Aircraft Trivia Quiz

The Tony is it, Tom.  Francillon's booki gives the supposed sources of the Tony in the order I named them, but I'm sure there are are others that might state it differently.  Whatever order, the confusion was largely the result of the tendency to underestimate Japan's ability to design and build aircraft.

Over to you!

Interesting question and answer- I would have gone with the I-15/ I-153, 15bis series which were known as "Curtiss" fighters for the manchurian conflict as well as most of the Spanish civil war- very much as the SB-2 was known as a Martin bomber for most of the spanish civil war-theoretically copies of american aircraft-for the same reasons- basically the supposed inability of russia to produce modern designs.Interesting how common some prejudices are.

Thrilled I was wrong of course, the baton goes elsewhere.

Keith

Sorry to interrupt..now this is Air Racin'  !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

less than 100ft of the deck.....400plus mph.......

Actually, although this was not "another country's airplane", an unnamed designer from Heinkel did help Kawasaki develop the Ki-61 (which used a copy of the Messerschmidt engine) before the outbreak of hostilities, when he was called back to Germany.

Tom- this would be Fred Davis- as he was known postwar in Australia. He was specifically selected and sent to Japan by Heinkel himself (as the story goes) due to his Jewish heritage- combined with his work on the unsuccesful He-118 project- if you closely look at the Aichi Val the eliptical wing planform that was the hallmark of heinkel design (some say the spitfire itself copied it's wing from the "blitz") as well as the entire fuselage shape was very close indeed...He remained in Japan for the entire war- and it is said that he used his experiance and knowledge of the He 100 during the development of the Tony. Ended up postwar in Australia and changed his name to Fred Davis to fit in with the "blokes" a wee bit better. I have a great article about him in an old AAHS journal....

The other plane I forgot to mention was the He-111, which essentially the other two were copied from.

Now for a question:

Take your pick:

1. Who was the first individual to score the first U.S. Navy air-to-air victory?
2. Who made the first U.S. Navy air-to-air claims? (not the same person)
3. What is it:

To win, pick any one or all three

The first two are kind of funny since they can seem to contradict each other.

Warning:

Those not answered can be posted again later

Tom

espins1 wrote:

3. PV-1 Ventura - used as a light bomber and patrol aircraft.  It was a development from the Lockheed Lodestar transport plane to replace the Lockheed Hudson.  It was actually build by the Vega Aircraft Company, a division of Lockheed (which explains the V in the PV-1 designation ).  They were used extensively by the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy.

You got it espins.

For your information, they were also used extensively and very successfuly as night fighters by the USMC.

Tom

T_Terrific wrote:

espins1 wrote: 3. PV-1 Ventura - used as a light bomber and patrol aircraft.  It was a development from the Lockheed Lodestar transport plane to replace the Lockheed Hudson.  It was actually build by the Vega Aircraft Company, a division of Lockheed (which explains the V in the PV-1 designation ).  They were used extensively by the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, South African Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, U.S. Army Air Corps and U.S. Navy.  You got it espins. For your information, they were also used extensively and very successfuly as night fighters by the USMC. Tom

Really, I didn't know that.... I learn something new everyday from these forums. 

The Luftwaffe ordered a thousand of this aircraft before the first prototype had even flown.  The Hungarians built 267 of them under a license agreement with the original German manufacturer (which also included a license to build the DB605 engine) with the stipulation that the Luftwaffe would get 2 out of every 3 of these aircraft that the Hungarians built.  The Hungarians were very pleased with this aircraft as their version was far superior to the original version built by the German manufacturer.  

What is this aircraft?  

Please be specific as this aircraft is a specific variant of this model.  Include the letter designation as well, for example if the answer were Bf109E, then Bf109 would be an incomplete answer.  If necessary I'll dribble hints until somebody gets it. 

ilovef-4 wrote:

is the answer BF 109G-6.              Charlie

Nope. 

Here is another hint.  It had two engines.

ogrejohn wrote:

Me thinks maybe a Me-210C-1.

We've got a winner!!!

The original Me 210 see was for most part a disaster.  The Luftwaffe ordered 1000 of them before the prototype had even flown.  The first prototype utilized DB601B engines and was considered unsafe by the test pilots who flew it.  It had horrible stability in turns and tended to "snake" while flying level.  It also had really bad stall characteristics.  When the nose was up, or when in a turn a stall would quickly whip into a spin when the leading edge slats opened.  The chief test pilot stated that the Me 210 had "all the least desirable attributes an aeroplane could possess. 

Deliveries to front line units began in April of 1942... the pilots hated it.  In fact, production was halted after only 90 of them had been completed.  The 320 in partial stages of completion were put into storage.  As a result of this, the Bf 110 was put back into production (the 210 was supposed to replace the 110...). 

The Hungarians, interestingly enough, liked the Me 210 and purchased production licenses for both the Me 210 and the DB 605 engine.  Production began as the Me 210C, and under an agreement with the Luftwaffe, 2 out of every 3 were delivered to the Luftwaffe. 

The Hungarian built Me 210C proved to be so superior to the original German manufactured Me 210A that the Hungarian modifications were included into what was going to be the Me 210D, however there were so many new changes that it was redesignated the Me 410.

Good job Ogrejohn, you're up! 

OK, I was kind of reaching on that answer. I knew the 210 was ordered sight unseen because of Willy Messerschmitts reputation and excellent sales pitch. It turned out to be a piece of junk until the Hungarians got it. I really reached on the C-1 designator though.

So now for something easy. What was the last German aircraft to fly out of ravaged Berlin during the war and who was flying it?

Very good. The story I read is Hitler got ticked at Goering for wanting to take command of what was left of the Reich as Hitler was bottled up in Berlin. Hitler nominated Ritter von Greim and ordered him to Berlin. Bet that made von Greims day to hear that. Anyhow, as the story goes, Hanna Reitsch flew von Greim in on April 23rd 1945 for his meeting with Hitler in a Fi-156 Fieseler Storch and then made the near impossible flight back out. Somewhere along the line von Griem got shot up pretty badly I think. I can't remember where I read the story and when it was that von Greim got shot up. An exciting story none the less.

You're back up espins1

That was a great question by the way. 

In keeping with the current theme....

This aircraft was flown by a Nazi insider in a "peace" mission, whereby he hoped to convince the British that the Germans just wanted "Lebensraum" for the German people and that Hitler had no desire to destroy another "Nordic" nation. 

As usual, I'll trickle hints if necessary. 

espins1 wrote:

That was a great question by the way.  In keeping with the current theme.... This aircraft was flown by a Nazi insider in a "peace" mission, whereby he hoped to convince the British that the Germans just wanted "Lebensraum" for the German people and that Hitler had no desire to destroy another "Nordic" nation.  As usual, I'll trickle hints if necessary.

 That would be Rudolf Hess and the Me-110 he flew to Scotland.  

 Bill

wdolson2 wrote:

That would be Rudolf Hess and the Me-110 he flew to Scotland.    Bill

That is correct Bill.  Nicely done.

Rudolph Hess was fanatically loyal to Adolph Hitler, but was never given any major influence with the Nazi Party due his complete lack of self initiative and no understanding of the mechanics of power.  Over time, he was diminished even further due to the political maneuverings of other, more ambitious men in the Nazi Party. 

He hoped to regain his importance and redeem himself in the eyes of Hitler by putting on a Luftwaffe uniform and flying a plane by himself to Scotland on a "peace" mission on May 10, 1941, shortly before operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union).  Rudolph Hess was hoping to see the Duke of Hamilton, who he had met during the Olympics in Berlin back in 1936. 

Hess, who was an expert flier, had extra fuel tanks installed on an Me 110, then proceeded to make the 5 hour, 900 mile flight across the North Sea and managed to navigate within 30 miles of the Duke's residence near Glasgow, Scotland.  At 6,000 feet he bailed out, whereby he encountered a Scottish farmer and said to him in English "I have an important message for the Duke of Hamilton".

Hess was hoping to convince the British Government that Hitler only wanted "Lebensraum" for the German people and had no wish to destroy a fellow "Nordic" nation.  He was deeply concerned with preventing Germany from fighting another two front war. 

While being interrogated at a British Army barracks, he proposed that if the British would allow Nazi Germany to dominate Europe, then the British Empire would not be further molested by Hitler.  He insisted that German victory was inevitable and even threatened that the British people would be starved to death by a Nazi blockade around the British Isles unless the accepted his "generous" offer. 

Churchill realized right away that Hess was mentally unstable and represented only himself.  Infuriated by the threats, Churchill order Hess to be imprisoned for the rest of the war and was to be treated like any other high ranking POW.

He was eventually convicted at the Nuremburg trials, sentenced to live in prison for the rest of his life.  The Soviets blocked any attempt of getting him released from prison.  Hess committed suicide in 1987 at the age of 92.  He was the last of the prisoners tried at Nuremberg.

espins1 wrote:

wdolson2 wrote: That would be Rudolf Hess and the Me-110 he flew to Scotland.    Bill That is correct Bill.  Nicely done. Rudolph Hess was fanatically loyal to Adolph Hitler, but was never given any major influence with the Nazi Party due his complete lack of self initiative and no understanding of the mechanics of power.  Over time, he was diminished even further due to the political maneuverings of other, more ambitious men in the Nazi Party.  He hoped to regain his importance and redeem himself in the eyes of Hitler by putting on a Luftwaffe uniform and flying a plane by himself to Scotland on a "peace" mission on May 10, 1941, shortly before operation Barbarossa (the invasion of the Soviet Union).  Rudolph Hess was hoping to see the Duke of Hamilton, who he had met during the Olympics in Berlin back in 1936.  Hess, who was an expert flier, had extra fuel tanks installed on an Me 110, then proceeded to make the 5 hour, 900 mile flight across the North Sea and managed to navigate within 30 miles of the Duke's residence near Glasgow, Scotland.  At 6,000 feet he bailed out, whereby he encountered a Scottish farmer and said to him in English "I have an important message for the Duke of Hamilton". Hess was hoping to convince the British Government that Hitler only wanted "Lebensraum" for the German people and had no wish to destroy a fellow "Nordic" nation.  He was deeply concerned with preventing Germany from fighting another two front war.  While being interrogated at a British Army barracks, he proposed that if the British would allow Nazi Germany to dominate Europe, then the British Empire would not be further molested by Hitler.  He insisted that German victory was inevitable and even threatened that the British people would be starved to death by a Nazi blockade around the British Isles unless the accepted his "generous" offer.  Churchill realized right away that Hess was mentally unstable and represented only himself.  Infuriated by the threats, Churchill order Hess to be imprisoned for the rest of the war and was to be treated like any other high ranking POW. He was eventually convicted at the Nuremburg trials, sentenced to live in prison for the rest of his life.  The Soviets blocked any attempt of getting him released from prison.  Hess committed suicide in 1987 at the age of 92.  He was the last of the prisoners tried at Nuremberg.

That's not all to the Hess affair, either.

According to the book titled "Churchill's Deception", Hess and Hitler both actually fell for an elaborate hoax that Winston set up, by establishing a bogus "Peace Party" that was supposedly led by the Duke of Hamilton that alledgedly was against further war with HItler and opposed Chgurchill's policies and was gaining in popularity according to false press reports being broadcast to Germany.

Actually, Hitler was fully behind Hess's proposal, and in fact sanctioned the whole thing, only of course to deny he knew of it when it was obvious that the whole thing was a set-up.

The purpose of this ruse was to "buy time" for further import of strategic supplies from the U.S., as well as hopjng that America would join England in the war against Hitler.

Later on, the TV program 60 minutes did an expose' on "The Prisoner in Spandeau Prison", proving that the man alledged to be Hess was in fact not, since he did not match Hess' captured medical records.

Not long after that, according to the official German record, the man in Spandeau, at age 92, alledgedly hanged himself in prison, which all medical experts agreed he was physically incapable of doing, and in the typical thorough German fashion, Spandeau Prison itself was literally razed to the ground shortly thereafter, leaving not a single brick standing, so no one could prove or disprove any allegations by gathering evidence from his lifetime cell.

Appearantly, Hess "died in their care" of the angry Scotts, and to cover this "mishap" (those were very touchy times back then), the British government found a double to substitute for him (probably a man with a death sentence waiting for him), (convenient for both sides) and Churchill conveniently wrote the man off as "a lunitic" to cover for the fact that it was not really him.

Interesting, eh?

So what was the next question?

Tom

Little change of pace here, though from the same theater.

 This 8th Air Force Group had two marks of distinction.  The first is that one of their pilots was a celebrity before the war.  The other was that this group suffered the worst single day loss of the war. 

 Which group was it, who was the celebrity, and a bonus if you have any details about the worst day.

 Bill 

Let's see.... first thought that pops into my mind is the 100th Bomb Group (among others) on a bombing mission to Berlin on March 6th, 1944.  This day became known as "Black Monday".  The 100th BG alone  lost 15 out of 16 aircraft on the mission.  Doolittle sent a total of 814 bombers and 943 fighters on the mission.  The whole formation stretched out for over 93 miles! 

As for the celebrity, I want to say Jimmy Stewart, but I'm not 100% certain on that. 

The 100th had a bad reputation for taking heavy losses.  However they didn't take the worst single mission loss.

 On the fateful day, the group sent out 35 aircraft and only 2 returned to home base, 3 made it to the lame duck field at Manston, and 5 crashed in friendly territory.  25 aircraft were lost over enemy territory.

As far as the celebrity goes, one of you got it, just not the right unit. 

Bill 

wdolson2 wrote:

Little change of pace here, though from the same theater.  This 8th Air Force Group had two marks of distinction.  The first is that one of their pilots was a celebrity before the war.  The other was that this group suffered the worst single day loss of the war.   Which group was it, who was the celebrity, and a bonus if you have any details about the worst day.  Bill

I know Clark Gable served as a gunner aboard Delta Rebel No.2.

I have heard about Black Thursday, not Black Monday, the 8th Air Force mission of 14 October 1943 to Schweinfurt. In the final tally, fifty-nine Flying Fortresses were shot down over Germany, one ditched in the English Channel on the return flight, five crashed in England, and twelve more were scrapped due to battle damage or crash landings (more by AA-guns than the Luftwaffe), a total loss of seventy seven B-17s. 122 bombers were damaged to some degree and needed repairs before their next flight. Out of 2900 men in the crews, about 650 men did not return, although some survived as POW's Five were killed and forty three wounded in the damaged aircraft that made it home, and 594 were listed as Missing in Action. Only thirty three bombers landed without damage. One U.S. fighter pilot was killed in a crash landing in England; and one was wounded and bailed out over Duren. He was smuggled out by the Resistance, returning to England three and a half months later.

Very bad day-almost brought an end to the U.S. daylight bombing raids.

The celebrity was Jimmy Stewart, but the disasterous raid was actually after D-Day.  Stewart had been promoted to a staff position in the wing at the time of the raid, but he was a pilot in that group for a while.

Bill 

wdolson2 wrote:

The celebrity was Jimmy Stewart, but the disasterous raid was actually after D-Day.  Stewart had been promoted to a staff position in the wing at the time of the raid, but he was a pilot in that group for a while. Bill

That's interesting. That must have been one of those that they "covered up" (the U.S. Government seized and "buried" in archives the photographer John Ford's footage of the carnage at the D-Day beaches, and later "lost it" so the public would not think things still could go bad at that point of the war), not unlike the time a group of '262's attacked a formation of unescorted B-17's and literally took out half of the formation. This was told me by a gentleman who served as the radio operator for the B-17 "Ruptured Duck" in WWII, but it cannot be found in any historical accounts anywhere.

I like Stewart's statement that  essentially the shooting down of an enemy aircraft was simply a matter of putting enough lead out so the unlucky enemy fighter ran into it. He didn't have a lot of confidence in the gunner's claimed ability to pick a fast moving target and precisely hit it.

So who goes next, Bill?

Tom