Daz, for some pics and a few stories try Ervin Miller’s chapter on the Eagles in Alfie Price’s book on the Spit, some great pics in there, he’s a great old boy and can really tell a story 😉

have a look here too:

http://www.eaglesquadrons.com/coppermine/index.php?cat=5

Tom

The ‘close to the M25 B-25’ is due to move more than a few inches very soon, David you might need to re-check your information guv.

Tom

I’m up for another visit especially if there’s plenty of us going, always good for a natter 😉 closed season would be best as the summer is usually a fairly packed schedule for me.

Tom

sconnor, the Yak factory at Orenburg in Russia built 10, new build, Yak-3s which were funded by Flight Magic of Santa Monica in the ’90s. Although none use a Klimov powerplant, Allisons were fitted, it’s still a beautiful aircraft, as you can see in Glenn’s pics, thanks Glenn. For a genuine Klimov powered Yak we’ll have to wait for somebody to buy this:
http://www.russianaeros.com/ForSale.htm

Tom

I’m no expert on the P-40 but heres my opinion for what its worth.At the time of the Battle of Britain, the Tomahawk Mk1 would have been the type in service, not as good as the later Kittyhawk which did well in the desert against the ME 109. Considering the Tomahawk would have been at a height disadvantage most of the time and most of the combats were at medium and high level, I can’t see it would have done any better than the Hurricane, and definately couldn’t have performed as well as the Spitfire. Many RAF pilots only survived because of the turning ability of their aircraft, so the P-40 would have been at a disadvantage there.In short I think the RAF would have been in big trouble using it.

…I do recall a recently deceased pilot, R.I.P Ray, saying that the Hawks turned on a par with a Spit or Hurri so the turning issue would not be a problem. I just think that Fighter Command were used to aircraft with Merlins and wouldn’t accept anything else, ‘Merlin Snobbery’ methinks 😉

The Aussies and New Zealanders made a name for themselves using Kittyhawks which were heavier than the Tomahawk, the term ‘Lead Sled’ was coined at the time. As long as good tactics were used I think that P-40s could have made a large dent in the Luftwaffe’s Bomber force inventory, as the Hurri did.

Also, nobody has mentioned the Tomahawk’s older sister, the Hawk 75, it fared reasonably well during the Battle of France and I think it would have fared reasonably well in the Battle, better rate-of-turn than anything the Allies had at the time, allegedly.

Tom

Photo copyright: Pioneer Aero Restorations

Hello Mark, you could try Mr Charleston, I recall hearing that he found some RAF razorback mustang parts a while back.

Tom