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Caught Our Eyes: Crash Landing

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While browsing through the Prints & Photographs Online Catalog, the perfect timing and composition of this shot caught my eye. Seeing the final moment before the plane completes its flip and collides with the deck, I want to reach out and stop the accident from happening.

Douglas SBD "Dauntless" dive bomber balanced on nose after crash landing on carrier flight deck, June 21, 1943. Photo by U.S. Navy. hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a45218
Douglas SBD “Dauntless” dive bomber balanced on nose after crash landing on carrier flight deck. Photo by U.S. Navy, 1943 June 21. hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/cph.3a45218

Luckily, the caption on the back of the photo assures the viewer that both the pilot and gunner were not hurt in the resulting crash.

The Douglas A-24 (Dauntless) light dive bomber. Photo by Office of War Information, 1942 or 1943. hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8b09815
The Douglas A-24 (Dauntless) light dive bomber. Photo by Office of War Information, 1942 or 1943. hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/fsa.8b09815

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Comments (2)

  1. THANK YOU LIBRARY OF CONGRESS for these daily glimpses into your riches!! Moving was a part of life for many years – in a new community I found my church and got a library card. Now THE LIBRARY comes to me each day! Carla, we are so proud of you! MTK from Baltimore!

  2. I am new to the Library and dare I say: What a treat to have such clear and organized collections. I have trouble with the imagination replaying the impact because it haunts me to think I am powerless to do anything; except watch. I want to see something different and most of all want to help. I feel like nothing in the world would matter if that were me with a cross tell and no help. There is always a way out because I am forced to believe the accident ended in none injured. He had a tail gunner bring up the rear, if not for history sake, at least as a comforting memory. Thank you for The Smithsonian Experience. One day I would love to see it with my kids. Clearly, they would have a great time, if I could make it happen. For now, I survive on hope. Faith is a gamble these days when flying alone.

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