Retrieving gliders from the open countryside was not easy, especially after an operation like the Normandy landings when all the roads would have been clogged with military traffic. A good method was to snatch them out on the end of a Dakota. The pickup hook on the Dak engaged a 'goalpost' in a similar manner to that used earlier by army co-operation aircraft.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Douglas DC-3 / C-47 Skytrain/С-53 Skytrooper / Dakota - СШАUSA - 1935

Short Sturgeon TS482 was a target-tug at Ford photographed in the early 1950s. Note the drogue operator's small cupola above the roundel.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Short SA.1 Sturgeon - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1946

Overstrand K4546 at, presumably, an Empire Air Day at Bicester. The aircraft is W of No.101 Squadron. These 'open days' were held in May so the visitors are well-clad against the elements.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Boulton Paul Overstrand / P.75 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1933

Audax K7361 of No.6 Flying Training School taxied on to soft ground and tipped up at Little Rissington on 14 January 1939. It was righted and repaired in the station workshops. K7361 was wrecked in an accident on 21 November 1939.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Hawker Audax - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1931

Vought OS2U-2 221 is recovered after apparently overshooting into a sand pile at San Pedro NAS. This Kingfisher appears to be the station hack and is relatively undamaged.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vought OS2U Kingfisher - СШАUSA - 1938

Anson K206 of the Royal Egyptian Air Force, probably visiting Abu Sueir. Three were delivered at the end of 1939 for twin-engined training of crews intended for Blenheims which never arrived. They were flown by No.3 Squadron.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Avro Anson / Type 652 - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1935

Valentia K3612 of No.216 Squadron over the Nile delta where the desert changes to cultivated land. K3612 carried the pre-war code of VT-B and was camouflaged after the Munich crisis

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Vickers Valentia - ВеликобританияUnited Kingdom - 1934

One of a variety of types recovered by the French during the liberation, this Caudron C-245 Luciole was impressed into the Forces Francaises de I'Atlantique in 1944 which were engaged in reducing German pockets along the Biscay coast.
A Caudron C-245, the civilian Luciole, in the colours of the Free French Air Force in 1944. It was presumably recovered after the invasion of Southern France in August 1944 and impressed. It was attached to the Forces Francaises de I'Atlantique penning in German garrisons along the Biscay coast.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Caudron C.230 / C.270 / Luciole - ФранцияFrance - 1930

Curtiss N2C-1 A8025 at Great Lakes NAS Illinois. It belonged to VN-10, a Naval Reserve training unit and was one of only 31 built with Wright Whirlwind engines, thus differing from their civilian equivalents, the Fledgling with a Curtiss Challenger. Twenty more were later built as N2C-2s. Some survivors were converted to radio-controlled targets.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Curtiss N2C / Fledgling - СШАUSA - 1928

Как и на других самолетах с размещением двигателя в хвостовой части фюзеляжа, на Piaggio P.119 для привода воздушного винта установили удлиненный вал.
The Airacobra was not the only fighter to sandwich the pilot between the engine and the propeller. The Piaggio P.119 also had this layout. Although planned in 1938, the prototype did not fly until 19 December 1942 with a Piaggio P.XV engine. With a top speed of 358 mph and an armament of one 20 mm cannon and four 12.7 mm machine guns, the design was promising but all work ended with the fall of Mussolini.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Piaggio P.119 - ИталияItaly - 1942

The three Fokker four-motors at Prestwick, still with their civil registrations. Used by No.1 AONS for navigation training, G-AFZR in the foreground was the F.XXXVI and was to become HM161. The two F.XXIIs in the background, G-AFXR and G-AFZP became HM159 and HM160 respectively in October 1941.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Fokker F.XXXVI / F.XXII - НидерландыNetherlands - 1934

Martin PM-2 14-P-8 of VP-14, presumably at Norfolk, Va. No serial is visible on the original.

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: Naval Aircraft Factory PN - СШАUSA - 1922