V70 wrote in :


To me ithis looks like a composite --- some aircraft really there -
others pasted on a print or merged from a negative.

For instance, it looks like the C-124 and the B-66 both have runway
reflections on their fuselage --- and the F-94 (far left) looks like
it was in different light, and the 'USAF' on the right wing looks
penciled in.

And it is difficult for me to imagine that all the aircraft could (or
would) be massed for a Life photographer.


Thoughts?



I, for one have no doubts about it being legit. and not a composite.
this was back in 1956, and formation flying was an accepted part of the
AF then.
the issue I have is there is no C-130, but then the Herk was fairly new
to the inventory at that time..

as for massing just for the magazine, that also was a time for the
interservice push for funding, and ANY publicity, short of a crash was
catered to.

Remember the XB-70 crash started out as a multi-plane photo-op that went
very bad...