Aircraft Trivia Quiz

Guess that means no Laggs (I think Breitling was flying an La-11) either.....and it seems like you were hinting that it wasn't the Shturmovik either (altho a case could be made that if you were flying a Hs 126 it could be considered a fighter)

Hmmmm.. how about the Firefly? It changed motors along the way from the merlin to the griffon and the radiators went from underwing to chin or vice versa, give or take- and there is an absolutely stunning one flying in the California area methinks...

and it was designed somewhere around 39 give or take- and certainly flew during the Korean wars with the Brits and Aussies...

Keith

espins1 wrote:

jeaton01 wrote: Perhaps the reason the record still stands is that technology and runways caught up and the seaplane was no longer the only practical way to approach the problem.  What I find even more amazing is that Agello had the fortitude to climb in that beast and go fast considering that he had seen the two pilots before him die flying the MC 72. I'm surprised a wealthy thrillseeker hasn't gone for it just because he can, if you know what I mean.  I would imagine with a little modern tech and ingenuity someone could do it.

Well, I wonder if an R-4360 would attach to the engine mounts of a DeHavilland Beaver? A little structure clean up, cool paint job and a nice long course and we could get DeHavillands back into the Record books again....

You got it, Keith.  It is the Fairey Firefly.  According to a good article in Wings of Fame Vol. 12 it was always powered by the Griffon from the prototype and all that followed, but Fairey's previous 2-seat fleet fighter, the Fulmar, did have a Merlin.

As to the R-4360 powered Beaver, uh, I think I will pass on the test pilot duties.  Maybe Francesco Agello's grandson, or great grandson, is available.

My previous question about the Soccer war got me thinking-and this is the question- how many times has a fighter faced "itself" in combat. I ended up thinking of six times that the same aircraft- built by the same manufactureur (eliminating "copied" aircraft like the "eindecker")- can you name six times this has happened-they won't need to be the same as the ones I thought off...

Good luck and I hope to learn something from this question,

Keith

The Soccer War Corsairs have already been mentioned.  I think most of the rest were in the 1948 Arab Israeli War.  Doing some checking:

 21-Oct-48 Spitfire IX - Spitfire Egypt

17-Nov-48 Spitfire IX (1/2 kill, the other was a P-51) -  Spitfire Egypt

 28-Dec-48 Spitfire IX - Spitfire          Egypt 

31-Dec-48 Spitfire IX - Spitfire          Egypt 

 07-Jan-49 Spitfire IX  - bagged 3 Spitfires Britain 

  I'm not sure if you were looking for conflicts or specific instances.

A captured Finnish I-153 once shot down a Russian I-153, though I don't have any specifics on it.

 Bill 

6 answers it is for you Bill... and I pass the baton over to you.

but let me try to add a few- didn't Roumanian Me109E's run into german Me 109E's ? and perhaps Yugoslavian ones ditto?

and I believe the Finnish 109g's ran into German ones...

any others?

Keith

About the Spitfires in the 1948 Independence War, there were more incidents:

22nd May RAF Squadron 32, lost 2x FR.18 Spits to REAF Mk.IX Spits at Ramat David (on the ground).  Later, 5 more REAF Mk.IX Spits attacked, but this time the RAF FR.18 (from 208 Sq.) shot down 2 (one more lost to AA).  Later, in the 3rd Egyptian attack, 208 Sq. shot down 2 more.  In total, RAF lost 2 on the ground, and shot down 4 more air to air (plus one more to AA).

There were several other IAF vs REAF incidents, destroying quite a few more REAF Spits (some on the ground).  Finally, there was the rather embaressing incident for the RAF, when 4 Mk.18 were jumped by IAF Mk.IX, and lost 2, when they strayed across the border.

(the history of the IAF is one of my hobbies!)

One that is may be an easy one.

 This airplane was an export version of a front line airplane from the manufacturer's home country.  Even though the original had retractable landing gear, rumor has it that the first purchasing country thought that retractable landing gear was too complex for their pilots and requested a fixed landing gear version.  Three countries bought this plane and it saw combat for two of them.  One kept them in service until 1954.  One of these odd planes still exists in a museum.

 What is this airplane?

Bill 

This is an easy one, its a Curtiss Mohawk, H-75M for the export version, P-36 in the USAAC. The Chinese, for one, ordered the simplier version without the retracting landing gear.

 Mike T.

Fokker D.XXI

You got it Mike.  The other two countries to buy it were Thailand and Argentina.  Argentina built ome under license and kept them on strength until 1954.  One of the Thai Hawks still exists in their national museum.

 On to you...

 Bill

Thanks Bill,

It was interesting that the British still had H-75 Mohawks on front line service in the CBI till early 1943.

Now for my question:

The Gloster Gladiator saw front line service with several countries and in fact the first ace for this aricraft type was not British nor served with the RAF. Name the first Gladiator Ace and country he served for.

Mike T.

Espins -

Sorry, 

Art Chin (from Portland, OR) did have 6 1/2 of his 8 1/2 victories on this type, but was not the first to achieve "Ace" status in this type. He did so on Dec. 1939. I want someone earlier.

Mike T.

telsono wrote:

Espins - Sorry,  Art Chin (from Portland, OR) did have 6 1/2 of his 8 1/2 victories on this type, but was not the first to achieve "Ace" status in this type. He did so on Dec. 1939. I want someone earlier. Mike T.

Doh!  It's Chinese Major John Wong Pan-Yang!

Espins1-

Sorry, Wrong again.

John Wong Pan-Yang from Seattle, WA had only 1 and 3 shared victories in a Gladiator.

He is noted in Claire Chennault's Way of a Fighter as:

"John Wong, a slim, malarial U.S.-born Cantonese pilot who shot down 13 Japs and was later Chinese air attaché in London"

Mike T.

telsono wrote:

Espins1- Sorry, Wrong again. John Wong Pan-Yang from Seattle, WA had only 1 and 3 shared victories in a Gladiator. He is noted in Claire Chennault's Way of a Fighter as: "John Wong, a slim, malarial U.S.-born Cantonese pilot who shot down 13 Japs and was later Chinese air attaché in London" Mike T.

You sure about that?    According to "Gloster Gladiator Aces" by Andrew Thomas on Page 12 in the section titled "First Gladiator Ace"

"Action for the gradually decreasing number of Gladiators next came on the last day of May.  At 1300 hrs, nine Japanese aircraft were detected nearing Hukou, and "Buffalo" Wong led off four pilots which soon sighted nin E8Ns in "vee" formation at 6,000ft - some 1,500 ft below them.  He rolled in and dived to attack the Japanese, who manoeuvred wildly to escape.  Following a lengthy fight, Wong eventually brought one down near Chenjaixin, killing the crew.  Another fell to his wingman, and the remaining pilots damaged several more before the Gladiators withrew unscathed.

This kill gave "buffalo" Wong his seventh, and final, victory, and it was his fifth claim with the Gladiator, making him the first ace on type."

Espins1-

Wong Sun-Shui nicknamed "Buffalo" from Los Angeles, CA is the correct pilot. John Wong was his Commanding Officer. Buffalo's achievement was made on about 03/28/38. He had 7 victories at the time of his death from combat injuries on March 16, 1941 while flying a I-153.

Both Wongs and Art Chin were among about 10-12 American and Canadian born Chinese pilots that served in the Nationalist Chinese Airforce battling against the Japanese. Interestingly, Art Chin completed his flight training in Germany in 1936 receiving air-to-air gunnery training from the Luftwaffe at Laager Lechtfeld.

This site is a good reference point.

http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/aces.htm

Your turn espins1

Mike T.

telsono wrote:

Espins1- Wong Sun-Shui nicknamed "Buffalo" from Los Angeles, CA is the correct pilot. John Wong was his Commanding Officer. Buffalo's achievement was made on about 03/28/38. He had 7 victories at the time of his death from combat injuries on March 16, 1941 while flying a I-153. Both Wongs and Art Chin were among about 10-12 American and Canadian born Chinese pilots that served in the Nationalist Chinese Airforce battling against the Japanese. Interestingly, Art Chin completed his flight training in Germany in 1936 receiving air-to-air gunnery training from the Luftwaffe at Laager Lechtfeld. This site is a good reference point. http://surfcity.kund.dalnet.se/aces.htm Your turn espins1 Mike T.

Doh, didn't realize there were two Wong Gladiator pilots.  I guess two Wongs don't make it wight?   

This is probably going to be an easy one, but here goes..... 

This particular aircraft was the first to mount a 20mm cannon that fired through the center of the propellor hub.  Successful testing eventually resulted in this being a standard feature on many Luftwaffe aircraft.  What was this aircraft.  Be specific in the designation. 

Scot - With your interest in the Bf 109 I would think you want the Bf-109 D/0.  But how does it compare in dates to the Morane-Saulnier 406. Both entered service in 1938. Cannon armed aircraft go back to WWI like the SPAD XII having a 37mm cannon firing through its hub.

Mike T.

telsono wrote:

Scot - With your interest in the Bf 109 I would think you want the Bf-109 D/0.  But how does it compare in dates to the Morane-Saulnier 406. Both entered service in 1938. Cannon armed aircraft go back to WWI like the SPAD XII having a 37mm cannon firing through its hub. Mike T.

I can definately see why you'd post that as your answer, what with me being the 109 fanatic that I am, but that is the beauty of this question, muwahahahahaaaa  

Although other aircraft had mounted various armament that fired through the propellor hub before, I'm looking specifically for the first aircraft to mount a 20mm cannon that fired through the propellor hub. 

Scott -

Even though the He-112 V6 had one mounted, it was easily pre-dated by the Dewoitine D.501 which entered service in 1933.

Looks like you are going to stump me. It must be an aircraft from WWI or the Roaring 20's, but this is all I can come up with. In WWI the 37mm was the most common one mentioned although a 25mm was used on a Macchi L aircraft.

Mike T.

telsono wrote:

Scott - Even though the He-112 V6 had one mounted, it was easily pre-dated by the Dewoitine D.501 which entered service in 1933. Looks like you are going to stump me. It must be an aircraft from WWI or the Roaring 20's, but this is all I can come up with. In WWI the 37mm was the most common one mentioned although a 25mm was used on a Macchi L aircraft. Mike T.

Hmmm... The plane I was looking for was the He 112V-6.  When it became clear that the He 112 was losing out to the Bf109, Heinkel offered to re-equip He 112V-6 with a 20mm cannon.  An MG C/30L 20mm cannon was mounted with the breech to the rear of the engine and the barrel lying between the cylinder banks then exiting through the center of the propellor hub.  Supposedly, this was the first experimental mounting of the "motorkanone".  This feature would become standard on the Bf109 in particular, the most mass produced fighter in history.

The He 112V-6 was sent to the Condor Legion where it joined three Bf109 prototypes (V3, V4 and V5) that were also being tested by VJ88.  While undergoing tests the plane was nicknamed "Kanonenvogel".

I don't know much about the Dewoitine D.501, but if it had that sort of a configuration before the He 112V-6 then my resource is incorrect.

Regardless, you get credit for answering this one.  Back to you! 

Scott - Here's a link to some information of the D.501

http://www.chandelle-jah.com/articles/dewoitine.html

The Seversky P-35 spawned a series of aircraft that eventually developed into the P-47. Name another series of aircraft that was heavily influenced by this same design and maintained many design features such as the basic wing and tail shape from the P-35. There was four series production aircraft and produced by an Axis nation. Name the manufacturer and the four production series.

Mike T.

I would guess the reggiane series- Re2000 thru Re 2005 inclusive.

Keith

Keith;

You got it! Your turn now.

Some of the design team at Reggiane worked for Seversky and returned to Italy. The Re 2000 has a very strong resemblence to the P-35 and even looking at the Re 2005 you can still see that it is a cousin to the P-47. Just don't let the different type of engines cloud your thoughts.

Mike T.

There's always a down side to getting the answer right...

How about b-17 trivia? Name the last official bombing raid that the B-17 participated in? Name the city and other aircraft type involved....

Regards all, Keith