Time for another clue! Just to keep things moving I'll give you a double dose.
What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. |
A-4 Skyhawk
|
Originally Posted by Hydro Junkie
(Post 12384371)
A-4 Skyhawk
What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. 8. A total of 40 pilots became Aces with the help of this airplane. |
How about the P-39 Airacobra?
|
Originally Posted by Hydro Junkie
(Post 12384389)
How about the P-39 Airacobra?
What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. 8. A total of 40 pilots became Aces with the help of this airplane. 9. This airplane was in production for only about 4 years. |
YAK 9
Sparky |
Originally Posted by elmshoot
(Post 12384653)
YAK 9
Sparky What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. 8. A total of 40 pilots became Aces with the help of this airplane. 9. This airplane was in production for only about 4 years. 10. This airplane was more successful for a country other than the one that originally built it. 11. 90% of all Aces credited to this airplane were from one country. |
Originally Posted by FlyerInOKC
(Post 12384657)
Sorry Sparky it's not the Yak 9, but it is time for another clue. For your effort I'll throw in a second clue as a bonus!
What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. 8. A total of 40 pilots became Aces with the help of this airplane. 9. This airplane was in production for only about 4 years. 10. This airplane was more successful for a country other than the one that originally built it. 11. 90% of all Aces credited to this airplane were from one country. |
Originally Posted by Ernie P.
(Post 12384662)
I suspect the last two clues will generate a correct answer; although clue (8) is still one I can't verify. Good question. Thanks; Ernie P.
What airplane do I describe? 1. The name is quite well known aviation enthusiasts but is probably not easily recognized by the general public.. 2. it is a single seat Warbird. 3. It is a monoplane 4. the airplane was introduced 16 months after its first flight. 5. It was used by the country of origin and 5 others. 6. The airplane in question served in both war time and peace time. 7. The last country to retire this Warbird did so more than 10 years after the first flight. 8. A total of 40 pilots became Aces with the help of this airplane. 9. This airplane was in production for only about 4 years. 10. This airplane was more successful for a country other than the one that originally built it. 11. 90% of all Aces credited to this airplane were from one country. 12. This airplane was built as a naval fighter but the country producing the most Aces with it used the de-navalized version. |
How about the Brewster Buffalo?
That last three clues tell me it has to be that since the Fins were very successful with it against the Russians while the US version was hacked to pieces by the Japanese |
25 Attachment(s)
CONGRATULATIONS! We have a winner!
Brewster F2A BuffaloFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia F2A BuffaloAttachment 2245385Brewster F2A-3 in flight.RoleFighter aircraftNational originUnited StatesManufacturerBrewster Aeronautical CorporationFirst flight2 December 1937IntroductionApril 1939Retired1948 (Finland)StatusRetiredPrimary usersUnited States NavyFinnish Air Force Royal Air Force Royal Australian Air ForceProduced1938–1941Number built509Developed intoVL HumuThe Brewster F2A Buffalo[1] was an American fighter aircraft which saw service early in World War II. Designed and built by the Brewster Aeronautical Corporation, it was one of the first U.S. monoplanes with an arrestor hook and other modifications for aircraft carriers. The Buffalo won a competition against the Grumman F4F Wildcat in 1939 to become the U.S. Navy's first monoplane fighter aircraft. Although superior to the Grumman F3F biplane it replaced and the early F4Fs,[2] the Buffalo was largely obsolete when the United States entered the war, being unstable and overweight, especially when compared to the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.[3]Several nations, including Finland, Belgium, Britain and the Netherlands, ordered the Buffalo. The Finns were the most successful with their Buffalos, flying them in combat against early Soviet fighters with excellent results.[4] During the Continuation War of 1941–1944, the B-239s (a de-navalized F2A-1) operated by the Finnish Air Force proved capable of engaging and destroying most types of Soviet fighter aircraft operating against Finland at that time and achieving in the first phase of that conflict 32 Soviet aircraft shot down for every B-239 lost,[5] and producing 36 Buffalo "aces".[6]In December 1941, Buffalos operated by both British Commonwealth (B-339E) and Dutch (B-339D) air forces in South East Asia suffered severe losses in combat against the Japanese Navy's Mitsubishi A6M Zero and the Japanese Army's Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar". The British attempted to lighten their Buffalos by removing ammunition and fuel and installing lighter guns to improve performance, but it made little difference.[7] After the first few engagements, the Dutch halved the fuel and ammunition load in the wing, which allowed their Buffalos (and their Hurricanes) to stay with the Oscars in turns.[8]The Buffalo was built in three variants for the U.S. Navy: the F2A-1, F2A-2 and F2A-3. (In foreign service, with lower horsepower engines, these types were designated B-239, B-339, and B-339-23 respectively.) The F2A-3 variant saw action with United States Marine Corps (USMC) squadrons at the Battle of Midway. Shown by the experience of Midway to be no match for the Zero,[2] the F2A-3 was derided by USMC pilots as a "flying coffin."[9] However, the F2A-3s performance was substantially inferior[10] to the F2A-2 variant used by the Navy before the outbreak of the war despite detail improvements. ContentsDesign and developmentUnited States NavyIn 1935, the U.S. Navy issued a requirement for a carrier-based fighter intended to replace the Grumman F3F biplane. The Brewster XF2A-1 monoplane, designed by a team led by Dayton T. Brown, was one of two aircraft designs that were initially considered.[11] The XF4F-1 with a double-row radial engine was a "classic" biplane. The U.S. Navy competition was re-opened to allow another competitor, the XFNF-1, a navalized Seversky P-35 eliminated early on when the prototype could not reach more than 267 mph (430 km/h).[12] The XF2A-1 first flew on 2 December 1937 and early test results showed it was far in advance of the Grumman biplane entry. While the XF4F-1 would not enter production, it would later re-emerge as a monoplane, the Wildcat. The Buffalo was manufactured at the Brewster Building in Long Island City, New York.Brewster XF2A-1 prototype [14] [15] Other manufacturers took notice of this 10% increase in speed and efficiency, and wind tunnel tests grew to be standard procedure in the US.[16] With only a single-stage supercharger, high-altitude performance fell off rapidly.[10] Fuselage armament was one fixed .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun with 200 rounds and one fixed .30 in (7.62 mm) AN Browning machine gun with 600 rounds, both in the nose.[N 1] The Navy awarded Brewster Aeronautical Corporation a production contract for 54 aircraft as the F2A-1.Service testing of the XF2A-1 prototype began in January 1938 and in June, production started on the F2A-1. They were powered by the 940 hp (701 kW) Wright R-1820-34 engine and had a larger fin. The added weight of two additional .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning wing guns and other equipment specified by the Navy for combat operations reduced the initial rate of climb to 2,600 ft/min. Plagued by production difficulties, Brewster delivered only 11 F2A-1 aircraft to the Navy; the remainder of the order was later diverted to the Finnish Air Force in modified form under the export designation Model 239. LT John S. Thach tipped this F2A-1 onto its nose on Saratoga, March 1940. F2A-3s serving as U.S. Navy training aircraft at NAS Miami, 1942-1943. Operational historyThe first unit to be equipped with the F2A-1 was Lt. Cdr. Warren Harvey’s VF-3, assigned to USS Saratoga air group. On 8 December 1939, VF-3 received 10 of the 11 Buffalos delivered to the U.S. Navy.[20] The remaining 43 F2A-1s were declared surplus and sold to Finland.[21] Although it was becoming clear the F2A was inferior to the latest German and British fighters—one American observer wrote in late 1940 after visiting Britain that "The best American fighter planes already delivered to the British are used by them either as advanced trainers --or for fighting equally obsolete Italian planes in the Middle East. That is all they are good for"[22]—in the early years of World War II all modern monoplane fighter types were in high demand. Consequently, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands East Indies purchased several hundred export models of the Buffalo.[23]FinlandAttachment 2245389 In April 1939, the Finnish government contacted the Roosevelt administration to acquire modern combat aircraft for its air force as quickly as possible. On 17 October 1939, the Finnish Embassy in Washington, DC, received a telegram clearing the purchase of fighter aircraft. Prompt availability and compatibility with 87-octane fuel were the only requirements stipulated by the Finns.[26] The U.S. Navy and State Department arranged to divert remaining F2A-1 fighter aircraft,[N 3] in exchange for its order of F2A-2 Buffalos scheduled to be delivered later.Consequently, on 16 December, the Finns signed a contract to purchase 44 Model 239 fighters.[26] The total agreed price was U.S. $3.4 million, and the deal included spare parts, ten replacement engines and 20 Hamilton Standard propellers.[26] The Buffalos sent to Finland were de-navalized; all the naval equipment, such as tailhooks and life-raft containers were removed, resulting in a lighter aircraft.[27] The Finnish F2A-1s also lacked self-sealing fuel tanks and cockpit armor.These F2A-1 Buffalos, given the export number Model B-239, were equipped with an export-approved Wright R-1820-G5 nine-cylinder radial engine of 950 hp (708 kW).[27] After their delivery to Finland, the Finnish Air Force added armored backrests, metric flight instruments, the Finnish Väisälä T.h.m.40 gunsight, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. The top speed of the Finnish B-239s, as modified, was 297 mph (478 km/h) at 15,675 ft (4,750 m), and their loaded weight was 5,820 lb (2,640 kg).[11]Finnish company Nokia donated sufficient funds for the FAF to purchase a B-239. In return, the word NOKA was inscribed on BW-355. Operated by No. 24 Squadron, it was destroyed on 24 October 1944.[24] Future ace Paavo Mellin shot down an I-16 and shared in the destruction of a MiG-3 whilst flying this aircraft.[25] [28] Built and shipped in four batches, the Finnish B-239s were shipped to Bergen, in Norway, in January and February 1940 from New York City. The crated fighters were then sent by railway to Sweden and assembled by SAAB at Trollhättan, northeast of Gothenburg.[29]In February 1940, Finnish Air Force pilot Lieutenant Jorma "Joppe" Karhunen flight tested the first B-239.[11] [30] Unfamiliar with the aircraft, he burned out the engine while flying very low at high speed; crashing on a snow-covered field, damaging the propeller and some belly panels.[11] [30] Initially unimpressed, the Finns later witnessed a demonstration by a Brewster test pilot, who was able to stay on the tail of a Finnish Fiat G.50 Freccia [N 4] fighter from Italy; although the Fiat fighter was faster in level flight,[N 5] the Brewster could out-turn it.[31] Of the six Buffalo B-239 fighters delivered to Finland before the end of the Winter War of 1939–1940, five of them became combat-ready, but they did not enter combat before the war ended.The Brewster B-239E fighter aircraft was never referred to as the "Buffalo" in Finland; it was known simply as the "Brewster" or sometimes by the nicknames Taivaan helmi ("Sky Pearl") or Pohjoisten taivaiden helmi ("Pearl of the Northern Skies"). Other nicknames were Pylly-Valtteri, Amerikanrauta ("Butt-Walter" and "American hardware" or "American car", respectively) and Lentävä kaljapullo ("flying beer-bottle").[[i]citation needed] The 44 Buffalo Model B-239 (export) fighters used by the FAF received serial numbers BW-351 to BW-394. Finnish Air Force's Brewster B-239 formation during the Continuation War After Finland signed an armistice with the Soviet Union in September, 1944, they had to drive Finland's former ally, Nazi Germany out of the country during the "Lapland War". The only clash with the Luftwaffe took place on 3 October 1944 when HLeLV 26 intercepted Junkers Ju 87s, claiming two, the last victories to be made by Brewster pilots in World War II.[39] By the end of the war in Lapland, only eight B-239s were left.Five B-239s continued to fly until 1948, with last flights of Brewsters by the Finnish Air Force on 14 September 1948, when they were stored until scrapped in 1953.[40] BelgiumJust before the start of the war, Belgium sought more modern aircraft to expand and modernize its air force. Belgium ordered 40 Brewster B-339 aircraft, a de-navalized F2A-2, fitted with the Wright R-1820-G-105 engine approved for export use. The G-105 engine had a power output of 1,000 hp (745.7 kW) (peak) on takeoff, some 200 hp (149 kW) less than the engine fitted to the U.S. Navy F2A-2. The arrestor hook and liferaft container were removed, and the aircraft was modified with a slightly longer tail. Only one aircraft[41][42] [N 7] reached France by the time Germany launched its Blitzkrieg in the West on 10 May 1940. The Buffalo was later captured intact by the Germans. Six more Belgian Brewsters were offloaded at the French Caribbean island of Martinique and languished on a coastal hillside, never to be flown.[43] The rest of the order went to the RAF. British Commonwealth (Malaya)Attachment 2245391 Facing a shortage of combat aircraft in January 1940, the British government established the British Purchasing Commission to acquire U.S. aircraft that would help supplement domestic production. Among the U.S. fighter aircraft that caught the Commission's attention was the Brewster. The remaining 32 B-339 aircraft ordered by the Belgians, suspended at the fall of France, were passed on to the United Kingdom.[44] Appraisal by Royal Air Force acceptance personnel criticized it on numerous points including inadequate armament and lack of pilot armor, poor high-altitude performance, engine overheating, maintenance issues, and cockpit controls, while it was praised for its handling, roomy cockpit, and visibility.[11] With a top speed of about 323 mph (520 km/h) at 21,000 ft (6,400 m), but with fuel starvation issues over 15,000 ft (4,600 m), it was considered unfit for duty in western Europe.[11] Still desperately in need of fighter aircraft in the Pacific and Asia for British and Commonwealth air forces, the UK ordered an additional 170 aircraft under the type specification B-339E.[45] The aircraft were sent to Royal Australian Air Force, RAF and Royal New Zealand Air Force fighter squadrons in Singapore, Malaya and Burma, shortly before the outbreak of war with Japan.Brewster Buffalo Mk Is being inspected by RAF personnel at RAF Sembawang, Singapore on 12 October 1941. Brewster B-339E (AN196/WP-W) of No. 243 Squadron RAF. This aircraft was flown by Flying Officer Maurice Holder, who flew the first Buffalo sortie in the Malayan Campaign on 8 December 1941, strafing landing barges on the Kelantan River.[46] Damaged by ground fire, it was abandoned at RAF Kota Bharu before its fall to the Japanese.[46] [N 8] The Brewster aircraft delivered to British and Commonwealth air forces were significantly altered from the B-339 type sold to the Belgium and French forces in accordance with their purchase order. The Brewster factory removed the Navy life raft container and arrestor hook, while adding many new items of equipment, including a British Mk III reflector gun sight, a gun camera, a larger fixed pneumatic tire tail wheel, fire extinguisher, engine shutters, a larger battery, and reinforced armor plating and armored glass behind the canopy windshield.[48]The Brewster Model B-339E, as modified and supplied to Great Britain was distinctly inferior in performance to the F2A-2 (Model B-339) from the original order. It had a less powerful (1,000 hp (745.7 kW)) engine compared to the F2A-2's 1,200 hp (895 kW) Cyclone, yet was substantially heavier due to all of the additional modifications (some 900 lb/400 kg). The semi-retractable tail wheel had been exchanged for a larger fixed model, which was also less aerodynamic. Top speed was reduced from 323 mph (520 km/h) to 313 mph (504 km/h) at combat altitudes.[11] Brewster B-339E wrecks cannibalized for parts, probably in Singapore circa late January 1942. Two of the Buffalos, serials W8156 and W8207, were operated by 453 Squadron RAAF.[49] Buffalo Mk I formation over Malaya, late 1941. Buffalos of No. 453 Squadron RAAF lined up at RAF Sembawang in November 1941. Buffalo AN185/TD-V was flown by Flt Lt Doug Vanderfield, who shot down three Japanese bombers (two Ki-48s and one Ki-51) over Butterworth, Penang on 13 December 1941, while his undercarriage was still down.[53] BurmaNo. 67 Squadron RAF was equipped with thirty Buffalos when the Japanese invaded Burma. They were joined by Curtiss P-40 fighters of the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tigers). AVG crews were initially impressed with the Buffalo, some even urging General Claire Chennault to trade a squadron of P-40s for Buffalos.[59] In response, Chennault arranged a mock dogfight between both fighters, with 1st Lieutenant Erik Shilling flying the P-40 and Squadron Leader Jack Brandt flying the Buffalo.[59] Over their training base in Toungoo, the P-40 proved to be superior to the Buffalo.[59] When Shilling and Brandt met again fifty years later, the RAF pilot said, "how I wish I could have swapped my aircraft for yours".[59]The Buffalos and P-40s carried out air defences over Rangoon and Mingaladon as well as strafing missions on Japanese airfields.[60] Like Malaya and Singapore, lack of effective early warning systems greatly hampered British and AVG efforts to defend Burma from air raids.[60] Reports of Japanese aircraft performance from the Malayan Campaign prompted Buffalo pilots in Burma to employ different tactics; according to Flight Sergeant Vic Bargh, "come in from above, or at the same level at the very least, then dive away before they got onto you, because if they did get onto you, well, you were shot down".[61] One of the Buffalo's final victories of the Burma Campaign was claimed by Bargh; he found the wreckage of the bomber and had his picture taken with it as proof.[62]The IJAAF secured air superiority over Rangoon by early February 1942, and with the situation on the ground rapidly deteriorating, No. 67 Squadron withdrew north to Toungoo.[62] On 13 February, the squadron moved further north to Magwe with only eight Buffalos, where they continued to carry out reconnaissance flights as well as escorting Westland Lysanders on ground attack missions.[62] The Buffalo flew its last combat sortie with the RAF on 5 March, escorting Hawker Hurricanes and Bristol Blenheims for an attack on a Japanese airbase in Chiang Mai, Thailand.[62] Only six Buffalos remained when the squadron withdrew to Calcutta, India on 11 March to re-equip with Hurricanes.[63] They were swiftly relegated to training duties, though two were briefly acquired by No. 146 Squadron RAF in early April, one of which was regularly flown by Squadron Leader Count Manfred Czernin.[63] No. 67 Squadron claimed 27 Japanese aircraft destroyed; eight Buffalos were shot down and eight pilots were killed.[63] For their actions, Squadron Leader Jack Brandt and Flight Lieutenant Colin Pinckney were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (the latter posthumously), while Sergeant Gordon Williams received the Distinguished Flying Medal.[63]Netherlands East IndiesThe Militaire Luchtvaart van het Koninklijk Nederlands-Indisch Leger ("Military Air Service of the Royal Netherlands East Indian Army", ML-KNIL) had ordered 144 Brewster B-339C and 339D models, the former with rebuilt Wright G-105 engines supplied by the Dutch and the latter with new 1,200 hp (895 kW) Wright R-1820-40 engines Brewster purchased from Wright. At the outbreak of war[[i]clarification needed], only 71 had arrived in the Dutch East Indies, and not all were in service. A small number served briefly at Singapore before being withdrawn for the defense of Borneo and Java.As the Brewster B-339 aircraft used by the ML-KNIL were lighter than the modified B-339E Brewster Mark Is used by British, Australian, and New Zealand air forces, they were able to successfully engage the Japanese Army Nakajima Ki-43 "Oscar", although both the "Oscar" and the Japanese Navy's A6M Zero still out-climbed the B-339 at combat altitudes (the Zero was faster as well).[64] After the first few engagements, the Dutch halved the fuel and ammo load in the wing, which allowed their Buffalos (and their Hurricanes) to stay with the Oscars in turns.[8] In February 1942 they received new model gunsights. Around the same time the Dutch started to use tracer ammunition as well. These two improved their hit ratio. Still, their lack of heavy machine guns (.50") meant their success rate wasn't as high as it could have been.[8]Apart from their role as fighters, the Brewster fighters were also used as dive bombers against Japanese troopships. Although reinforced by British Commonwealth Brewster Mk I (B-339E) aircraft retreating from Malaya, the Dutch squadrons faced superior numbers in the air, usually odds of one against two or three. Timely early warning from British radar would have countered this deficit, especially in avoiding unnecessary losses from raids on airfields, but the British government had decided too late to send these: the first British radar stations became operational only towards the end of February. Had they been ready two weeks earlier, the outcome of the Japanese invasion here might well have been different (read Boer's book).In a major engagement above Semplak on 19 February 1942, eight Dutch Brewster fighters intercepted a formation of about 35 Japanese bombers with an escort of about 20 Zeros. The Brewster pilots destroyed 11 Japanese aircraft and lost four Brewsters; two Dutch pilots died.[65]Only four airworthy Buffalos remained on 7 March.[55] Capt. Jacob van Helsdingen led this flight on its final sortie that day, and was credited with a Zero before he was killed.[55] This made him and Lt. August Deibel the most successful Dutch pilots on the Buffalo with three victories each.[55] Altogether, 17 ML-KNIL pilots were killed, and 30 aircraft shot down; 15 were destroyed on the ground, and several were lost to misadventure. Dutch pilots claimed 55 enemy aircraft destroyed.[58]USAAF/RAAF in AustraliaFollowing the surrender of the Netherlands East Indies on 8 March 1942, 17 Buffalos belonging to the ML-KNIL were transferred to the U.S. Fifth Air Force in Australia. All of these USAAF aircraft were lent to the RAAF, with which they were used mainly for air defence duties outside frontline areas, photo-reconnaissance and gunnery training.[66] Buffalos served with 1 PRU, 24 Sqn, 25 Sqn, 85 Sqn and the RAAF Gunnery Training School.[66] Between August 1942 and November 1943, 10 of these Buffalos constituted the air defence force for Perth, Western Australia, while assigned to 25 and 85 Sqns at RAAF Pearce and RAAF Guildford. In 1944, all of the surviving aircraft were transferred to the USAAF.[56]U.S. Marine CorpsAttachment 2245397 At Midway Island, United States Marine Corps fighter squadron VMF-221 operated a mixed group of 20 Brewster F2A-3 Buffalos and seven Grumman F4F-3 Wildcats.[67] They were originally assigned to the USS Saratoga as part of a relief force bound for Wake Island, but were diverted to Midway instead after the force was controversially recalled on 22 December 1941. Wake Island fell on the following day.[68] The squadron first saw action on 10 March 1942 when a Kawanishi H8K "Emily" flying boat was shot down by Captain James L. Neefus near Midway, the Buffalo's first kill in U.S. service.[69]F2A-3 of VMF-211 rests in the flight deck gallery walkway after suffering landing gear failure while landing on board USS Long Island, off Palmyra Atoll, 25 July 1942. VMF-211 was the last Marine Corps unit to operate the F2A in a front-line capacity. [70] [71] [72]During the Battle of Midway in 1942, VMF-221 was destined to participate in one of the few aerial combats involving the Buffalo in U.S. military service. The initial Buffalo interception of the first Japanese air raid was led by Major Floyd B. Parks, whose 13-aircraft division did not fly in paired flights of mutually supporting aircraft. After attacking a formation of 30-40 Aichi D3A1 "Val" dive bombers escorted by 36 Zeros, the Marines, flying in two divisions of aircraft, downed several Japanese bombers before the escorting Zeros reacted; a furious dogfight developed. Thirteen out of 20 Buffalos were lost;[73] of the six Wildcats, only two remained flyable at the end of the mission. The losses included the Marine air commander, Major Parks, who bailed out of his burning Buffalo, only to be strafed by Zeros after parachuting into the sea.[67]The Marine pilots who managed to shake off the Zeros used high speed split-s turns or very steep dives.[67] These maneuvers were later found to be the best means to evade pursuit by the highly maneuverable Japanese fighters. One F2A-3 pilot, Marine Captain William Humberd, dove away from his pursuers, then attacked a Zero in a head-on pass, shooting his opponent down.[74] In the battle, some F2A-3s suffered from inoperative guns.[11] The nose-mounted guns' occasional failure to fire was noticed by other users as well; the phenomenon may have been caused by frayed electrical wires in the mechanism that synchronized the nose guns with the propeller. Other Buffalos had not been fitted with plate armor behind the pilot, making them vulnerable to even a single bullet or shell. Losses were aggravated due to the Japanese practice of strafing pilots who had bailed out.[67] Second Lt. Charles S. Hughes, whose Buffalo was forced to retire at the start of the raid due to engine trouble, had a ringside view of the aerial combat:The Zeros came in strafing immediately afterward. I saw two Brewsters trying to fight the Zeros. One was shot down and the other was saved by ground fires covering his tail. Both looked like they were tied to a string while the Zeros made passes at them.[75] Second Lt. Charles M. Kunz reported that after successfully downing two Val bombers, he was attacked by Japanese fighters:I was at an altitude of about 9,000 ft, and shoved over in a dive trying to shake the plane on my tail until I was about 20 feet from the water. I was making radical turns hoping the pilot couldn't get steadied on me. I glanced out of the rear and saw that it was a Zero fighter. I continued flying on a rapid turning course at full throttle when I was hit in the head by a glancing bullet. After he fired a few short burst he left as I had been in a general direction of 205 degrees heading away from the island. My plane was badly shot up... In my opinion the Zero fighter has been far underestimated. I think it is probably one of the finest fighters in the present war. As for the F2A-3, (or Brewster trainer) it should be in Miami as a training plane, rather than used as a first line fighter.[74] Claire Chennault's report on the Zero and air combat reached Washington in 1941, where it was disseminated to aviation forces of the U.S. Army and Navy.[76] This information, along with the development of two-plane mutual defensive formations and tactics, were incorporated into U.S. and Marine Corps air combat training doctrine by some prescient U.S. commanders, including Lieutenant Commander "Jimmy" Thach. The Thach Weave was developed for use by Wildcat pilots against the Zero, and was later adopted by other Wildcat squadrons in the Pacific.[76]With the emergence of new tactics for the F4F-3 and F4F-4 Wildcat (which was superior in all respects to the F2A-3 Buffalo, with the sole exception of maximum range), the Battle of Midway marked the end of the Buffalo in both U.S. Navy and Marine Corps fighting squadrons. Surviving F2A-3 aircraft were hastily transported to the U.S. mainland, where they were used as advanced trainers. The introduction in late 1943 of vastly superior American carrier-borne fighters such as the F6F Hellcat and Vought F4U Corsair soon relegated the Brewster F2A-3 to a distant memory. Buffalo acesThe Finnish Air Force produced 36 Buffalo aces. The top three were Capt. Hans Wind, with 39 Buffalo air victories (out of 75), WO Eino Ilmari Juutilainen, with 34 (out of 94) and Capt. Jorma Karhunen, with 25.5 (out of 31.5). First Lt Lauri V. Nissinen also had victories in the type (22.5 out of 32.5).[6]The non-Finnish Buffalo aces were: Geoff Fisken (RNZAF), with six air victories, and Doug Vanderfield (RAAF) with five individual kills, plus one shared. Alf Clare (RAAF) and Maurice Holder (RAF) had five victories each.[58][77]Only 509 Buffaloes were produced, yet the type produced 40 aces. This may well be the highest ratio of aces per number of aircraft produced, of any production fighter plane. VariantsBrewster Buffalo F2A-2 OperatorsU.S. Navy F2A being rearmed in 1943 Royal Australian Air Force No. 21 Squadron RAAF No. 24 Squadron RAAF No. 25 Squadron RAAF (ex-Dutch)No. 43 Squadron RAAF No. 85 Squadron RAAF (ex-25 Sqn.)No. 453 Squadron RAAF No. 452 Squadron RAAF No. 1 PRU RAAF (ex-Dutch, Photo Reconnaissance Unit)Attachment 2245400 Finland Finnish Air Force No. 24 Squadron (1941–1944)No. 26 Squadron (1944–1945) Captured Dutch Buffalo displayed as a war trophy with Japanese roundels.[78] Militaire Luchtvaart KNIL Vliegtuiggroep IV, 3e Afdeling (3-VLG-IV: 3rd Squadron, IV Group)Vliegtuiggroep V, 1e Afdeling (1-VLG-V)Vliegtuiggroep V, 2e Afdeling (2-VLG-V, helped defend Singapore)Vliegtuiggroep V, 3e Afdeling (3-VLG-V)Attachment 2245404 New Zealand Royal New Zealand Air Force No. 14 Squadron RNZAF No. 488 Squadron RNZAFAttachment 2245405 United Kingdom Royal Air Force No. 60 Squadron RAF No. 67 Squadron RAF (ex-60 Sqn., most pilots were RNZAF)No. 71 Squadron RAF No. 146 Squadron RAF (ex-67 Sqn.)No. 243 Squadron RAF (most pilots were RNZAF)Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm 711 Naval Air Squadron 759 Naval Air Squadron 760 Naval Air Squadron 804 Naval Air Squadron 805 Naval Air Squadron 813 Naval Air Squadron 885 Naval Air SquadronAttachment 2245406 United States United States Army Air Forces 5th Air Force, Australia (ex-Dutch)United States Marine Corps VMF-111, Camp Kearney, Calif. VMF-112, Camp Kearney, Calif. VMD-2 VMF-211, based at Palmyra Atoll VMF-212, MCAS Ewa VMF-213, MCAS Ewa VMF-214, MCAS Ewa VMF-221, used in Battle of Midway VMF-222, MCAS Ewa VMF-224 VMO-251 United States Navy VF-2 VF-3 VF-9 VJ-5 VJ-6 VS-201Training Units at NAS Pensacola and NAS Miami SurvivorsThere is currently one extant complete Finnish B-239 (BW-372), a restored B-239 fuselage mated to wooden wings with a Soviet engine, a rebuilt variant VL-HUMU, and two static replicas- one in ML-KNIL markings and the other in U.S. Navy markings. Finnish B-239 (serial no. BW-372) flown by Lt. Lauri Pekuri was damaged by a Soviet Hawker Hurricane and crashed in 1942 on Lake Big Kolejärvi, about 31 mi (50 km) from Segezha, Russia and was rediscovered in 1998.The aircraft was transported to the National Naval Aviation Museum at NAS Pensacola, Florida, USA on 18 August 2004. In early 2008 the aircraft was sent to the Aviation Museum of Central Finland for the 90th anniversary of the Finnish Air Force.[78]In addition to BW-372, the hood and fin of FAF BW-393 (credited with 41 kills) survive in a Finnish museum; FAF BW-372 is on display at the Keski-Suomen Ilmailumuseo (Aviation Museum of Central Finland).[78]In July 2008, a static full-scale replica B-339C was completed by the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Long Island, New York. The aircraft carries the markings of an ML-KNIL fighter flown by Lt. Gerard Bruggink (two kills). It was built for the Militaire-Luchtvaartmuseum (Military Aviation Museum) at Soesterberg, the Netherlands.[78][79] The Cradle of Aviation Museum houses a static full-scale replica/model F2A-2, carrying the markings of unit "201-S-13" from VS-201, aboard USS Long Island.[80]In June 2012, divers discovered the partial wreckage of a Buffalo in shallow water just off Midway Atoll. The aircraft had been ditched during February 1942, after an aborted landing attempt in bad weather by 1stLt Charles W. Somers, Jr., USMC (later Colonel, USMC Ret).[81] [82] Officials at the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, where the wreckage was found, have not decided whether to recover any of the parts or leave them in place.[83] Specifications (F2A-3)Data from United States Navy Aircraft since 1911[84]General characteristics
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Deleted inadvertent double post.Double post
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Just saw that I guessed it right this time. I'll see if I can come up with something. If I don't have something by Tuesday, it's open floor
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Okay, got one that should go fairly quick.
Again, I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced Good Luck |
What the heck, let's add another clue.
Again, I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two Good Luck |
No guesses yet? Okay, let's try again.
Again, I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two 5) This plane is a twin engine design 6) Even with twin engines, this plane isn't the fastest in it's class, nor is it the slowest Good Luck |
Let's see how about the Grumman F7F Tigercat?
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Nope, not the Tigercat. The F7F was not rejected by the military Seems to me I did do a quiz on that strange bird not too long ago. Anyway, it's time for more clues. If someone doesn't get it soon, I'll run out since this was supposed to go quickly.
Again, I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two 5) This plane is a twin engine design 6) Even with twin engines, this plane isn't the fastest in it's class, nor is it the slowest 7) This plane was rejected(per clue 1) do to what was considered a better, single engine design being chosen instead 8) When this plane was accepted, it was accepted because of two design changes. One of the changes was the substitution of heavier landing gear over the original design 9) Due to this plane's design, it can carry a considerable payload. This can vary by configuration between fuel, ordinance or, in limited cases, small amounts of cargo Good Luck |
Look above Hydro I guessed the Grumman F7F Tigercat.
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I saw that, I also changed my post to reflect that guess. It's also part of the reason I added THREE clues already this morning. Just to be nice, I'll add another one:
Again, I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two 5) This plane is a twin engine design 6) Even with twin engines, this plane isn't the fastest in it's class, nor is it the slowest 7) This plane was rejected(per clue 1) do to what was considered a better, single engine design being chosen instead 8) When this plane was accepted, it was accepted because of two design changes. One of the changes was the substitution of heavier landing gear over the original design 9) Due to this plane's design, it can carry a considerable payload. This can vary by configuration between fuel, ordinance or, in limited cases, small amounts of cargo 10) While this plane was named after "something" in the animal kingdom, it WAS NOT named after any form of "cat"(been there done that three or four times already) Good Luck |
Originally Posted by Hydro Junkie
(Post 12385463)
I saw that, I also changed my post to reflect that guess. It's also part of the reason I added THREE clues this morning
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Guess it's time to throw another clue, or two, out there for you all to chew on.
I'm looking for an aircraft: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two 5) This plane is a twin engine design 6) Even with twin engines, this plane isn't the fastest in it's class, nor is it the slowest 7) This plane was rejected(per clue 1) do to what was considered a better, single engine design being chosen instead 8) When this plane was accepted, it was accepted because of two design changes. One of the changes was the substitution of heavier landing gear over the original design 9) Due to this plane's design, it can carry a considerable payload. This can vary by configuration between fuel, ordinance or, in limited cases, small amounts of cargo 10) While this plane was named after "something" in the animal kingdom, it WAS NOT named after any form of "cat"(been there done that three or four times already) 11) The roles this plane "'inherited" were previously handled by aircraft from two "noted" aircraft manufacturers 12) This plane has flown in combat on several occassions Good Luck |
F-17/F-18 Hornet
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Gee, what gave it away? ;) ;)
Time to go over the clues: 1) This plane actually was rejected upon it's initial submission to it's home country's military The XF-17 lost to the XF-16 to be the new USAF lightweight fighter back in the mid 1970s 2) This plane later became so successful that it had seven variants produced Variants include various single and twin seat as well as the "Growler" 3) Many of the aviation "experts" of the time felt this plane was not as good in the role of a plane it replaced It was felt that the Hornet wasn't as good of "dogfighter" as the now retired F-14 Tomcat 4) Depending on the variant, this plane could have a crew of one or two The FA-18D and F have had a RIO in a rear seat, the B was a trainer and the G is configured for electronic warfare 5) This plane is a twin engine design 6) Even with twin engines, this plane isn't the fastest in it's class, nor is it the slowest 7) This plane was rejected(per clue 1) do to what was considered a better, single engine design being chosen instead The USAF felt the F-16 was better suited to their needs and that a twin jet wasn't as cost effective 8) When this plane was accepted, it was accepted because of two design changes. One of the changes was the substitution of heavier landing gear over the original design The airframe and landing gear were strengthened to handle the shock loads of arrested landings on aircraft carriers 9) Due to this plane's design, it can carry a considerable payload. This can vary by configuration between fuel, ordinance or, in limited cases, small amounts of cargo The plane's hardpoints are configured to handle a mixture of droppable external fuel tanks, bombs, missiles or a cargo pod. The cargo pod has been(as far as I know) rarely used 10) While this plane was named after "something" in the animal kingdom, it WAS NOT named after any form of "cat"(been there done that three or four times already) The plane was named the "Hornet" by McDonnald-Douglas 11) The roles this plane "'inherited" were previously handled by aircraft from two "noted" aircraft manufacturers The Hornet inherited the air to air and electronic warfare roles from the Tomcat and Prowler, both built by Grumman and the ground attack roll from the A-7 Corsair II, built by Chance-Vought 12) This plane has flown in combat on several occassions The Hornet has flown combat missions all across the middle east, starting in 1991's "Desert Storm" I guess this means FIREFLYER, YOU'RE UP!!! |
I know so little about aircraft history that the F-18 was tho only one that came to mind.
I don't have a question of the caliber of what is posted here, so I'll leave the floor open to anyone who wishes to post one. |
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