Built in very limited numbers, the North American FJ-1 Fury carried out the first jet takeoffs and landings from an American aircraft carrier while at sea. In this view, Fury BuNo 120363 was photographed on the deck of the USS Boxer (CV-21) during March 1948. The fighter is finished in overall Glossy Sea Blue. Operating with VF-5A "Screaming Eagles," it was later assigned to the Naval Air Reserve unit at Oakland, California. The Fury then went to the Reserve unit at Olathe, Kansas, before being struck off charge at NAS Jacksonville. At one time, the post-WWII American military purchased "off the shelf" civilian aircraft but some of these planes were given unique and attractive paint schemes. Such an example was Piper U-11A (previously UO-1) BuNo 149068 Aztec. The military variant of the very popular civilian twin-engine design was utilized as a light transport. As can be seen, the Aztec has been painted in a medium blue with a white fuselage top while the vertical tail carries a sunburst and markings for NAS North Island. The Aztec was photographed at NAS Alameda during July 1974. This Royal Air Force de Havilland Mk. 3 Vampire is in the simplest of paint schemes - just overall sprayed aluminum. However, the twin-boom jet fighter was taking part in a significant flight when photographed at Keflavik, Iceland, during July 1948. VT873 was one of six Vampires from No. 54 Squadron that took part in a transatlantic flight to the USA. Fighting 150 mph headwinds, the Vampires became the first jet fighters to cross the Atlantic. Given the Vampire's limited range, the flight had to planned very carefully. VT873 was flown by W/O Skinner and the six aircraft made it safely back to England after their North American visit. However, on 21 December 1948, VT873 dove into the ground at Frensham and was destroyed. Perhaps of even more interest are the two US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberators wearing post-war markings in the background.
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