Warbird Information Exchange

I watched the film "Cross of Iron" this evening. It's about the German side of activities in the Russian Front during WWII. James Coburn, James Mason, and Maxilillian Schell star and it's directed by Sam Peckinpah. Made in 1977, it's a decent film, with some great action shots of Russian T-34 Tanks. (actually portraying real Russian Tanks for a change!!!) The unique thing was an air attack by the Russian Air Force on the German lines.
THEY WERE FLYING CORSAIRS!!!!
Nice footage of navy blue Corsairs attacking the German's en-mass, strafing and dropping ordinance. Apparently cut in from another source, since you never saw the actors and the aircraft in the same frame of film.

I was wondering how many F4U's we gave to the Russians?!!!
Or did we give them the whole run of Brewster F2A's!!!!
Jerry

I dunno about Russian Corsairs, but I do know we didn't sell Buff's to the
Russians..the Finn's had that honor and used them to their advantage against
the Russians.

_________________
He bowls overhand...He is the most interesting man in the world.
"In Peace Japan Breeds War", Eckstein, Harper and Bros., 3rd ed. 1943(1927, 1928,1942)
"Leave it to ol' Slim. I got ideas...and they're all vile, baby." South Dakota Slim
"Ahh..."The Deuce", 28,000 pounds of motherly love." quote from some Mojave Grunt
DBF

I've read an awful lot of books about the Corsair, and never once did I run across any being given to the Russians...not saying it didn't happen, but I'm very skeptical. Sounds like hollywood to me...

John

definetely hollywood!!! no corsairs were lend leased to the russkies. as to the buffalo..... i know the finns used them & not the russkies

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Why pay for a replica or a correct type? The producers forund it expedient to insert a newsreel clip instead. Remember this was the days before computer generated special effects. They wern't interested in correct planes in 1977, just advancing the story and keeping costs down.


I was watching it my wife asked me what was so funny and then she told me to get a life. Oh well thats the price of being a aviation fan!

I've heard of P-40's and P-39's being used as lend-lease to the Soviets...were there any other aircraft as well?

John

First I ever heard of Corsairs in Russia or in the European area for that matter.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F4U_Corsair
Allied forces flying the aircraft in WW II included the British Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm and the Royal New Zealand Air Force.

At the end of the war, 19 FAA squadrons were operating with the Corsair. British Corsairs operated both in Europe and in the Pacific. The first, and also most important European operations were the series of attacks in April, July and August 1944 on the German battleship Tirpitz, for which Corsairs from the HMS Formidable provided top cover. It appears the Corsairs did not encounter aerial opposition on these raids.

But nothing there about Russia.

_________________
http://www.warbird-hangar.com links and gallery &
http://www.yakkes.com Yakkes Foundation, Yak-52

The Luftwaffe captured an early RN Corsair intact......

Corsair JT404 of 1841 squadron. Involved in anti-submarine patrol from HMS Formidable enroute to Scapa after Operation Mascot against the German Battleship Tirpitz, in company with Barracuda of Wing Leader Lt Cdr RS Baker-Falkner. Emergency landing in a field at Sorvag, Hameroy, near Bodo, Norway on 18 July 1944. The pilot Lt Mattholie taken POW and the aircraft captured intact with no damage. The german authorities made attempts to get the pilot to explain how to fold the wings so as to transport the aircraft to Narvik. Aircraft was ferried by boat for further investigation. It is not known if the Corsair was taken to Germany. This was probably the first Corsair captured by the Germans. Aircraft is listed at Rechlin for 1944 under repair.


Martin

The Film Clip in the movie clearly showed a 4 plane flight on a bombing attack. The planes were solid Navy Blue with the Star and bars clearly on the side of the planes.

we lend leased b-25's a-20 havocs, c 47's which they also produced under license. the b29's they aquired were by u.s. battle damaged 1's diverting to russia where they were seized & copied by tupelov. p-63's, i think the vultee vengeance too. i'm sure this is only the tip of the iceberg.

_________________
tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

Maybe it was stock footage?

Tom, the Japanese produced the DC-3 under license and actually paid money to Douglas prior to WWII. The Japanese version was called Tabby by the Allies.

The Russians produced the Li-2 and claimed it as their own. They never paid anything to Douglas.

Thanks Martin. I guess Russia had one example of just about all the US inventory having acquired them in one way or another.

This is fun!
I was just being sarcastic about lend-lease Corsairs!!!!
Jerry