Hi Everyone.
I’ve been able to find reference material for every part of this airplane except for the fuselage interior behind the huge starboard fuselage window.
Squadron Mini had a P-35 In Action, but I haven’t been able to locate one. I really just need a couple of images of what was behind this window. Can anyone help me in locating source material, or sending a scanned image? I’d be very greatful.
Thanks!
Alan
Alan, I have the Squadron P-35 book and it has only one interior photo, which is of the cockpit, probably taken from the area you need details for, but it does not show that area.
I found a picture of the area on aerofiles on the net, it is below. I have the Hobbycraft kit and several of the Williams Brothers 1/32 SEV-2/P-35 kits to build which also have this window as an option.
Thank you John. This is perfectly, and exactly what I was looking for. Your fast response is really appreciated.
I wonder what was the responsibility for the person in this area. It’s strange for this type of fighter, and I can’t see any instruments that they would use.
Again, thank you. This is a great forum.
Alan
It could have been a rescue jump seat. Land to pick up a downed pilot, he hops back there and you sprint away.
What was that old movie where I believe it was Spencer Tracy played a priest and he rode in the back of a fighter (P-35) and stood behind the pilots seat? Hollywood always seems to make things bigger than they really are.
This area could be used for carrying small amounts of cargo, mail, spare parts, relief pilot (had to land to change places) or nothing at all. Remember Ike had a P-51 that had similar jump seat setup in it to transport him around the European theater.
In the P-35, the passenger was the ‘armor protection’ for the pilot in case of attack. As this airframe evolved into the P-47, the space was used for the supercharger.