Aero Vintage Books

I just added four photos to my Paul Mantz Photo Gallery #3 at https://www.aerovintage.com/tallmantz-a ... gallery-3/

These photos appear to have been taken at Orange County in the mid-to-late 1950s. They were provided courtesy of aviation artist Ron Cole who posted them to his Facebook page a while ago. He has no details on these photos either.

Here is one of the photos that I have identified as an Eberhardt SE-5E, possibly NC4488 in pre-restoration condition.


And these appear to be three Curtiss JN-4 Jennies:


I've done some research, gotten some help from film historian Bruce Orriss, and requested the FAA file on N4488 to see if I can identify any further details. If anyone has anything to offer, I'd like to hear it.

The other two photos show engines in storage at Orange County Airport.

Do not believe those are Jennies - possibly studio mock-ups for John Waynes The Wings of Chickens (1957)

Yes, as I explained on the item in the photo gallery, the starring aircraft was a modified Standard J-1. Bruce Orriss thinks the Jennies might have been used as backdrop aircraft. That second photo is interesting and bears further study.

I think those three are Jennies based on the rigging on the outboard of each wing above the outboard struts. The wing struts and also how they mount to the area around the cockpit suggest Jenny. Interesting that two of the fuselage numbers match in both photos. However, the "U.S. Navy" markings forward of the fuselage numbers in the storage area don't match the film screenshot.

Interesting screen shot from the film...thanks for posting it, Dave.

aerovin2 wrote: ↑Thu May 04, 2023 7:40 pm I think those three are Jennies based on the rigging on the outboard of each wing above the outboard struts. The wing struts and also how they mount to the area around the cockpit suggest Jenny. Interesting that two of the fuselage numbers match in both photos. However, the "U.S. Navy" markings forward of the fuselage numbers in the storage area don't match the film screenshot.

Makes you wonder if the storage photo was before the movie was shot and the location of US Navy moved to the tail during production.

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Screen grabs of "Wings of Eagles" (1957)
...The pool crash sequence......(Related to terveurn's first photo)
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The Standard J-1 stunts in "Wings of Eagles" (1957) --youtube video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pv9BNE_8MU
Let's Buzz My Crew! | The Wings of Eagles | Warner Archive


Previous aerovin posts re: "Wings of Eagles" (1957)

https://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewt ... f=4&t=4684
..."Hey !...there's my crew...let's buzz 'em"...

https://www.aerovintage.com/forum/viewt ... f=4&t=4677
..."Hey !...did you ever fly through a hangar ?"...
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Hmm. One more screen grab: nice 1920 atmosphere, except for the '56 Chevy in the background