THE TRUCULENT TURTLE CREW - AUTOGRAPHED SIGNED PHOTOGRAPH CO-SIGNED BY: COMMANDER E. P. RANKIN, COMMANDER THOMAS D. DAVIES - HFSID 257175
FLIGHT OF THE TRUCULENT TURTLE: THOMAS D. DAVIES and E. P. RANKIN. Photograph signed: "Tom Davies" and "E. P. Rankin". B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, image 5x7 (one surface).
Sale Price $374.00
Reg. $440.00
FLIGHT OF THE TRUCULENT TURTLE: THOMAS D. DAVIES and E. P. RANKIN. Photograph signed: "Tom Davies" and "E. P. Rankin". B/w, 7¾x9¾ overall, image 5x7 (one surface). In 1946, the US Navy's first P2V-1 Neptune, an anti-submarine and sea surveillance aircraft, set a long-lasting record for the longest nonstop, non-refueled flight. On September 29, the aircraft, laden with extra fuel tanks and stripped of combat gear and other nonessentials (such as cabin heaters), took off from Perth, Australia, bound for Washington, D.C. It carried five passengers, Commander THOMAS DAVIES (the pilot), Commander E. P. RANKIN (the co-pilot), Cdr. W. S. Reid and Lt. Cdr R. A. Tubeling (for navigation, radio, and pilot relief), and a nine-month old gray kangaroo (a gift from Australia to Washington's zoo). Forced by winter weather to consume extra fuel, the Turtle landed on October 1 at Columbus, Ohio, short of its intended destination. Nevertheless, it had set an impressive distance record of 11,236.6 miles in 55 hours, 18 minutes. This feat bested the previous non-refueled, nonstop distance mark by nearly 4,000 miles. This record stood for 16 years, until broken by a B-52 bomber of the Strategic Air Command in 1962. It remains the record for a piston engine aircraft. The Truculent Turtle can be seen today at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Florida. Light corner creases. Fine condition.
Following offer submission users will be contacted at their account email address within 48 hours. Our response will be to accept your offer, decline your offer or send you a final counteroffer. All offers can be viewed from within the "Document Offers" area of your HistoryForSale account. Please review the Make Offer Terms prior to making an offer.
If you have not received an offer acceptance or counter-offer email within 24-hours please check your spam/junk email folder.