Most ignored combat aircraft of ww2

[michael rauls]

I would like everyones opinion on the most ignored combat aircraft of ww2. This goes beyond aircraft that don't get there due to aircraft that get pretty much ignored completely inspite of a major contribution to the effort at least in what I would call the popular press. My nomination would be the SBD Dauntless.

 

[Greyman]

I've got a soft spot for the oft ignored Ba.65.

A more important aircraft I never think about is the Hudson and Ventura.

 

[michael rauls]

Youve realy got a point about rhe hudson. Cant remeber the last time I read anything about it outside of a few of the books i own.

 

[Greyman]

I also love that Breguet 693.

 

[michael rauls]

I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it but I didn't even know that plane existed. Guess I've got some reading to do. Was it a fairly major player?

 

[Greyman]

Like most French combat aircraft it had a brief window of very intense action.

 

[GrauGeist]

There's quite a few, really.

Here's a few of them:
The Romanian IAR 80 and IAR 81
The Dewoitoine D.520 (aside from France, it served with Bulgaria, Germany and Italy)
The CAC Boomerang
The Heinkel He112 (aside from Germany, it served with Hungary, Japan and Romania)
The Reggiane Re.2001

 

[michael rauls]

There's quite a few, really.

Here's a few of them:
The Romanian IAR 80 and IAR 81
The Dewoitoine D.520 (aside from France, it served with Bulgaria, Germany and Italy)
The CAC Boomerang
The Heinkel He112 (aside from Germany, it served with Hungary, Japan and Romania)
The Reggiane Re.2001

The He 112 served with Japan? Now theres a story im dying to know.

 

[Tony Hill]

The obscure Supermarine Spitfire doesn't get nearly the amount of attention it deserves (ducking for cover)

 

[michael rauls]

 

[GrauGeist]

The He 112 served with Japan? Now theres a story im dying to know.

Yes, it was used in operations against the Russians for a short time.

The Japanese purchased several Heinkel types before WWII got underway and they even had a Heinkel Factory Engineer in Japan as an advisor.

 

[GrauGeist]

I should have also included the Fokker G.I in my list, as the few that were able to get up during the invasion of Holland, gave the Germans hell.

The few that remained were captured by the Germans after the fall of the Netherlands and used as trainers, but it's short combat career was quite impressive.

 

[michael rauls]

Yes, it was used in operations against the Russians for a short time.

The Japanese purchased several Heinkel types before WWII got underway and they even had a Heinkel Factory Engineer in Japan as an advisor.

That is truly amazing. Not only have i never read about that I have actually read in at least one" history" book that there was no exchange of arms at all between Germany and Japan until a few minor things twards the end of the war. Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read.

 

[GrauGeist]

That is truly amazing. Not only have i never read about that I have actually read in at least one" history" book that there was no exchange of arms at all between Germany and Japan until a few minor things twards the end of the war. Just goes to show you can't believe everything you read.

Actually, the Japanese had purchased quite a few German types before the war or during the very early years.
Beside the He112, they purchased the He100, the Ju87 and the Fw190.
They also purchased plans for the Ju88, Me262 and Me163.

And here's a fun bit of info: The Imperial Japanese Army even purchased a Tiger Tank, however while it sat at the dock awaiting transit to Japan, it was commandeered by the SS Abt. 101 for use against the Allies in June 1944.

 

[GrauGeist]

Japanese Fw190A-5 during evaluations in Japan:

The Kyushu Q1W (based on the Ju88) - also the world's first purpose-built ASW aircraft.

Japanese Ju87A-1 (on public display)

 

[michael rauls]

Actually, the Japanese had purchased quite a few German types before the war or during the very early years.
Beside the He112, they purchased the He100, the Ju87 and the Fw190.
They also purchased plans for the Ju88, Me262 and Me163.

And here's a fun bit of info: The Imperial Japanese Army even purchased a Tiger Tank, also while at sat at the dock awaiting transit to Japan, it was commandeered by the SS Abt. 101 for use against the Allies in June 1944.

I just fell out of my chair. Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.

 

[michael rauls]

Actually, the Japanese had purchased quite a few German types before the war or during the very early years.
Beside the He112, they purchased the He100, the Ju87 and the Fw190.
They also purchased plans for the Ju88, Me262 and Me163.

And here's a fun bit of info: The Imperial Japanese Army even purchased a Tiger Tank, however while it sat at the dock awaiting transit to Japan, it was commandeered by the SS Abt. 101 for use against the Allies in June 1944.

I hope my last reply didn't sound like i don't believe it. I verry much believe it. Hence the shock.

 

[GrauGeist]

Sorry about the screwed up second post, I fixed it with pix.

Anyway, in regards to the Tiger, yes. It was purchased by the IJA under the guidance of Lt. Gen. Hiroshi Oshima. He not only inspected the tanks at the Kummersdorf facility, but also at the Eastern Front with Schwere Abt. 502.

Here he is seen (with his adjutant) trialling a Tiger at Henchel's Kummersdorf testing grounds.

 

[michael rauls]

This may be a bit of double dipping so to speak since its a subtype of my original pick

Sorry about the screwed up second post, I fixed it with pix.

Anyway, in regards to the Tiger, yes. It was purchased by the IJA under the guidance of Lt. Gen. Hiroshi Oshima. He not only inspected the tanks at the Kummersdorf facility, but also at the Eastern Front with Schwere Abt. 502.

Here he is seen (with his adjutant) trialling a Tiger at Henchel's Kummersdorf testing grounds.
View attachment 501732

I think I'm gonna need a more stable chair.

 

[michael rauls]

This may be a bit of double dipping so to speak since its a subtype of my original pick but there was a land based subtype of the SBD called the A24 banshee( not to be confused with the later jet fighter of the same name) that served with the army and the free french from Morocco to the liberation of France right through 1945. Yet how many people have even heard of this type.