Thanos Massias
@massiasthanos.bsky.social
I post things that I find interesting, while referencing sources and providing context.
🧵 Question: Why does this bulldozer carry a stack of tires?
You can often spot such a bulldozer roaming the beach during USMC amphibious operations.
Answer in the next post.
🎞️ digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/coll...
You can often spot such a bulldozer roaming the beach during USMC amphibious operations.
Answer in the next post.
🎞️ digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/coll...
December 8, 2025 at 1:37 PM
🧵 Question: Why does this bulldozer carry a stack of tires?
You can often spot such a bulldozer roaming the beach during USMC amphibious operations.
Answer in the next post.
🎞️ digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/coll...
You can often spot such a bulldozer roaming the beach during USMC amphibious operations.
Answer in the next post.
🎞️ digital.tcl.sc.edu/digital/coll...
🧵 Maintenance of Invaders.
"Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26C Invader (s/n 44-35651; c/n 28930) getting its wing attended to by a maintenance man standing on a jeep."
The "jeep" actually appears to be a Clarktor 6 aircraft towing tractor.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/176888908
"Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26C Invader (s/n 44-35651; c/n 28930) getting its wing attended to by a maintenance man standing on a jeep."
The "jeep" actually appears to be a Clarktor 6 aircraft towing tractor.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/176888908
December 8, 2025 at 10:52 AM
🧵 Maintenance of Invaders.
"Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26C Invader (s/n 44-35651; c/n 28930) getting its wing attended to by a maintenance man standing on a jeep."
The "jeep" actually appears to be a Clarktor 6 aircraft towing tractor.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/176888908
"Three-quarter left rear view of a Douglas RB-26C Invader (s/n 44-35651; c/n 28930) getting its wing attended to by a maintenance man standing on a jeep."
The "jeep" actually appears to be a Clarktor 6 aircraft towing tractor.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/176888908
"Sgt. Ben A. Robertson, Henderson, Texas, from his perch astride the propeller of this Fifth Air Force RB-26 light bomber of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, waves a greeting to an anti-aircraft unit on the way to …" 1951
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542365
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542365
December 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM
"Sgt. Ben A. Robertson, Henderson, Texas, from his perch astride the propeller of this Fifth Air Force RB-26 light bomber of the 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing, waves a greeting to an anti-aircraft unit on the way to …" 1951
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542365
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542365
"This U.S. Air Force B-29 gunner coming through the 35-foot tunnel connecting forward and rear pressurized compartments on his "Superfort" is A/2C James J. Prater, Beaver Creek Drive, Powell, Tenn. Wearing a parachute and "Mae West: life preserver adds to …" 1953
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542362
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542362
December 8, 2025 at 9:44 AM
"This U.S. Air Force B-29 gunner coming through the 35-foot tunnel connecting forward and rear pressurized compartments on his "Superfort" is A/2C James J. Prater, Beaver Creek Drive, Powell, Tenn. Wearing a parachute and "Mae West: life preserver adds to …" 1953
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542362
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542362
These gravestones belonged to members of the Perry Expedition. Commodore Matthew Perry (brother of Oliver Hazard Perry) had established this cemetery for foreigners in the Tomari area of Okinawa almost a century ago.
"Marines Mopping Up South of Naha" 1945
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320390...
"Marines Mopping Up South of Naha" 1945
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320390...
December 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
These gravestones belonged to members of the Perry Expedition. Commodore Matthew Perry (brother of Oliver Hazard Perry) had established this cemetery for foreigners in the Tomari area of Okinawa almost a century ago.
"Marines Mopping Up South of Naha" 1945
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320390...
"Marines Mopping Up South of Naha" 1945
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320390...
🧵 Vertical foregrips.
A BAR with an improvised vertical foregrip.
"Invasion of Aguni"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542319876...
A BAR with an improvised vertical foregrip.
"Invasion of Aguni"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542319876...
December 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
🧵 Vertical foregrips.
A BAR with an improvised vertical foregrip.
"Invasion of Aguni"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542319876...
A BAR with an improvised vertical foregrip.
"Invasion of Aguni"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542319876...
"PAN of bulldozer moving along beach. Wrecked Jap tanker is seen just off shore in BG." Circa 1945.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320218...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320218...
December 5, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"PAN of bulldozer moving along beach. Wrecked Jap tanker is seen just off shore in BG." Circa 1945.
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320218...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542320218...
"A series of low alt. shot over Pisa, see leaning tower."
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/165042779...
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/165042779...
December 5, 2025 at 9:54 AM
"A series of low alt. shot over Pisa, see leaning tower."
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/165042779...
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/165042779...
🧵 Aircraft with BOMARC noses.
A modified B-57B (S/N 52-1497) with a 17-foot nose section of a Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC ground-to-air missile spliced on. It was used during the development of the guidance system for the BOMARC long-range, surface-to-air missile.
📷 nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Pho...
A modified B-57B (S/N 52-1497) with a 17-foot nose section of a Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC ground-to-air missile spliced on. It was used during the development of the guidance system for the BOMARC long-range, surface-to-air missile.
📷 nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Pho...
December 4, 2025 at 7:44 PM
🧵 Aircraft with BOMARC noses.
A modified B-57B (S/N 52-1497) with a 17-foot nose section of a Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC ground-to-air missile spliced on. It was used during the development of the guidance system for the BOMARC long-range, surface-to-air missile.
📷 nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Pho...
A modified B-57B (S/N 52-1497) with a 17-foot nose section of a Boeing CIM-10 BOMARC ground-to-air missile spliced on. It was used during the development of the guidance system for the BOMARC long-range, surface-to-air missile.
📷 nationalmuseum.af.mil/Upcoming/Pho...
Reposted by Thanos Massias
They're not kidding! 😅😂
youtu.be/SNtA1cbIUSA?...
youtu.be/SNtA1cbIUSA?...
HILARIOUS EARLY EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS 84430 HD
YouTube video by PeriscopeFilm
youtu.be
December 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
They're not kidding! 😅😂
youtu.be/SNtA1cbIUSA?...
youtu.be/SNtA1cbIUSA?...
NATO, before the NATO we now know.
"The North African Theater of Operations (NATO) included French Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Italy."
"The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the […] NATOUSA"
🔗📑 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediter...
"The North African Theater of Operations (NATO) included French Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Italy."
"The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the […] NATOUSA"
🔗📑 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediter...
Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 4, 2025 at 1:28 PM
NATO, before the NATO we now know.
"The North African Theater of Operations (NATO) included French Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Italy."
"The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the […] NATOUSA"
🔗📑 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediter...
"The North African Theater of Operations (NATO) included French Africa, Spain, Portugal, and Italy."
"The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the […] NATOUSA"
🔗📑 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mediter...
🧵 A Jeep with an "A" frame tandem hitch tow bar replacing the front bumper.
"Infantrymen of the 30th Division, Stand by the Jeep in the Snow-Covered and Battle-Scarred Town of Thirimont, Belgium" 1945
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280956056...
"Infantrymen of the 30th Division, Stand by the Jeep in the Snow-Covered and Battle-Scarred Town of Thirimont, Belgium" 1945
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280956056...
December 4, 2025 at 11:55 AM
🧵 A Jeep with an "A" frame tandem hitch tow bar replacing the front bumper.
"Infantrymen of the 30th Division, Stand by the Jeep in the Snow-Covered and Battle-Scarred Town of Thirimont, Belgium" 1945
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280956056...
"Infantrymen of the 30th Division, Stand by the Jeep in the Snow-Covered and Battle-Scarred Town of Thirimont, Belgium" 1945
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280956056...
"Six Unarmed Minuteman III Mark 12 Reentry Vehicles Are Shown Approaching Targets Near Kwajalein Atoll in the Western Pacific Ocean"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957199...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957199...
December 4, 2025 at 7:49 AM
"Six Unarmed Minuteman III Mark 12 Reentry Vehicles Are Shown Approaching Targets Near Kwajalein Atoll in the Western Pacific Ocean"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957199...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957199...
"Boeing IM-99 "Bomarc", USAF Area Interceptor Missile, Being Launched at Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex, Florida"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957196...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957196...
December 4, 2025 at 7:48 AM
"Boeing IM-99 "Bomarc", USAF Area Interceptor Missile, Being Launched at Cape Canaveral Missile Test Annex, Florida"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957196...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957196...
"High Angle, 3/4 Front View, of a U.S. Air Force F-4E Phantom With Bombs, En route to a Target in Southeast Asia"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957188...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957188...
December 4, 2025 at 7:44 AM
"High Angle, 3/4 Front View, of a U.S. Air Force F-4E Phantom With Bombs, En route to a Target in Southeast Asia"
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957188...
📷📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/280957188...
Reposted by Thanos Massias
The D.342 was the last transport aircraft produced by the manufacturer Dewoitine.
It had a more modern fuselage than its predecessors, the D.338, as well as a maximum speed of nearly 400 km/h.
It made its maiden flight in 1938 and was operated by "Air France" during the WWII.
It had a more modern fuselage than its predecessors, the D.338, as well as a maximum speed of nearly 400 km/h.
It made its maiden flight in 1938 and was operated by "Air France" during the WWII.
December 3, 2025 at 12:16 PM
The D.342 was the last transport aircraft produced by the manufacturer Dewoitine.
It had a more modern fuselage than its predecessors, the D.338, as well as a maximum speed of nearly 400 km/h.
It made its maiden flight in 1938 and was operated by "Air France" during the WWII.
It had a more modern fuselage than its predecessors, the D.338, as well as a maximum speed of nearly 400 km/h.
It made its maiden flight in 1938 and was operated by "Air France" during the WWII.
December 3, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Reposted by Thanos Massias
The Potez 566 was a three-seater observation aircraft from 1938 based on the Potez 56 civil aircraft. Only three examples of the 566 were ever built.
© British Pathé
© British Pathé
December 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
The Potez 566 was a three-seater observation aircraft from 1938 based on the Potez 56 civil aircraft. Only three examples of the 566 were ever built.
© British Pathé
© British Pathé
🧵 Screencaps from a film from Operation Brassard—the Invasion of Elba in 1944.
This is an LCM(3) Smoker fitted with a smoke generator using chlorosulfuric acid (CSA) and an aircraft engine.
"OPERATION BRASSARD - THE ASSAULT ON ELBA [Allocated Title]"
🎞️📑 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
This is an LCM(3) Smoker fitted with a smoke generator using chlorosulfuric acid (CSA) and an aircraft engine.
"OPERATION BRASSARD - THE ASSAULT ON ELBA [Allocated Title]"
🎞️📑 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
December 3, 2025 at 10:03 AM
🧵 Screencaps from a film from Operation Brassard—the Invasion of Elba in 1944.
This is an LCM(3) Smoker fitted with a smoke generator using chlorosulfuric acid (CSA) and an aircraft engine.
"OPERATION BRASSARD - THE ASSAULT ON ELBA [Allocated Title]"
🎞️📑 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
This is an LCM(3) Smoker fitted with a smoke generator using chlorosulfuric acid (CSA) and an aircraft engine.
"OPERATION BRASSARD - THE ASSAULT ON ELBA [Allocated Title]"
🎞️📑 www.iwm.org.uk/collections/...
An improvised targeting system, using a crosshair drawn (probably with a grease pencil) on the windshield of a UH-1 Huey. Vietnam, 1966
"Helicopter in Flight Firing Rockets, A4B on Bomb Run and Civic Action / PXY-WAR Action and …"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542324272...
"Helicopter in Flight Firing Rockets, A4B on Bomb Run and Civic Action / PXY-WAR Action and …"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542324272...
December 3, 2025 at 9:40 AM
An improvised targeting system, using a crosshair drawn (probably with a grease pencil) on the windshield of a UH-1 Huey. Vietnam, 1966
"Helicopter in Flight Firing Rockets, A4B on Bomb Run and Civic Action / PXY-WAR Action and …"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542324272...
"Helicopter in Flight Firing Rockets, A4B on Bomb Run and Civic Action / PXY-WAR Action and …"
🎞️📑 catalog.archives.gov/id/542324272...
These are excellent reads:
① "Mapping the dark side of the world (part 1): The KH-5 ARGON geodetic satellite."
www.thespacereview.com/article/5104/1
① "Mapping the dark side of the world (part 1): The KH-5 ARGON geodetic satellite."
www.thespacereview.com/article/5104/1
December 1, 2025 at 10:13 AM
These are excellent reads:
① "Mapping the dark side of the world (part 1): The KH-5 ARGON geodetic satellite."
www.thespacereview.com/article/5104/1
① "Mapping the dark side of the world (part 1): The KH-5 ARGON geodetic satellite."
www.thespacereview.com/article/5104/1
Reposted by Thanos Massias
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
Lets talk about…
Humanitarian Daily Rations, and how to get them to people quickly by airdroppping
Lets talk about…
Humanitarian Daily Rations, and how to get them to people quickly by airdroppping
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗗
Lets talk about…
Humanitarian Daily Rations, and how to get them to people quickly by airdroppping
Lets talk about…
Humanitarian Daily Rations, and how to get them to people quickly by airdroppping
Reposted by Thanos Massias
🧵 A Lockheed U-2R in Navy markings.
This aircraft was converted to the EP-X (Electronics Patrol eXperimental) configuration and evaluated by US Navy for the ocean surveillance role during 'Project Highboy'.
The story is here:
🔗 www.twz.com/16936/decade...
📷 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
This aircraft was converted to the EP-X (Electronics Patrol eXperimental) configuration and evaluated by US Navy for the ocean surveillance role during 'Project Highboy'.
The story is here:
🔗 www.twz.com/16936/decade...
📷 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
November 28, 2025 at 12:31 PM
🧵 A Lockheed U-2R in Navy markings.
This aircraft was converted to the EP-X (Electronics Patrol eXperimental) configuration and evaluated by US Navy for the ocean surveillance role during 'Project Highboy'.
The story is here:
🔗 www.twz.com/16936/decade...
📷 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
This aircraft was converted to the EP-X (Electronics Patrol eXperimental) configuration and evaluated by US Navy for the ocean surveillance role during 'Project Highboy'.
The story is here:
🔗 www.twz.com/16936/decade...
📷 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
🧵 TBD-1A was a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator with twin float landing gear added by the Naval Aircraft
Factory.
"(Bureau # 0268) In low-level flight during torpedo drop tests at the Newport Torpedo Station, Rhode Island, 10 October 1941.…"
📷📑 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
Factory.
"(Bureau # 0268) In low-level flight during torpedo drop tests at the Newport Torpedo Station, Rhode Island, 10 October 1941.…"
📷📑 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
November 28, 2025 at 10:38 AM
🧵 TBD-1A was a Douglas TBD-1 Devastator with twin float landing gear added by the Naval Aircraft
Factory.
"(Bureau # 0268) In low-level flight during torpedo drop tests at the Newport Torpedo Station, Rhode Island, 10 October 1941.…"
📷📑 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...
Factory.
"(Bureau # 0268) In low-level flight during torpedo drop tests at the Newport Torpedo Station, Rhode Island, 10 October 1941.…"
📷📑 www.history.navy.mil/content/hist...