I’ve been doing more (slow) work on the B-24 template. The top turret has been converted to the “High Hat” A3D turret, and the waist guns have been added. I’ve also made corrections here and there. For the most part, all that is left to do is detail the wings, as well as some other…Continue reading Work in progress: Consolidated B-24J Liberator template (cont’d) & book recommendation
I’ve made more progress on the B-24 template. The turrets are now in place and most of the fuselage lines and riveting have been added. Of course, since this is a B-24, it means I’ll have to change them eventually. I believe this is the most complex aircraft I’ve ever had to do. Interestingly, almost…Continue reading Work in progress: Consolidated B-24J Liberator template
Mustang Mk III FZ152 flown by W/C Stanisław Skalski, No 133 (Polish) Wing. Stanisław Skalski DSO DFC was the top Polish fighter ace of the war and the first Allied fighter ace of the war, credited, according to official lists, with 18 11/12 victories and two probable. Mustang Mk IV KM112 flown by S/L Witold Łokuciewski, OC No…Continue reading Mustangs of Polish aces in the RAF
After presenting a few Hurricane aces, here are some famous Spitfire aces of the Royal Air Force. Spitfire Mk Ia X4559 flown by S/L George “Ben” Bennions, No 41 Squadron, Royal Air Force. George “Ben” Bennions was one of the leading Battle of Britain Spitfire pilots, credited with twelve enemy aircraft destroyed in just over…Continue reading RAF Spitfire aces: Bennions, Johnson, Plagis and Sheperd
As the Royal Air Force turns 100, here are a few profiles of aircraft flown by some of the most famous British aces. Hawker Hurricane Mk I flown by S/L Douglas Bader, No 242 Squadron, September 1940. Douglas Bader was one of the Royal Air Force’s best-known aces in World War II. Having lost both…Continue reading Hurricane aces: Bader, Mackenzie, Czernin and Nicolson
This P-40M-5-CU is operated by Comanche Fighters LLC in the US. This P-40M-10-CU (s/n 43-5813) is flown and operated by the Tri-State Warbird Museum and carries the colours of NZ3119 of No 2 OTU of the Royal New Zealand Air Force in 1943.
This week’s updates are dedicated to surviving examples of the beautiful Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. I’ve always liked the P-40 and thought of it as the “American Hurricane”: it did not have the glamour and fame of other, better-known fighters but was a sturdy and dependable aircraft which served in all Allied air forces throughout the…Continue reading Curtiss P-40 Warhawk warbirds
Hawker Tempest Mk V EJ580 was flown by F/L Ron Bennett of the Royal Air Force’s No 501 Squadron in October 1944. MW820 was a Tempest Mk II operated by No 54 Squadron in Chibolton in March 1946. Squadron Leader Jimmy Sheddan was the commanding officer of No 486 Squadron in May 1945 and flew…Continue reading Hawker Tempest Mk II & Mk V
Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina BuNo 2419 was flown by Ensign William Tanner of VP-14 on 7 December 1941. Tanner had been warned “to be alert during this period of great tension”. A few hours before the Japanese air raid, Tanner spotted a Japanese midget submarine trying to penetrate the harbor and destroyed it with the assistance…Continue reading Ens. William Tanner’s PBY-5 during the Pearl Harbor attack
Until recently, “Fifi” was the world’s only airworthy B-29 Superfortress. Operated by the Commemorative Air Force, this mighty bomber has now been joined in the skies by “Doc”, which flew again in 2016. If you like the Superfortress, you will love AirCorps Art’s vinyl poster of “Fifi”, which is available in several sizes ranging from…Continue reading B-29 Superfortress “Fifi”