Why Wildcat=Martlet, Avenger=Tarpon but others unchanged?

nuuumannn · Aug 20, 2025

EwenS said:
I think you need to define "in service" and with which air force - RAF or USAAF.

No I don't, the Liberator Mk.II was the first variant of the type fitted with power operated turrets. The first Liberator with power turrets was fitted with them in June 1941, and given the Liberator was in service, it was the first in service US bomber with powered turrets. Before then, the Douglas XB-19 had Douglas developed powered turrets, but these were inadequate and insufficiently developed.

EwenS said:
The first front line RAF squadrons to receive the LB.30 Liberator B.II didn't form until Jan 1942 (159 squadron on 2nd and 160 on the 16th) originally destined for India but diverted to the ME.

All of this is irrelevant to my post, your summary doesn't change at all what I wrote. I specified which Liberator had power operated turrets, I said: "the first US-built heavy bomber fitted with power operated gun turrets in service was the Liberator Mk.II, which was an RAF only variant and was fitted with Boulton Paul tail and mid upper turrets." You're reading far too much into my post.

nuuumannn · Aug 21, 2025

Give it a rest, Ewen. I can see what you're doing; it's obvious...

PStickney · Aug 30, 2025

Frog said:
The FROG kit N° F208 is labelled Douglas Havoc, Intruder or Boston.

The RAF Pilot's Notes, on the other hand, do indeed make the distinction.
I think I'd trust them.
Air Publication 1807B - Pilot's Notes - Havoc II Aeroplane - Two Cyclone G.R> 2600 A5B Engines
INTRODUCTION
THe Havoc II aeroplane is a British adaptation of teh Douglas D.B. 7A, and there are two variations of it in service, the Fighter and the Turbinlite.

Air Publication 2023C - Pilot's Notes - The Boston IIIA Aeroplane - Two Cyclone GR-2600-A5B=O Engines
INTRODUCTION
The A-20C is a twin engined midwing monoplance incorporating tricycle landing gear. It is powered with two Cyclone GR-2600-A5B-0 engines <skip here > Crew Povisions are for a pilot, bomb aimer, and two gunners.

Maxrobot1 · Oct 27, 2025

I think the fact that American aircraft manufacturers had active sales teams affected the naming of a/c types. It appears that U.S. Navy types got their names from these manufacturers. 1930s Vought Corsairs were sold overseas and so were the many different Curtiss Helldivers. then there was the Curtiss Wright CW-22 named that Falcon which was successfully marketed overseas. The Curtiss Condor was sold as a bomber.
Don't forget the F-5-F Skyrocket. Grumman also had the Goose, Widgeon and of course the Duck.
I wonder if the Martin B-10 ever had a nickname?

ThomasP · Oct 28, 2025

Martlet is the Old English name used for the modern day named House Martin. Martlet literally means small Martin. The House Martin is of the Swallow family.

GrauGeist · Oct 28, 2025

Maxrobot1 said:
I think the fact that American aircraft manufacturers had active sales teams affected the naming of a/c types. It appears that U.S. Navy types got their names from these manufacturers. 1930s Vought Corsairs were sold overseas and so were the many different Curtiss Helldivers. then there was the Curtiss Wright CW-22 named that Falcon which was successfully marketed overseas. The Curtiss Condor was sold as a bomber.
Don't forget the F-5-F Skyrocket. Grumman also had the Goose, Widgeon and of course the Duck.
I wonder if the Martin B-10 ever had a nickname?

Curtiss started the tradition of naming their aircraft after birds started in 1919 with the Eagle, followed by the Oriole (also in 1919).
The Hawk tradition started in 1923 and in 1925, introduced a mailplane aptly named the Carrier Pidgeon.

Curtiss-Wright carried on the tradition with the exception of their SBC Helldiver in 1935, C-46 Commando in 1940, C-76 Caravan in 1943 and the XP-55 Ascender also in 1943.

Grumman also had a tradition of using waterfowl for their sea going aircraft, felines for fighters and type appropriate names for others, like Avenger, Skyrocket, Guardian, etc.

Then again, Hawker seemed to focus on birds, except when they were switching to various herbivores, or angry insects or storms and, well...nevermind.

SaparotRob · Oct 28, 2025

Then there's the Buffalo, the Kangaroo, the Walrus...all renowned raptors.

pinehilljoe · Oct 28, 2025

From Michael Korda's With Wings Like Eagles:

Admiral Beez · Nov 5, 2025

SaparotRob said:
Then there's the Buffalo, the Kangaroo, the Walrus...all renowned raptors.

I wonder what the Brits would have called the Reggiane Re.2000. The Italians called it the Falco, but in British service there is already the Miles M.3 Falcon, shown below in RAF colours.

Maybe they'll go with an unofficial cheeky name, like the Reggie.

GrauGeist · Nov 5, 2025

SaparotRob said:
Then there's the Buffalo, the Kangaroo, the Walrus...all renowned raptors.

There was also the Roland C.Ii, named the "Walfisch", which would make for a terrifying raptor, I think.

yulzari · Nov 6, 2025

GrauGeist said:
There was also the Roland C.Ii, named the "Walfisch", which would make for a terrifying raptor, I think.

In Somerset in England edible snails are called wall fish. Served with apple sauce. A snail may not be the optimum terrifying raptor though……..

PStickney · Nov 8, 2025

GrauGeist said:
Curtiss started the tradition of naming their aircraft after birds started in 1919 with the Eagle, followed by the Oriole (also in 1919).
The Hawk tradition started in 1923 and in 1925, introduced a mailplane aptly named the Carrier Pidgeon.

Curtiss-Wright carried on the tradition with the exception of their SBC Helldiver in 1935, C-46 Commando in 1940, C-76 Caravan in 1943 and the XP-55 Ascender also in 1943.

Grumman also had a tradition of using waterfowl for their sea going aircraft, felines for fighters and type appropriate names for others, like Avenger, Skyrocket, Guardian, etc.

Then again, Hawker seemed to focus on birds, except when they were switching to various herbivores, or angry insects or storms and, well...nevermind.

Curtiss Dive Bombers - F8C, O2C, BFC-2, SBC-x. SB2C were all Helldivers - Helldiver being a colloquial name for the Grebe - An aquatic bird known for its method of fishing by diving int the water.
Curtiss Navy Scout Planes were Seagulls.
Curtiss Fighters / Pursuits were Hawks - P-6, P-36, and so on up until the P-40, which became a Something-Hawk
Army Bitplane Observation Airplanes were Falcons - along with the A-3 Attack version. The Monoplane O-52 was the Owl.
Army Attack Airplanes were Shrikes.
The Commando was a Curtiss-Wright design - not from the Buffalo Ship.
THe XP-55, well, take a look at the plan view, and you can see why they called the Ascender.

GrauGeist · Nov 8, 2025

PStickney said:
THe XP-55, well, take a look at the plan view, and you can see why they called the Ascende

I think you meant "ass-ender".

And I was fairly clear about the transition to Curtiss-Wright, but thanks anyway for your input.

Why Wildcat=Martlet, Avenger=Tarpon but others unchanged?

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