Saturday, August 20, 2016

Retail Warfare

Recently I decided to drive to Tuscaloosa, Alabama, for a bite to eat. Tuscaloosa is famously the home of the University of Alabama, feared and resented throughout the United States for its football program (so I hear), but I was there for a little Greek food.  Lamb, specifically. In the deep south, there aren't many places that sell lamb, but Taziki's Mediterranean Cafe does.  While sitting at an intersection waiting to turn in, though, I happened to see...a jet fighter. And a tank! And a helicopter!

Turns out, near the University Mall (across the street from my destination) is a Veterans Memorial Park, with various pieces of military equipment from different services parked there, including a M60 tank, a Huey, a A-7 Corsair, a Willys jeep, and two pieces of artillery (one land-based, one naval).  I've never been near a tank, so despite a downpour, I happily jumped out of the car with umbrella in hand to go stand and stare at it. According to a plaque, a military hospital once stood on the site, presumably now covered by the mall's footprint.  I took some photos with my phone; click for larger versions.


Speed checked by radar....and strictly enforced. 

The M60.

UH-1 Iroquois, but his friends call him Huey.


A-7 Corsair, formerly of the US Navy but with a Marine's name on it.



A Willys Jeep in Air Force livery.  The downpour is slightly more obvious here.  Considering I was holding an umbrella with one hand, aiming and taking photos with a phone from another, and standing in a rainstorm with strong winds, these came out very well!









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3 comments:

  1. CyberKittenAugust 21, 2016 at 11:51 AM

    What an interesting (and unusual) display! Definitely not something you see everyday... unless you live near there and drive past it on the way to work [grin]. Oh, and I'm a bit surprised that you've never been near a tank - especially with your interest in history/military history.

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  2. StephenAugust 21, 2016 at 2:49 PM

    Truly! I've been aboard numerous ships (USS Alabama, USS Texas, USS Kidd, and the remains of the Civil War USS Cairo) and to a couple of aviation museums, including the Eighth Air Force's museum with B-29s and a Blackbird, but I've never seen a museum with tanks and such. There's several in Florida, though, so if I ever go there I'll try to include one of them.

    (Florida is the only state bordering Alabama I've never been, even though it's the most common state to go to because its beaches on the Panhandle are immediately south of us.)

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  3. CyberKittenAugust 21, 2016 at 3:41 PM

    I used to work in London so have been to the Imperial War Museum a few times. Some VERY impressive displays there. One place I must get around to visiting at some point is the Royal Tank Museum at Bovington now I think of it.... [muses]

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