[Epapazian]

Over the many years of air to air combat a number of nations have caught their opponents almost completely by surprise with the sudden introduction of a new warplane......sometimes with devastating results. For example, there was the great scourge of Allied aircraft in 1915 when Germany sent its Fokker Eindeckers into action. Other examples include: Japan's Mitsubishi A5M ("Claude" ) sweeping China's sky free of numerous Russian fighters and bombers fighting on the Nationalist side in 1937; Republican Spain's counter thrust to Hitler's Condor Legion and Italy's "volunteers" when it received its I-16s in the late thirties; the RAF's first encounters with Germany's FW-190A in cross channel fighter sweeps in the Spring of 1942; The Allies' stunning setbacks at the hands of Japan's "Zeros" from December 1941 to mid 1942; the rude awakening administered to U.S. bomber crews flying missions over Europe when they were bounced by the Luftwaffe's ME-262As early in 1944 and last, but not least, America's first taste of combat with Russian-piloted Mig-15s in Korea, circa late 1950 and 1951. Which of these situations, or any others you wish to cite, was the nastiest surprise. Remember, wer'e talking about surprises. The Germans were well familiar with the RAF's Spitfires and America's B-17s before meeting them in the skies.