Lesser lights

justin · 02-14-2003, 11:46 AM

I've been thinking about the lesser lights of WW2, those aircraft which gave long and hard service without really getting the recognition of the more glamorous birds. Aircraft like the Hurricane, P40, A20, Ki43, Halifax etc. were stalwart aircraft that gave good service, not the best aircraft of the war it is true but good, solid machines, yet they're never really recognised as such by many people. Take;
-the Hawker Hurricane, this was the backbone of fighter command in the battle of Britain, then went on to a very successful second career as a ground attack and anti armour aircraft, yet even in the UK it's very much forgotten about. Most people think it died in 1940, unaware they were kept in production until 1944, and serving in roles vital to the Allies.
-the P40, the best USAAC/USAAF fighter when America entered the war, and despite not being a class leader it was a pretty rugged aircraft with sweet flying qualities. The aircraft served for much of the war and made a huge contribution to the North African campaign in RAF service, yet it's forgotten about due to the later outstanding US designs like the P51 & P47.
The Ki43, everybody remembers the superb A6M, but that was a navy fighter, most people don't realise the IJAAF never used the Zero but relied on the Ki43 for much of the war. Despite being lightly built and weakly armed it nevertheless swept the British Commonwealth and US opposition out of the skies in Japan's initial advances of 1941/2.
-the Halifax, despite severe handling faults on early models which were later resolved it served in a wider range of roles than the more famous Lancaster and was a excellent heavy bomber.
-the Douglas Boston/Havoc was a superb aircraft, fast, heavily armed and very effective in a very wide variety of roles (night fighter, light bomber, reconnaisance, ground attack etc.), I don't know why it has never achieved the recognition of other light twins.
And the list goes on, another one I'd include would be the P39, despite it's bad press the USSR had a very high opinion of the design.
What about everybody else?

Justin

Tony Sepanski · 03-10-2003, 05:43 PM

I always thought Northrup's P-61 Black Widow was often overlooked because it was a night fighter. I had heard of it, of course, but had no idea that so many were produced and in combat.

Also, the Shturmovik (sp?), the Russian ground attack aircraft. More like a flying tank, really. Kind of Russia's 1940's A-10 Warthog.

justin · 03-10-2003, 06:01 PM

The P61 must be just about the only pure night fighter built, although later in Europe they were used as night interdictors as the LW was pretty much a spent force. I have to say I always had a soft spot for it as I thought it was a really neat looking aircraft. The Il2 is the most produced aircraft ever isn't it? A flying tank to be sure!

Justin

Ozz · 03-12-2003, 08:04 PM

Here's a link to another forgotten WWII warbird, in fact I had never even heard of this beast untill my father in law sent me this link.
Wouldn't mind a model of it though.

http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/skua_pictures.htm

Scott · 03-13-2003, 01:44 AM

Kinda like a donkey; an aircraft built by a committee that never shared drawings until the start of assembly!

justin · 03-13-2003, 05:56 AM

The Skua and the Roc, oh dear....... One of the bizarre things about the British in WW2 is how they could provide the RAF with some of the finest combat aircraft ever built, aircraft like the Hurricane, Spitfire, Mosquito, Beaufighter, Lancaster, Typhoon, Tempest etc. are among the immortals of combat aircraft, yet when it came to the RN FAA they just seemed to completely lose the plot..... Of the British aircraft designed for naval service the Swordfish was an anachronism that amazed everybody, it was an obsolete dinosaur in 1939 yet actually flew with great distinction throughout the war and was invaluable to the navy, and the Firefly was a superb aircraft but arrived late in the war. Other than these the FAA types were a pretty poor bunch, the Seafire was a magnificent fighter once airborne but the lightly built aircraft just wasn't up to the stress and strain of carrier operations. No wonder they had to rely on imported American designs like the F4F, F6F, F4U, TBM etc. The RN FAA deserve a lot of credit in the F4U story as they did a lot of work to get it to sea, including developing the curved approach,

Justin

02-14-2003, 11:46 AM	#1
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	Lesser lights I've been thinking about the lesser lights of WW2, those aircraft which gave long and hard service without really getting the recognition of the more glamorous birds. Aircraft like the Hurricane, P40, A20, Ki43, Halifax etc. were stalwart aircraft that gave good service, not the best aircraft of the war it is true but good, solid machines, yet they're never really recognised as such by many people. Take; -the Hawker Hurricane, this was the backbone of fighter command in the battle of Britain, then went on to a very successful second career as a ground attack and anti armour aircraft, yet even in the UK it's very much forgotten about. Most people think it died in 1940, unaware they were kept in production until 1944, and serving in roles vital to the Allies. -the P40, the best USAAC/USAAF fighter when America entered the war, and despite not being a class leader it was a pretty rugged aircraft with sweet flying qualities. The aircraft served for much of the war and made a huge contribution to the North African campaign in RAF service, yet it's forgotten about due to the later outstanding US designs like the P51 & P47. The Ki43, everybody remembers the superb A6M, but that was a navy fighter, most people don't realise the IJAAF never used the Zero but relied on the Ki43 for much of the war. Despite being lightly built and weakly armed it nevertheless swept the British Commonwealth and US opposition out of the skies in Japan's initial advances of 1941/2. -the Halifax, despite severe handling faults on early models which were later resolved it served in a wider range of roles than the more famous Lancaster and was a excellent heavy bomber. -the Douglas Boston/Havoc was a superb aircraft, fast, heavily armed and very effective in a very wide variety of roles (night fighter, light bomber, reconnaisance, ground attack etc.), I don't know why it has never achieved the recognition of other light twins. And the list goes on, another one I'd include would be the P39, despite it's bad press the USSR had a very high opinion of the design. What about everybody else? Justin

03-12-2003, 08:04 PM	#4
Ozz Insane Collector Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Vancouver, B.C. Canada (CYVR) Age: 51 Posts: 2,763	Here's a link to another forgotten WWII warbird, in fact I had never even heard of this beast untill my father in law sent me this link. Wouldn't mind a model of it though. http://freespace.virgin.net/john.dell/skua_pictures.htm __________________ Ozz ORANGE IS BEAUTIFUL *GO WESTJET!!!* We need more CPAir/CDN and don't forget PWA and BA Landor!

03-13-2003, 01:44 AM	#5
Scott Insane Collector Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Escondido, Ca. USA Age: 50 Posts: 2,763	Kinda like a donkey; an aircraft built by a committee that never shared drawings until the start of assembly! __________________ Fly the Friendly Skies of United uniTED takes wing Feb 12, 2004

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03-10-2003, 05:43 PM	#2
Tony Sepanski Master Collector Join Date: May 2000 Location: Seattle, WA, USA Posts: 798	I always thought Northrup's P-61 Black Widow was often overlooked because it was a night fighter. I had heard of it, of course, but had no idea that so many were produced and in combat. Also, the Shturmovik (sp?), the Russian ground attack aircraft. More like a flying tank, really. Kind of Russia's 1940's A-10 Warthog.

03-10-2003, 06:01 PM	#3
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	The P61 must be just about the only pure night fighter built, although later in Europe they were used as night interdictors as the LW was pretty much a spent force. I have to say I always had a soft spot for it as I thought it was a really neat looking aircraft. The Il2 is the most produced aircraft ever isn't it? A flying tank to be sure! Justin

03-13-2003, 05:56 AM	#6
justin Insane Collector Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 2,005	The Skua and the Roc, oh dear....... One of the bizarre things about the British in WW2 is how they could provide the RAF with some of the finest combat aircraft ever built, aircraft like the Hurricane, Spitfire, Mosquito, Beaufighter, Lancaster, Typhoon, Tempest etc. are among the immortals of combat aircraft, yet when it came to the RN FAA they just seemed to completely lose the plot..... Of the British aircraft designed for naval service the Swordfish was an anachronism that amazed everybody, it was an obsolete dinosaur in 1939 yet actually flew with great distinction throughout the war and was invaluable to the navy, and the Firefly was a superb aircraft but arrived late in the war. Other than these the FAA types were a pretty poor bunch, the Seafire was a magnificent fighter once airborne but the lightly built aircraft just wasn't up to the stress and strain of carrier operations. No wonder they had to rely on imported American designs like the F4F, F6F, F4U, TBM etc. The RN FAA deserve a lot of credit in the F4U story as they did a lot of work to get it to sea, including developing the curved approach, Justin