Unconditional Surrender

The sculpture Unconditional Surrender sculpted by Seward Johnson is a recreation of Victor Jorgensen's photograph Kissing the War Goodbye similar to a more popular photograph by Alfred Eisenstaedt's V-J Day in Times Square. It is located in San Diego, California at G Street Mole Park in the Port of San Diego (also known as Tuna Harbor Park) right next to the Midway Aircraft Museum and is the second. A temporary styrofoam was installed in 2007, in May of 2012 when it was sent back to New Jersey for restoration. In March 2012, the San Diego Unified Port District voted to purchase a bronze replacement for the loaner. The first Unconditional Surrender was installed in Sarasota, Florida 2005, at its bay front. An automobile crash occurred on April 26, 2012 during which the Sarasota copy of the statue was struck and was damaged, this led to the statue being taken down by the city.

This was taken from the elevator on the USS Midway.

This is a F-14 Tomcat located on the USS Midway. It is the same type of plane used in the movie Top Gun.

Pacific Coast Dream Machines Aircraft

I went to the Pacific Coast Dream Machines in Half Moon Bay. The first image is the Super Tug in HDR owned by Bill Newman. I love the dog wearing doggles.

The second image is a plane that was taking people for rides and included a pilot dressed in period clothing, I tried to get his attention so he could be included in the shot. I wish I would have been more patient. I decided to distress the image and make it look like an image that had been around for a while.

The helicopter below was used to retrieve the wreckage from Low Speed Chase a boat that recently crashed into the rocks on the Farallon Islands. The crash killed one, four are missing and presumed dead and three were rescued. For more about the accident go to this link, for more about the salvage check out this link and to see the helicopter in action watch this video.

The image below is a C-47B called Betsy’s Biscuit Bomber in HDR.

The image below is a P-51D Mustang called the Red Dog XII in HDR.

Although I did not get a shot of Eddie Andreini's plane I love his video make sure you check it out! I also have another post from the Pacific Coast Dream Machines Show the post is called Pacific Coast Dream Machines Unimotorcycle Racing it is an interesting look at one wheeled motorcycle racing. There another post called Pacific Coast Dream Machines Automobiles. 

Plane Sight HDR

For years I have seen these planes when I was on bart, but I could not figure out where the were. I was doing research for a different photo when I looked up and there they were. Right on top of a self storage. A project was in the works. I just wish I would have had a chance to shoot the yellow bi plane that was on top of the Brenden Theater in Concord. I have always woundered why they took it down and what they did with it?

Fleet Week 2011 Air Show

Patriots Jet Team

USMC MV-22 Osprey

Giving the Coast Gaurd hell.

A California Brown Pelican getting in on the action.

The Royal Canadian Air Force Snowbirds flying team.

The United Boeing 747.

In the top photograph the Navy F-18 Super Hornet just about to break the sound barrier. It was amazing to watch the halo as the plane flew accrossed the sky. I had no idea a halo would appear if a plane came close to the sound barrier. Up to now I have only heard the sound barrier broken. Here is a video from You Tube that shows what it looked like.

Sean D. Tucker flying the Oracle Challenger III Bi Plane. The still photos don't do it justice here is a video from You Tube.

The United States Marine Corps C-130T Hercules also known as "Fat Albert".

The Blue Angels saying hello.

The Blue Angels saying good bye. I was so diappointed I came to see the Blue Angels. They didn't do the show because of the fog, you can see how much the conditions changed in the photograph below. Better safe than sorry we don't want a repeat of the Reno Air Show. I also wanted to see the B2 Bomber it only flew on Saturday.

Also see the photographs of the sights from this trip to San Francisco.