early WWII aircraft

[Nathan]

I see a lot of topics on this site that only deal with late WWII aircraft and wondered doesn't anyone like pre war and early WWII aircraft too?

[daveymac82c]

Good question.

I really like the early birds. They were the best machines at the time, and it was a time when nobody expected they'd need to use them. At least that would be for planes designed and built pre-1939. Then again, there were nations that could smell something on the horizon and had already started designing newer, better fighting machines before the outbreak of war.

Honestly, I love the Hurricane. it's not the fastest, it's not as pretty as a Spitfire either, but when you look at it, it was an important airplane because it helped mark a transition in airplane design philosophy. From what I understand it was Hawker's airplane that stood for the bold movement from biplanes to monoplanes. Blah, blah, etc...

So yes Nathan, I'd also be interested to see more conversation on early WWII aircraft. Heck, WWI too for that matter.

Cheers,

David

[Warbird Kid]

I know there are alot of Spitfire fans in here but.....


I think the Hurricane looks a lot more 'boss' than the Spit.
Give me wooden wings and I'm all set!

But to the matter at hand, yeah the early stuff always caught me eye. Especially since the paint schemes were so snappy!

Yellow wings, Silver body.
or
Just the staright OD.

I wish there were a few more aircraft out there that had the old Stars and the red dot on them.

[Nathan]

I wish there were a few more aircraft out there that had the old Stars and the red dot on them.

Same here, I would love to see more of it. I know olive drab is not an attractive paint sceme(it is too me for some reason) but it really gives an aircraft the look, as official and ready for action.

But I am also asking about earlier models too. Like the P-40C, B-17D, JRS-1's, Grummen Ducks, coast guard schemes, AT-6A's, P-43's, P-36's, P-35's, etc. Any interest in them?

Cheers,
Nathan

[Jack Cook]

Northrup A-17
Curtiss Shrike
Boeing F4B
Grumman F3F
Bell Airacuda
Vought Vindicator
They're all cool with a capitol 'C'

[fotobass]

We are bound by agreement that we may only discuss aircraft that Jack Cook has images of.

[carpandean]

Good fun:


I like a lot of the early WWII planes better than some of their successors. Who doesn't like a good toothed P-40?

[Scott Rose]

Funny you should bring that up Nathan, I just started messing with this section

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/between.htm

[hang the expense]

Always liked the early stuff.The time when the issue was in doubt. What turned the tide? Dauntless, wildcat, p-40,p-39 in the Pacific.After the battle of Midway it was our win and the Japanese never had a chance after that.

[Jerry O'Neill]

Vindicator, in the multi-color, pre-war scheme.
SOC
A-17
P-35
Jerry

[EDowning]

NA-64 "YALE" - They made 220 in late 1939 on the same assembly line in Englewood that was soon to make thosands of T6s. 110 went to the French, who fell to the Germans, who flew the Yale in Squadron strength. The other 110 went to Canada who flew them in squadron strength. As far as I know thats the only airframe that flew in squadron strength on both sides of the war.

How's that for an early WWII airplane.

[MacHarvard]

An interesting situation to be sure! Just a small correction to the numbers given: there were 230 such machines, with 111 arriving in France and 119 diverted to Canada. The Canadian group (serialled 3346 - 3464) included the 'prototype', which actually was the last aircraft to arrive, in August 1940.

Doug

[RMAllnutt]

My favorites are Hawker's interwar biplanes.... the Fury, Nimrod, Hind, Hart, etc. .... some of the most attractive aircraft ever built in my opinion. It's so wonderful to see the renaissance of these designs happening now. There are now two Nimrod's flying, and a Hind, with another Hind set to fly, along with an Audax, Fury, Demon... others?

Cheers,
Richard

[vg-photo]

I like the P-26 Peashooter. Incredibly, some of these flown by Filipino pilots managed to shoot down some zeros!

[TAdan]

I also really like seeing the "early stuff" with the red circle in the star.

They really had some eye-cathing paint schemes back then (when they didnt have to worry about being shot at...) Like that P-26 above.

I like the oddball stuff that dosent show up much in the history books...(B-18, P-36, P-35...just about everything you guys listed!)

I was thrilled to see Ol'927 adopt her current scheme.