1. On 18 September 1950, a North Korean Yak-9P made an emergency landing at Kimpo AB and was captured by US Marines. The aircraft was sent to Wright-Patterson AFB and tested. The evaluation report stated the aircraft was extremely capable but crude by Western standards. 2. This Yak-9P is preserved in the Warsaw Aviation Museum.…Continue reading Yakovlev Yak-9
The Corsair was the US Navy’s best performer in WW2 but was a difficult aircraft to fly. In comparison the Hellcat was safer, cheaper and easier to build, at the expense of slightly inferior performance. Aces like Gregory Boyington ensured the “bent-wing bird’s” fame rapidly, and the aircraft remained in service with various airforces long…Continue reading Vought F4U Corsair
The SAAB J29, called the “Tunnan” (barrel), was the first of a series of excellent fighters built by the Swedish company SAAB. Although it only saw action in Congo as part of the UN peacekeeping force, it was judged equivalent to the American F-86 Sabre during meetings with the USAF in Europe. 1. SAAB J…Continue reading Saab 29 Tunnan
Hawk 75A-2, GC I/4, 2e escadrille, n°99 (X898), flown by Sergeant Georges Lemare, June 1940. Flying a Hawk 75, Lemare shot a Do 17 near Calais on 13 January 1940, a Ju 88 off the coast of Zeebruge on 20 May 1940 and later a British Swordfish off the coast of Dakar on 24 September.…Continue reading Curtiss Hawk of sergent Georges Lemare, GC I/4
11. Hawk 75A-7 of the NEIAF based at Andir AB, Java in 1940. 12. Hawk 75A-7 of the 1st patrol of 1. VI.G.IV flown by Sgt van Breen at Madioen, October 1941. 13. P-36A of the 79th Pursuit Squadron, 20th Pursuit Group, in 1940. 14. P-36C of the 27th Pursuit Squadron, 1st Pursuit Group, during…Continue reading Curtiss P-36 Hawk (2)
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk was a rather successful aircraft for its time but was on the verge of obsolescence when World War II began. It was widely exported, including to France where it proved inferior to its opponent, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, in most respects except for maneuverability. It was also extensively used by Finland…Continue reading Curtiss P-36 Hawk
Concorde 207 (F-BFVB) flew 14,771 hours for Air France before retiring. It is now on display at the Sinsheim Auto & Technik Museum in South-West Germany.
NB: The profiles depicted on this page are early, lesser-quality profiles. Please visit this page to view more recent and better Dewoitine D.520 profiles. The Dewoitine D.520 was called “the French Spitfire” and was the most advanced fighter in service in the Armée de l’Air at the time of the German invasion. It proved to…Continue reading Dewoitine D.520
1. Yak-3 flown by Roger Sauvage, a French pilot flying with the Free French Normandie Niemen group on the Russian front. Sauvage was credited with 16 victories. Stalin himself decided that the French volunteers were to be keep their aircraft after their return to France, and the Yak-3 entered service in France for a short…Continue reading Yakovlev Yak-3
The Sabre became the main USAF fighter during the Korean War. Although it was not as capable as its rival the MiG-15, better training gave US pilots the edge, resulting in 10:1 kill ratios. The Sabre was later widely exported to numerous countries. The F-86 profiles were among my first profiles, and the entire set…Continue reading North American F-86 Sabre