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                        sharks teeth on aircraft?

                        20644 views
                        30 replies
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                        12
                        GA.modelmaker
                        • Member since
                          November 2003
                        • From: savannah ga.
                        sharks teeth on aircraft?
                        Posted by GA.modelmaker on Monday, November 24, 2003 3:26 PM
                        how many types of aircraft carried the sharks teeth on them? i know i can remember the p-40, a-10, f-4, and the f-14. are thier any others?
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                        oldhooker
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)
                        Posted by oldhooker on Monday, November 24, 2003 3:41 PM
                        I realize it isn't an "airplane", but the 174th ARA "Sharks" carried Teeth on their UH-1B/C/M's in Vietnam, after "Flying Tigers" Ret. Gen. Robert Scott gave his blessings to once again carry the Sharks Teeth into combat.

                        Reference at:
                        http://www.americal.org/174/174ahc6.htm



                        Frank

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                        cassibill
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Indiana, USA
                        Posted by cassibill on Monday, November 24, 2003 4:13 PM
                        The p38

                        cdw My life flashes before my eyes and it mostly my life flashing before my eyes!!!Big Smile The 1/144 scale census and message board: http://144scalelist.freewebpage.org/index.html

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                        cassibill
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Indiana, USA
                        Posted by cassibill on Monday, November 24, 2003 4:15 PM
                        Theres a book called shark's teeth live forever about that motif on planes.
                        It covers WWI to modern day.

                        cdw My life flashes before my eyes and it mostly my life flashing before my eyes!!!Big Smile The 1/144 scale census and message board: http://144scalelist.freewebpage.org/index.html

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                        Aurora-7
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Connecticut, USA
                        Posted by Aurora-7 on Monday, November 24, 2003 4:17 PM
                        For WWII aircraft, I've seen profiles of a P-51 and P-39 with them on and I know at least one squadron of US Navy F6F Hellcats had them for a brief time.

                        I've seen US Navy F11 tigers (mid 1950's) with them.

                        I think the British actually used them first, on P-40s (their 'Kitty Hawks'), and the 'Flying Tigers' actually borrowed the idea from that.

                         

                         

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                        garys
                        • Member since
                          June 2003
                        • From: Philadelphia, PA
                        Posted by garys on Monday, November 24, 2003 4:23 PM
                        A3D-2, F9F, A-7, F-8, if you look hard enough you can probably find them on just about anything.
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                        gregers
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: UK
                        Posted by gregers on Monday, November 24, 2003 4:56 PM
                        i have a book with a pic of a lancaster with 4 sets of sharkmouths on it. the aussies had some spitfires with teeth too. no5 sqn RAF had an EE Lightning with a sharkmouth on it and the 1/72 hasegawa BAC Jaguar was released with sharkmouth markings
                        Greg
                        Why torture yourself when life will do it for you?
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 24, 2003 6:14 PM
                        I once saw a photo of a B-24 with them as well.
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                        Bossman
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        Posted by Bossman on Monday, November 24, 2003 6:46 PM
                        Just my opinion. I've seen alot of other aircraft with the sharks mouth on them (Mustang, Lightning, Hellcat, Spitfire, Liberator etc...) but they all seem to fall short. The shark's mouth just seems to be the perfect nose art for the P-40. It just matches the shark profile of the plane so perfectly.
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                        upnorth
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Canada / Czech Republic
                        Posted by upnorth on Monday, November 24, 2003 7:45 PM
                        To say that you could find shark mouths on just about any military aircraft is true.

                        I've seen photos of CP-140 Auroras (Canadianized P-3 Orion) with special shark mouths painted on each engine cowling for participation in the Fincastle ASW competitions.

                        The RAF unit best know for the shark mouths was 112 Squadron, it started with their P-40s, continued into their Vampire and Sabre eras as well.

                        For a certain period of time, the Phantom of RAF 56 Squadron's CO had a sharks mouth on it.

                        Another interesting shark motif was on an SU-27 Flanker, It had a full shark painted down one side of the fuselage.

                        A memorable one that I saw pictures of was a Handley Page Victor tanker during Desert Storm. The story was that it had a bit of a landing accident and the sharks mouth was painted on to obscure the blemish.
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                        Melgyver
                        • Member since
                          March 2003
                        • From: Lafayette, LA
                        Posted by Melgyver on Monday, November 24, 2003 9:00 PM
                        Frank, Nice shot of one of our Sharks! Thanks for the plug and the fact we asked permission. A lot of Units didn't.

                        Clear Left!

                        Mel

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                        Woody
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Third rock from the sun.
                        Posted by Woody on Monday, November 24, 2003 9:11 PM
                        My favorite was a picture of a Russian La-5, what a grin.

                        " I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, November 24, 2003 9:29 PM
                        In WW1 at least one Roland Waal had a set of sharks teeth on it. RAAF Spitfire Mk VIIIs had Sharks teeth painted on the nose. It may have been only one and carried the name Grey Nurse and was based in Darwin.
                        Dai
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                        oldhooker
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)
                        Posted by oldhooker on Monday, November 24, 2003 10:30 PM
                        Mel,

                        Sigh [sigh] I only recently learned of Fred's passing, and recall the first time he and I talked, him telling me the story of how your Birds come to have the big Shark's Teeth on them. He sent me some pictures of "Ace of Spades" a few years back, when I built a Monogram 1/48 B Model Hog of it for someone.

                        When I saw this Topic, that's the first thing I thought about. Smile [:)]

                        God Bless,
                        Frank

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                        oldhooker
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: Piedmont Triad, NC (USA)
                        Posted by oldhooker on Monday, November 24, 2003 10:38 PM
                        Mel,

                        "Ace of Spades"


                        This is one of the picture Fred sent for building reference.

                        Frank Wink [;)]

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                        Keyworth
                        • Member since
                          January 2003
                        • From: NE Georgia
                        Posted by Keyworth on Monday, November 24, 2003 11:44 PM
                        There were a few Bf 110's that had sharks teeth. I think they were based in the Med.
                        "There's no problem that can't be solved with a suitable application of high explosives"
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                        nkm1416@info.com.ph
                        • Member since
                          September 2003
                        • From: Philippines
                        Posted by nkm1416@info.com.ph on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 8:09 AM
                        A lot of them sported the sharkmouth: P-38, P-39, P-40, P-47, P-51, B-25, B-26, B-24,B-17, C-47,Me110,Spitfire,Vampire, F-4, B-52, T-28, A-10, F-8, Ouragan, A-26,F-105,A-7, F-14, Cobra, Huey. There maybe more
                        Report Abuse
                        John P
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Joisey
                        Posted by John P on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 11:41 AM
                        Frankly, I don't think there was a military plane that HASN'T had a shark mouth applied at one time or another. :)
                        -------------------------------
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                        Lufbery
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Harrisburg, PA
                        Posted by Lufbery on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 12:03 PM
                        I have loaned to me a picture of an L-5 observation plane with a sharks mouth painted on. I know of at least one US pilot in WWI who painted a mouth on his Nieuport 28. Smile [:)]

                        Regards,

                        -Drew

                        -Drew

                        Build what you like; like what you build.

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                        echolmberg
                        • Member since
                          February 2003
                        • From: Green Bay, WI USA
                        Posted by echolmberg on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 12:30 PM
                        Maybe the list would be easier if the question was "What airplane HASN'T had a sharkmouth on it?" I have the P-61 "Borrowed Time" on my shelf with a nice slim sharkmouth on it too.

                        Eric

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                        chasblake99
                        • Member since
                          December 2002
                        • From: Boise ID
                        Posted by chasblake99 on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 1:32 PM
                        Since the AVG painted shark teeth on their planes, every warplane since has had teeth painted on it some where or other. A funny story about this: I was in Alaska in ‘79 and for an airshow; some pilots got together and painted teeth on a F-4E. (without getting approval or talking to maintenance.) They used spray paint and did a pretty nice job, it did look good for the show. Unfortunately the general didn’t think it was a ‘good’ idea and wanted it removed. ASAP if not sooner. Ever see a mad general?
                        Well, it ended up costing over a thousand dollars, the spray paint ate into the paint underneath requiring lots of sanding and repaint.
                        Charles NKAWTG (My KC-135R at RAF Fairfird during Allied Force) Pilots without crew chiefs are nothing but pedestrians with nice sunglasses and a cool jacket. Crew Chiefs RULE!
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 4:30 PM
                        During my deployment to Afghanistan (2001-2002) our squadron painted a sharks mouth on an AV-8B Radar Attack Harrier. That aircraft redeployed in 2003 and flew over Iraq.
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 5:32 PM
                        I've also seen them on at least one KC-135, a British Tornado, a Czech Su-25, F/A-18, a South American A-37...
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 5:49 PM
                        As an adendum to my first post.
                        I have even seen them on small Naval craft, MTBs mainly but I did see an AWB in Sydney acting as a diving tendet to HMAS Rushcutter, the shore base not the new mine hunter. The Captain approved but ,unfortunately, the Admiral didn't. It didn't last for long.
                        Dai
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                        72cuda
                        • Member since
                          July 2003
                        • From: USA
                        Posted by 72cuda on Tuesday, November 25, 2003 5:56 PM
                        Well you forgot all the A/C that the 23rd had they even had C-130's & F-16's at Pope AFB painted with the AVG teeth, even F-89's had teeth, just about all of the USAAF & USAF's A/C in their inventory has had the teeth on them not just a few of them

                        84 of 795 1/72 Aircraft Competed for Lackland's Airman Heritage Museum

                        Was a Hawg Jet Fixer, now I'm a FRED Fixer   

                         'Cuda

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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Monday, December 8, 2003 8:52 AM
                        To many to name and to early in the mourning to remember.Big Smile [:D]
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 22, 2004 10:18 AM
                        i am building a 1/72 f-16 and I am looking for decals from the 74th fighter squadron does anybody know where I can find any.
                        Report Abuse
                        qmiester
                        • Member since
                          May 2003
                        • From: Central USA
                        Posted by qmiester on Thursday, January 22, 2004 10:35 PM
                        ZG 76 operated shark mouthed BF 110 in '39, '40 and '41. I personally like the SKG 210 (later ZG 1) "Wespen" (Wasp) markings carried on their 110's in '41 & '42 on the Eastern Front better.
                        Quincy
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 9:01 AM
                        Bf 109 also have shark teeth on it.. quite few only
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                        Anonymous
                        • Member since
                          November 2005
                        Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, January 25, 2004 10:09 AM
                        I really have a thing for those types of nose art...properly applied, they give a meaner look in aircraft...loved the A-10 "Flying Tigers"; the F-4E of the 3rd TFW in Clark AFB; the F-14A of VF-111 Sundowners...hmm, I dont remember seeing an F-15 Eagle wearing them sharkys...

                        Smile [:)]
                        Report Abuse
                        12
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