Hupple’s Cat
@hupplescat.bsky.social
My better angels want crew-served weapons.
I write about USMC 1866-1917
“The Marines Have Landed At Nantucket…” Marine Corps Gazette, May 2025
History blog: https://islandjohnny65.blogspot.com
I write about USMC 1866-1917
“The Marines Have Landed At Nantucket…” Marine Corps Gazette, May 2025
History blog: https://islandjohnny65.blogspot.com
Here's the really nutty one.
FLEXDECK
A rubber, inflatable(?) deck surface that allowed planes without propellers to dispense with the weight of landing gear.
The U.S. Navy tried the practice out using F9F Panthers IIRC.
FLEXDECK
A rubber, inflatable(?) deck surface that allowed planes without propellers to dispense with the weight of landing gear.
The U.S. Navy tried the practice out using F9F Panthers IIRC.
November 28, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Here's the really nutty one.
FLEXDECK
A rubber, inflatable(?) deck surface that allowed planes without propellers to dispense with the weight of landing gear.
The U.S. Navy tried the practice out using F9F Panthers IIRC.
FLEXDECK
A rubber, inflatable(?) deck surface that allowed planes without propellers to dispense with the weight of landing gear.
The U.S. Navy tried the practice out using F9F Panthers IIRC.
Vampires with webbed toes...
November 28, 2025 at 10:43 PM
Vampires with webbed toes...
It's amazing how little modification was required to prepare first generation jets like the F-80 and Vampire for sea duty.
November 28, 2025 at 10:27 PM
It's amazing how little modification was required to prepare first generation jets like the F-80 and Vampire for sea duty.
November 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
Revisiting the campaign on Samar in the fall/winter of 1901 for recreational purposes.
Orders issued, and their execution, eventually resulted in courts martial, conviction, and dismissal for a general officer.
Orders issued, and their execution, eventually resulted in courts martial, conviction, and dismissal for a general officer.
November 28, 2025 at 7:13 PM
Revisiting the campaign on Samar in the fall/winter of 1901 for recreational purposes.
Orders issued, and their execution, eventually resulted in courts martial, conviction, and dismissal for a general officer.
Orders issued, and their execution, eventually resulted in courts martial, conviction, and dismissal for a general officer.
Not the only Douglas design to test out floats…
November 28, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Not the only Douglas design to test out floats…
Working on something involving USS MISSOURI (1903).
Here's the ship's Marine Detachment from the era.
Here's the ship's Marine Detachment from the era.
November 28, 2025 at 2:19 AM
Working on something involving USS MISSOURI (1903).
Here's the ship's Marine Detachment from the era.
Here's the ship's Marine Detachment from the era.
I’m grateful for all the smart, funny, thoughtful, and patient people here.
Take care of one another, better days ahead.
Take care of one another, better days ahead.
November 27, 2025 at 3:31 PM
I’m grateful for all the smart, funny, thoughtful, and patient people here.
Take care of one another, better days ahead.
Take care of one another, better days ahead.
Henry J asked me to post this, to give you a moment of peace and comfort, heading into the holiday-scape.
Be well.
Be well.
November 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Henry J asked me to post this, to give you a moment of peace and comfort, heading into the holiday-scape.
Be well.
Be well.
I know this shot is taken on takeoff, but the pilot seemed pretty comfortable pulling up the u/c immediately...
November 25, 2025 at 11:02 PM
I know this shot is taken on takeoff, but the pilot seemed pretty comfortable pulling up the u/c immediately...
November 25, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Pretty cool…
“Canberra T.4 WJ874 in 2005, it had been painted in 1999 to represent the first prototype VN799, first flown in 1949”
“Canberra T.4 WJ874 in 2005, it had been painted in 1999 to represent the first prototype VN799, first flown in 1949”
November 24, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Pretty cool…
“Canberra T.4 WJ874 in 2005, it had been painted in 1999 to represent the first prototype VN799, first flown in 1949”
“Canberra T.4 WJ874 in 2005, it had been painted in 1999 to represent the first prototype VN799, first flown in 1949”
I don’t know what shade of grey (?) English Electric painted the prototype, but if it was PRU blue it must have been stunning. ca. 1949.
November 24, 2025 at 7:19 PM
I don’t know what shade of grey (?) English Electric painted the prototype, but if it was PRU blue it must have been stunning. ca. 1949.
If you look closely, you can sense where the tricolor RAF roundel on the upper starboard was painted over.
November 24, 2025 at 7:05 PM
If you look closely, you can sense where the tricolor RAF roundel on the upper starboard was painted over.
Celebrating #MartinMondy today with one of the prettiest early jets built, courtesy of English Electric.
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Celebrating #MartinMondy today with one of the prettiest early jets built, courtesy of English Electric.
Top-tier renewable energy source.
Best foot warmer available today.
Best foot warmer available today.
November 24, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Top-tier renewable energy source.
Best foot warmer available today.
Best foot warmer available today.
Four weeks until the Winter Solstice.
We take the sunshine when, and where we can get it.
Tante Sif on the couch.
We take the sunshine when, and where we can get it.
Tante Sif on the couch.
November 23, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Four weeks until the Winter Solstice.
We take the sunshine when, and where we can get it.
Tante Sif on the couch.
We take the sunshine when, and where we can get it.
Tante Sif on the couch.
Hadn't seen this shot before. The spinner looks different from most of the pictures on the ground.
Graceful beauty.
Graceful beauty.
November 23, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Hadn't seen this shot before. The spinner looks different from most of the pictures on the ground.
Graceful beauty.
Graceful beauty.
Celebrating the genius of RJ Mitchell, who was only 42-years old when he passed away.
#SupermarineSunday
#SupermarineSunday
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Celebrating the genius of RJ Mitchell, who was only 42-years old when he passed away.
#SupermarineSunday
#SupermarineSunday
Reading Marine autobiographies from the first part of the last century is kinda like playing “name-drop bingo”.
From Vandergrift’s book, mention of Henry Leonard.
From Vandergrift’s book, mention of Henry Leonard.
November 22, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Reading Marine autobiographies from the first part of the last century is kinda like playing “name-drop bingo”.
From Vandergrift’s book, mention of Henry Leonard.
From Vandergrift’s book, mention of Henry Leonard.
Read this recently in Vandergrift’s autobiography:
November 22, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Read this recently in Vandergrift’s autobiography:
I saw someone mention the Sabre and MiG-15, so on #SabreSaturday, I thought of this interesting MiG-17 from the late 60s.
November 22, 2025 at 6:19 PM
I saw someone mention the Sabre and MiG-15, so on #SabreSaturday, I thought of this interesting MiG-17 from the late 60s.
A totally random shot for #SabreSaturday.
November 22, 2025 at 1:58 PM
A totally random shot for #SabreSaturday.
I nominate General Jack D. Ripper, err, John Hamilton, err, Sterling Hayden for a retrospective showcase…
November 21, 2025 at 6:36 PM
I nominate General Jack D. Ripper, err, John Hamilton, err, Sterling Hayden for a retrospective showcase…