yards and gun positions along the channel coast.

The 386th was again transferred to RAF Great Dunmow on 24 September 1943. Missions of the 386th concentrated on airfields but also bombed marshalling yards and gun positions during the first months of combat. In common with all B-26 Marauder units of the Eighth Air Force, the 386th was transferred to Ninth Air Force on 16 October 1943.

Tactical operations were carried out against V-weapon sites along the coast of France in the winter of 1943–1944, and bombed airfields in the Netherlands and Belgium during Big Week, 20–25 February 1944.

Great Dunmow was the first airfield visited by General Eisenhower in his USAAF airfield tour on Tuesday, 11 April 1944, and he arrived in time to see thirty-nine Ninth Air Force Marauders take off at twenty second intervals for a mission to attack the marshalling yards in Charleroi Belgium.

The 386th hammered gun positions, and airfields preceding the invasion of Normandy and made numerous assaults on bridges of the Seinelate in May. Struck coastal batteries on D-Day and hit bridges, supply and fuel stores, gun positions, and defended areas during the remainder of the Battle of Normandy. Supported Allied forces at Caen, and participated in the massive blows against the enemy at Saint-Lô on 25 July 1944. Knocked out targets to help clear the Falaise pocket of German forces in August 1944 and hit strong points at Brest during September.

In July 1944, the 553d Bomb Squadron was selected to perform operational testing on the new Douglas A-26 Invader. A special squadron of A-26s was attached to the 386th Bombardment Group by order of "Special Operations Order 205, Project 3AF JY Class TM 0725", which created the "A-26 Combat Evaluation Project Squadron" - or simply, Project Squadron to the crews. This squadron conducted 8 combat missions with the 386th between the dates of 6 Sep 1944 and 19 Sep 1944. Having successfully completed their evaluation assignment the Project Squadron was detached from the 386th and transferred to the 416th Bombardment Group to train their pilots on converting over to the A-26.

On 2 October 1944, the 386th Bomb Group moved to Beaumont-sur-Oise (A-60) Airfield, in Normandy France. On the continent, the 386th BG used the following Advanced Landing Grounds:

A-60 Beaumont-sur-Oise France 2 October 1944
A-92 St Trond Belgium 9 April – July 1945

While the unit was at Beaumont-sur-Oise they were fully converted from the B-26 Marauder to the A-26 Invader. By March, 1945 the 386th Bomb Group was flying Invaders in combat missions and the old B-26s had been retired stateside.

After V-E Day the group returned to the United States, first to Seymour-Johnson AFB, then to Westover AFB where the unit was disbanded and their aircraft was dispersed. The 386th Bomb Group was inactivated on 7 November 1945.

Based primarily on the slightly heavier jackets worn by the military…likely officer…weanies, it also being the one primarily photographed, although less than a handful of times, unpainted (at the following amazing site), I’m going with it being Viking no. 6, launched 11 December (technically, 12 December, at 0004L) 1950.
Mr. Beggs’ website is truly a goldmine:

www.postwarv2.com/viking/sphotos/photos.html

Specifically:

www.postwarv2.com/viking/photos/al_viking_06_photo_set.html
Credit: Beggs Aerospace website (& Art LeBrun - RIP Brother)

Viking no. 5 would be a distant second candidate, it being launched 21 November 1950.
I have no idea of what the launch preparation timeline was for the Viking sounding rockets; however, I doubt that no. 7, launched 7 August 1951, would’ve already been on the launch pedestal January 1951, per the stamped date on the verso.

A wonderful, rare & rich looking photograph. The striking San Andres mountains in the background are an excellent backdrop to many Viking sounding rocket photographs.
This is the first photograph I’ve ever seen of a Viking’s exposed power plant - the Reaction Motors XLR10-RM-2 - or at least some of its components/plumbing, while the rocket was vertical…on the pad.
Finally, I’d really like to know what the cylindrical ribbed engine component is. I initially thought it was the thrust chamber. Nope, the few images/diagrams of this Viking configuration don’t support such, Besides, I think it’s too far forward for it to be that. Darn.

“NUCLEAR PULSE ROCKET”

Although it may be ‘stupid’ and created primarily for marketing purposes, it still looks really cool. I would’ve liked to have seen it in a science fiction movie of the time,

At:

www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/realdesigns3.php

Specifically:

www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/images/realdesigns/...
Both above credit: ATOMIC ROCKETS website

More importantly, there’s now a high-resolution version available!

MOST importantly, the artist has been identified!!

Billy Lee Hensley – A WIN!!!

www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/centennial-co/billy-he...
Credit: Dignity Memorial website

As an aside, as it's currently posted, the 'MARTIN-DENVER' stamp on the verso is upside down. Since this is not of NASA origin, I'd like to think, especially back in 1958, that the Martin Co. employee that stamped it knew what he/she was doing. So, maybe the image is upside down? Klingon Bird-of-Prey 'bias' may have also contributed to perpetuating this possibly wrong orientation. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

“An unmanned probe fires sampling rockets at the Moon's surface to test its structure and composition. Note the antennae for sending data back to Earth. In the background another probe takes off after having made a soft landing on the Moon's surface. (Martin Information Services)”

Thanks to Leo Boudreau, I assume the above to be a quote/extract from “Rocket to the Moon”, 1958, by Erik Bergaust & Seabrook Hull.

Along with Mr. Boudreau’s excellent synopsis:

“The book presents the best information, ideas and assumptions on the conquest of the moon as of 1958. The authors, who were experts on missiles and space flight, tell how the moon would be approached, first with instrumented probes and then with man himself as a payload. Fascinating conjectures, based on the latest scientific findings, show what life on the moon might be like, how men would build a base there, how they would explore the moon, and how they would push on from there to further explorations of outer space.”

All of the above is at Mr. Boudreau’s linked image below!

Lastly, the artist is the truly enigmatic Nick Stanilla…there’s literally NOTHING of/on his life. What little I came across was indirectly in searching on “Stoiko – Cross”, which seems to have been a publishing(?)/writing(?) collaborative comprised of Michael Stoiko and a Mr. Cross. There’s also nil on Mr. Cross and/or the collaboration.
Again, at least Mr. Stanilla came up (indirectly), as having provided his talent to a 1959 Stoiko-written work, co-authored with Donald Cox, entitled “Man . . . in the Universe”.
What appears to be a delightful review of the book, in the “Journal of the Franklin Institute”, 1959, Vol. 268, Issue 2 reads as follows:

“There are many who would like to learn a good bit more concerning the solar system and the universe beyond. In most cases when we look for something like this, it is found wrapped up in such a forbidding array of mathematical symbolism and abstruse figures that discouragement is instantaneous. There should be other books—primers—which forego the formalism of the textbook and try only to be descriptive. Only occasionally will such a book appear. “Man . . . in the Universe” is an excellent example of such a primer.
This is one of the most attractive little books dealing with the solar system with a space travel flavor. The authors are prominent men in their field who have combined skills to produce a most readable and informative book. Each page of text is accompanied by a brilliant picture superbly rendered by an accepted master of the space age art, Nick Stanilla. The combination of text and art is precisely the right mixture for the busy life we lead today. For a true capsule treatment of the solar system and other celestial objects, this book is recommended.”

Above at/from:

af.booksc.eu/book/2112642/a60e3f
Credit: Z-library website

Another excellent collaborative of the three is “SPACEPOWER: What It Means To You”, also from 1958, in which Mr. Stanilla’s wonderfully rich “retro-futuristic” style is fully on display.
A bittersweet partial “WIN” I suppose.

A wonderful depiction of what look like ‘fighter’ spaceplanes rounding the limb of Mars. Patrolling? Setting up for a photon bombing/laser strafing run? In pursuit of Cosmos 9309? Scrambling to intercept an alien intruder? Although, if any of the above, I would’ve expected the USAF roundel to be prominent on the vehicles.

Although the overall popular design of the spacecraft was oft-depicted, I’ve not been able to find this anywhere. It also looks like it might’ve been destined to grace the cover of one of the popular ‘space age’ magazines of the mid/late 1950s - early 1960s, or possibly a sci-fi novel of the time. The precisely marked outline along the periphery of the image, with the fiducial markings, makes me consider – and I’m talking out my ass right now – that this may’ve been the proof photo used for one of the aforementioned.

The verso bears the repeating letters/logo of "EKC". This Eastman Kodak Company backprint technique pre-dates the vintage & coveted "A KODAK PAPER" watermark. which also supports my date range guess.

Finally & thankfully, the artist’s signature is present. So, regardless of what this is, it’s a WIN - Thomas Albin. As a bonus and against the odds, there’s a single reference to him, well written/articulated, at:

www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/thomas-albin-aviation-prin...
Credit: WorthPoint website

Indirectly, the above also supports the date range and raises the possibility that this may have been on behalf of the Martin Company.

And check this out, this shameless SOB has gone apeshit with a bunch of photos I’ve posted and/or linked to in my postings:

www.redbubble.com/i/photographic-print/Spaceplanes-Patrol...

B-29-55-MO 44-86398, Built under license by the Glenn L. Martin Company, Omaha Nebraska. Delivered to USAAF 25 Jul 45. Modified with R-3350-CA-2 fuel injected engines and revised nacelles. Designated YB-29J. Modified to an aerial tanker to test a Boeing developed boom aerial refueling system for the KB-29P program. Designated YKB-29J. Assigned to 3200th Proof Test Group (active 1948-53), Eglin AFB, FL. Accident 24 Sep 51 landing at Farmingdale, NY. Assigned to 3203rd Maintenance & Supply Group, Eglin AFB, FL. Last reported at Olmsted AFB, PA 4 Feb 55.

F-84G-1-RE 51-0767 was used for inflight refueling tests.

Photo Credit's: Unknown to me (Reprint Scan)

Boeing B-29 Super Fortress "Enola Gay"

The Martin P4M Mercator was a maritime reconnaissance aircraft built by the Glenn L. Martin Company. The Mercator was an unsuccessful contender for a United States Navy requirement for a long-range maritime patrol bomber, with the Lockheed P2V Neptune chosen instead. It saw a limited life as a long-range electronic reconnaissance aircraft. Its most unusual feature was that it was powered by a combination of piston engines and turbojets, the latter being in the rear of the engine nacelles.

The US Navy chose the smaller, simpler, cheaper and better performing P2V Neptune for the maritime patrol requirement, but nineteen aircraft were ordered in 1947 for high-speed minelaying purposes. The P4M entered service with Patrol Squadron 21 (VP-21) in 1950, the squadron deploying to Port Lyautey (now Kenitra) in French Morocco. It remained in use with VP-21 until February 1953.

From 1951, the 18 surviving production P4Ms were modified for the electronic reconnaissance (or SIGINT, for signals intelligence) mission as the P4M-1Q, to replace the PB4Y-2 Privateer. The crew was increased to 14 and later 16 to operate all the surveillance gear, and the aircraft was fitted with a large number of different antennas.

Starting in October 1951, electronic surveillance missions were flown from U.S. Naval Station Sangley Point in the Philippines (and, later from the Naval Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and later Naval Air Station Atsugi, Japan, by a secretive unit that eventually gained the designation first as Electronic Countermeasures Squadron ONE, later as Fleet Air Reconnaissance Squadron ONE (VQ-1). Long missions were flown along the coast (about 30 NM off shore) of Viet Nam, China, North Korea and the eastern Soviet Union, and were of a highly secret nature; the aircraft some times masqueraded as regular P2V Neptunes in radio communications, and often flew with false serial numbers (Bureau Numbers) painted under the tail. Operational missions were always flown at night, during the dark of the moon when possible, and with no external running lights.

One Mercator was shot down near Shanghai by Chinese fighters on 22 August 1956, with its crew of 16 all killed. Another P4M-1Q was attacked by two North Korean MiG-17s on 16 June 1959 with heavy damage and serious injury to the tail gunner. The aircraft were also operated out of Morocco by VQ-2, where one aircraft was intercepted near Ukrainian airspace by Soviet MiG's. It was shot down by the MIGs and crashed into Mediterranean Sea with the loss of all crew. Another, on 6 February 1952, ditched north of Cyprus at night, out of fuel, no power, losing only the Aircraft Commander/pilot after they were in the water (See United States Naval Institute, Naval History, March/April 1997). The crew was rescued by HMS Chevron. One P4M-1Q of JQ-3 crashed at Ocean View, Virginia, on 6 January 1958, when it lost an engine on approach to NAS Norfolk, Virginia, killing four crew and injuring three civilians.

The Mercators were replaced by the EA-3B Skywarrior, which being carrier-based had a greater degree of flexibility and the larger Lockheed WV-2Q Warning Star. Final withdrawal from service was in 1960, and all of the remaining P4Ms were scrapped. (wiki)

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