the link freezes my firefox can some one plz post pics of the soviet f-14 plz so i can see
the russins, british, and germans, all flew captured emeny aircraft against there own. I have pics of alot of captured aircraft now in new marking. You are right MR, the russins had 2 or 3 fw190D-9’s they flew against the reich at th end of the war. The british flew several bf109’s, and you all seem to know the germans had a whole unit of “enemy aircraft”. I have a ton of pics of captured zeros if anyone in interested?
MR here’s your proof
A better pic of the B-17
Another one working for the wrong side
and last but not least my favorite pic of a captured aircraft, this one makes me laugh every time
Gemini the pics you wanted bought to you by capturedplanes.com Not part of my collection
Thats the one I was referring to earlier. Very cool.
I’d read a book not long ago called “The Few”. The name of the author escapes me for the moment, but it’s still available in the bookstores. It’s about the Eagle Squadron in the Battle of Britan. If memory serves me right, the book references a case later in the war during the daylight bombing raids that a B-17 in German markings would cozy up to a flight of returning US bombers to England and then peal off and strike their targets and be out over the English Channel before anyone knew what had really happened. If this is true, i wonder if that photograph earlier was the very same one referenced…
I am sure that you meant no harm in using the term “Japs”, but that is not a very popular term nowadays. You didn’t call the Germans “krauts” (“Jerries” seems to be OK). We do have forum members in Japan. Just a gentle reminder. I don’t want to get into some kind of “politically correctness” thing, it’s just that the Japanese people I work with saw it and started raising a bunch of crap with me and I told them I would address it. So now I have. Thanks for indulging me.
I don’t want to get into some kind of “politically correctness” thing, it’s just that the Japanese people I work with saw it and started raising a bunch of crap with me and I told them I would address it. So now I have. Thanks for indulging me.
Point taken and noted. Yanks are referred to as “Yanks” (among other things!), Germans as “Jerries,” The French as “Frogs” and Caucasian Americans as “honkies” or “crackers.” And let us not forget illegal latino immigrants, called “wetbacks” - a term that today has taken on new significance what with illegals protesting over citizens rights they have neither earned nor deserve. All I have to say is: “Big fat deal.”
These terms are descriptive and colorful yes, but they don’ mean YOU are anything but what you are. “Sticks and stones,” and all that, you know. YOU decide to be offended by such things.
Lets have a minor history lesson, shall we? In December, 1941, the Japanese navy, ergo the nation of Japan itself, attacked the naval forces of another country, while at rest in their home port, using guile and cunning to do so. This was not their first of such endeavors, by the way. So the Japanese people, in toto, were reviled at the time with all sorts of terms - by all sorts of people. “Jap” was a rather benign name used at the time, if I may say so.
In the context of a discussion about World War II, I used a common word of that time - the word that offended your co-workers. I did not infer that all Japanese were at fault in 1941, that those today in any way share in those events nor that I have a grudge against Japanese people at all. I’m from California - I was raised with Japanese folks and many were, and still are, my friends. Ditto Chinese and Mexicans. I meant no harm, but you can’t change what has gone on before, either. Like it or not, It Is What It Is.
A little closer to home, let me share something with all of you: I used to be quite fat with red hair.
I tell you this not to get sympathy or some sort of entitlement which I dont deserve, but to let you know I caught the dickens from people over these things. “Carrot top,” “Lardo,” “Huffer Puffer” - you name it, I’ve been called it and there WAS harm, even hatred, meant by those who used those names. In a sense these people were right… I was a carrot top AND a lardo. But, it’s not just what they called me or how it made me feel. It’s also about how I learned to deal with it on a personal level. I got over it AND I did something about it. I lost weight - although I kept my red hair, since I could do little about that. Later I learned that women love it, so that worked out nicely, as well. [;)]
In a sense, I took what I was and owned it. I did something about what I didn’t like and moved on. As should your Japanese co-workers.
If you would, please let them read this:
“No harm was intended, and none was received but that which you have created and taken upon yourself. You are the person you are, inside, regardless. If you are offended, please take it up with me and don’t give our mutual friend any further crap for it. He is but a courageous bystander in this, since he addressed it on your behalf. My email address is not private - contact me if you wish.”
Consider yourself indulged, subman, my friend, and I thank you for the reminder. I will be mindful in the future. What is really a shame, however, is that we have to indulge everyone with an oversensitive axe to grind.
Thanks again.
Now, back to our regularly scheduled discussion…
There was a Macchi C.202 that was being evaluated in the USA during WWII. It was captured in North Africa and is the one presently on display at the Smithsonian. During its stay at Freeman Field attempts were made to show to the public foreign aircraft in their original markings. The records of the original markings for the Macchi were probably lost with any photo’s that may have been taken of it in its original condition. When it was displayed the Italian markings were made in a very fanciful manner.
If you can find it, this book is great on the subject of the aircraft captured by the Western Allies. Yews, it includes “Watson’s Whizzes”.
War Prizes: An Illustrated Survey of German, Italian and Japanese Aircraft Brought to Allied Countries During and After the Second World War (Hardcover)
by P Butler
Mike T.
You are correct about the fluid incompatabilities. Most european manufactures used a mineral spirits based fluids that required a different type of rubber where seals an O rings are involved in these systems. American industry generals use petrol base fluids. If you put petrol based fluids in a system that is made for mineral spirit type fluids the rubber componets will swell up and disenegrate within a couple of days. This would have made it very difficult to mantain any aircraft from the other side for a very long time as the mechanics would not have easy access to the correct types of fluids. They would have to rely on capured fluids if avalible. To this day BMW and Mercedes still use these mineral spririt based fluids for there power steering systems. Pouring petrol based fluids in these cars would be a very expensive lesson as it would destroy the entire system within weeks!
Soulcrusher
LMAO at that one. I guess they were just being carefull. Do,nt want to be mistaken as the previous owner!
Soulcrusher
According to the website those are fakes, they look nice tough. Maybe nice “what iffs”
Please contact me directly via e-mail. I moderate a Special Interest Group for IPMS/USA on captured aircraft and I can probably answer any questions you might have.
There were literally hundreds of aircraft which were captured by all sides and used/evaluated.