airbase

This is the blister gun position on a Consolidated PBY Catalina, identified by its unique shape and in the rear of the image the parasol wing arrangement of the aircraft.

Agreed.

This is the portside (left) blister, looking towards the front of the plane.

Hi, I'm an admin for a group called Goggles, and we'd love to have this added to the group!

PBY-5A (patrol bomber consolidated aircraft co.), October 1941 - January 1945, Hydraulically-actuated, retractable tricycle landing gear for amphibious operation. Introduced tail gun position, replaced bow single gun position with bow "eyeball" turret equipped with twin .30 machine guns (some later units), improved armor, self-sealing fuel tanks. Prior to the PBY-5, PBY 1, 2, 3 & 4's were true Seaplane's, designed & equipped only for water landing's & takeoff's. The name of Catalina I, IA, IB, II, IIA, IIIA, IVA, IVB & VI, was used only by the British Commonwealth, though later adopted by everyone else after the war. USN & USCG Aviation Crews called the PBY's either "Cats" (day) or "Black Cats" (night) for Combat Missions or "Dumbo" for Air-Sea Rescue Missions. USAAC's designation for the PBY was, OA-10, OA-10A, & OA-10B & GST by the Soviets.

Looks like they are rotating the propeller. That is commonly done with radial engines prior to flight. The purpose it to prevent damage to the engine from hydra locking, a condition caused by oil collecting in the lower cylinders. Dave

And then they discovered why all the rods were getting bent and failed. The starter with clutches pretty much cured that problem.

Spectacular

This is an A-20C

It says 'Base Operations' over on the right. Looks like the western US.

Looks like Peterson AFB in Colorado Springs.