Recent content by windswords

One P-47 pilot, Capt Edwin Fisher, an ace with the 362nd FG, destroyed 3 of them on one mission. The 3 V-1s are displayed prominently on the "victory board" of his P-47 Thunderbolt in a well known photo.

How did the Japanese manufacture such a big... Paper Clip?!? :p

A 3 part series on the Ki-44: Banzai Japanese Aviation Series: Ki-44 Shoki - Nakajima's Red-headed Stepchild, Part 1 Banzai Japanese Aviation Series: Ki-44 Shoki - Nakajima's Red-headed Stepchild, Part 2 Banzai Japanese Aviation Series: Ki-44 Shoki - Nakajima's Red-headed Stepchild, Part 3

Found this some time ago on the web. Don't know if it is real or someone's idea of what an armed Tabby might look like (similar to Soviet version). The title suggests it was real.

A great effort for this somewhat unknown aircraft. I hope you post pics of the finished model. I did a two part article on the D3A "Val" dive bomber for a FB group I am in. In part 2 I mention the D3Y. the link to part 2: Banzai Japanese Aviation Series: Aichi D3A - Part 2 - Combat...

I think the high figures for the Ki-84 speed (670-680 kph) in the OP are based on false data. This is covered in an old thread: Ki-84/Homare in the U.S. To partially quote: "In the original TAIC manual from Dec.44, the performance was estimated at 422 mph. This was based on the assumption that...

Hi Todd, Your welcome. Yes the yellow ID bands appeared later in 1942. The AVG was offcially ended in June or July 1942 and became the nucleus for the 23rd Fighter Group.

The same could be said for the P-51 after March 1944, or certainly by June 1944. By then the Luftwaffe was thoroughly compromised and was not the force it once was. The best Thunderbolt aces (who were still leading scorers after the war ended) like Johnson and Gabby were rotated home (Gabby...

F6F Hellcat vs. P-47 Thunderbolt F6F = MacIntosh P-47 = Red Delicious Question: Which one do you like? Answer: I like apples! :)

Hi Todd, Here are some examples from the 62nd and 98th sentais: Ki-21-IIa 62nd Sentai, 1st Chutai Ki-21-IIb 98th Sentai, 2nd Chutai Ki-21-IIb 98th Sentai, 2nd Chutai In case you don't know, the major versions of the Ki-21 were the Ki-21-Ia and Ki-21-Ib, which had "block" engine...

Hi Todd, Here is what I have. Ki-21-Ia 60th Sentai, 1st Chutai, 1939-40: Ki-21-Ia 60th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, Manchuria, 1939 Ki-21-Ia 60th Sentai, 3rd Chutai, China, 1939-40 Ki-21-IIa 12th Sentai, 2nd Chutai, CBO theate, source Model Art #533 Ki-21-IIa 12th Sentai, 3rd Chutai, Dec...

I don't know what that the stats and specs are, but the Mitsubishi Ki-57 army transport sure is pretty.

Did Japanese aircraft, especially fighters, use the equivalent of War Emergency Power (WEP) in combat? I am familiar with the test reports from ATAIU. And I know that Japanese engines were rated at Military Power (MP). So, does that mean, because of lower octane fuel or other reasons, that...

That would line up with what I have read in statements from pilots of both sides in regards to roll. I do find it hard to believe that the the turn rate was almost identical, I would think that the Mustang was better. Witold "Lanny" Lanowski was a Polish fighter pilot and ace who flew both...

1) Doesn't matter what the Japanese had Ki-27, Ki-43 or the Zero (or even the A6M5 Claude which did take part in the early fighting even after Dec 7). ALL of these were better climbing and better turning fighters than anything the Americans, Dutch and British Commonwealth had. More importantly...