[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

I 'catch your drift'/(meaning) Sergey, but that's not actually correct.......!

On 9th, 10th & 11th October 1941 601 Squadron flew (P.39) offensive-missions out of RAF Manston in Kent - ACTUALLY attacking shooting-up (& destroying) numerous "barges & trawlers" in the heavily-defended ports of Dunkirk and Boulougne (& the surrounding coastline in-between !!!!!!!!

So, the RAF 601 Squadron's P.39 Airacobra's ACTUALLY DID actually see combat (albeit, in bad weather & with no Luftwaffe intervention)

BTW' - 601 persevered on their P.39's until March 1942.

Neat bit of history there. I have to dig through my back issues of FlyPast and Aeroplane to see if I can find any articles on this aircraft. Nice to know that it was a combat bird.

[Berkut76]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Neat bit of history there. I have to dig through my back issues of FlyPast and Aeroplane to see if I can find any articles on this aircraft. Nice to know that it was a combat bird.

I knew about this raid, but that was it for RAF 'Cobras.

On the Eastern Front, the first P-39 Aircobra I engagement resulted in two kills for the VVS with no losses, and the first large scale air battle in the skies over Murmansk resulted in 9 kills for the six Cobras of 19th GIAP with no losses (OK, the Germans sent Ju-88 bombers escorted by Bf-110s).

Regards,

Sergey

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

Neat bit of history there. I have to dig through my back issues of FlyPast and Aeroplane to see if I can find any articles on this aircraft. Nice to know that it was a combat bird.

Strangely enough, Cruv', the info' came from one of those 'Cerise'-coloured booklets we spoke about, the other week (me, you & Jim)

"Camouflage & Markings"..... Volume 12

Truthfully DON'T think you'll pick up much (if anything ?) from 'Flypast' magazine.......
(I was a 'Regular' F.P. buyer, for the 1st 15-years !)

The ACTUAL P.39's involved in (aforesaid) Combat are/were........

AH.581 - AH.583 - AH.589 - AH.595

The missions were flown in rough-weather, Manston being approx' 22 - 24 miles from the target area (my words, not the booklet - just local knowledge - "Best-Man" at my wedding came from there !)

According to the 'booklet' (sourced from Air-Ministry records) the weather conditions worsened & serviceability dropped.

I actually recognised the pilot of (your & Hobbymaster's) P.39 - 'AH.601'.........

It was the personal mount of Squadron-Leader Edward 'Jumbo' Gracie - previously the Squadron-Leader of 56 Squadron (Hurricanes, coded 'US') who were based during the Battle of Britain at North-Weald, my 2nd-Local airfield (& a second-home during the 90's, for me, hence my level of interest - both in 'North-Weald' & 56 Squadron !!!!!! - I had regular-access)

Interestingly, it quotes that the paint applied to 601 Squadron's P.39 Airacobra's, was produced in the U.S.A. by 'Dupont' !!!!!!!!

(to a British-specification)

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Berkut76

On the Eastern Front, the first P-39 Aircobra I engagement resulted in two kills for the VVS with no losses, and the first large scale air battle in the skies over Murmansk resulted in 9 kills for the six Cobras of 19th GIAP with no losses (OK, the Germans sent Ju-88 bombers escorted by Bf-110s).

Regards,

Sergey

Would be nice if HM put out at least one more Soviet P-39, so many paint schemes to choose from though. Just glad that HM is throwing in some variation with the aircraft they have chosen.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Strangely enough, Cruv', the info' came from one of those 'Cerise'-coloured booklets we spoke about, the other week (me, you & Jim)

"Camouflage & Markings"..... Volume 12

Truthfully DON'T think you'll pick up much (if anything ?) from 'Flypast' magazine.......
(I was a 'Regular' F.P. buyer, for the 1st 15-years !)

The ACTUAL P.39's involved in (aforesaid) Combat are/were........

AH.581 - AH.583 - AH.589 - AH.595

The missions were flown in rough-weather, Manston being approx' 22 - 24 miles from the target area (my words, not the booklet - just local knowledge - "Best-Man" at my wedding came from there !)

According to the 'booklet' (sourced from Air-Ministry records) the weather conditions worsened & serviceability dropped.

I actually recognised the pilot of (your & Hobbymaster's) P.39 - 'AH.601'.........

It was the personal mount of Squadron-Leader Edward 'Jumbo' Gracie - previously the Squadron-Leader of 56 Squadron (Hurricanes, coded 'US') who were based during the Battle of Britain at North-Weald, my 2nd-Local airfield (& a second-home during the 90's, for me, hence my level of interest - both in 'North-Weald' & 56 Squadron !!!!!! - I had regular-access)

Interestingly, it quotes that the paint applied to 601 Squadron's P.39 Airacobra's, was produced in the U.S.A. by 'Dupont' !!!!!!!!

(to a British-specification)

You dug up some real interesting information. Not sure if I will be able to add to it, but it sure is fun looking though. I have some of the The Aeroplane Spotter flyer type publications starting off March 13th 1941 through July 10th 1948. Pretty much complete too. Have to do a search through there and see if any mention of the RAF Airacobras comes up.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

You dug up some real interesting information. Not sure if I will be able to add to it, but it sure is fun looking though. I have some of the The Aeroplane Spotter flyer type publications starting off March 13th 1941 through July 10th 1948. Pretty much complete too. Have to do a search through there and see if any mention of the RAF Airacobras comes up.

I would imagine so, as that pic' I posted (last page) was from a 1941 (Fleet-Street) 'Press-Call', at Duxford, Cambridgeshire.

AFAIK, ALL 601's P.39 airframes were crated up & shipped across the Baltic/Barents to the U.S.S.R.

I remember reading in past-times (around 15 - 20 years ago), that the RAF & 601 in particular DIDN'T exactly 'put themselves out' to "like" the Airacobra, from the start.

I HONESTLY think that Hobbymaster have done an excellent job,

on replicating 'Jumbo'-Gracie's P.39 - 'Skylark' AH.601



( BTW, the Pilot of AH.589 - UF*L .flying the 9th March attack on Dunkirk, was F/Lt Himr )

[Cruver Collecter]

I did come across some references in regards to the RAF Airacobras in some of my The Aeroplane Spotter publicactions. First was an issue from August 14 1941 and it has nice side shot of an Airacobra in RAF colors is interesting in that it has 12 exhaust stubs on the side as apposed to 6 found on the Airacobra Mk.I. Interesting note on caption reads, " The progress of the Airacobra (Not now called the Caribou) will be watched with the greatest interest in action). The Not is actually bolded in the print. Next issue that has the Airacobra in it is October 16 1941, and it is a shot of an Airacobra I of the R.A.F. in flight. Aircraft in photo looks to be looks to be in the livery of the 601 Sqn, but cannot make out its aircraft number. This photo was in a section titled New Types In Service. Last article I found was from October 23 1943 issue. It has a nice in flight picture of a 601 Sqn Airacobra with aircraft number which looks to read AH 577. Interesting caption with this picture and it reads as follows:

THE COMING OF THE AIRACOBRA-Bell Airacobra single-seat fighters of the R.A.F. Fighter Command made their first operational flight over the Channel on October 9, 1941. They shot up a ship and enemy soldiers on a pier, but did not have the luck to meet any hostile aeroplanes. The Airacobra is distinctive in the air because of its long, slim nose and crackling sound which it makes--a noise which distinguishes it readily from other fighters. The Airacobra is not in the fastes class of fighters, nor is it a high-flying interceptor, but low down it is the fastest aeroplane now in service and the superior of the Messerschmitt Me 109E and the Me 109F in all counts--speed, fire power and manaeuvrablity. It should do well in service. The armament of the Airacobra in the R.A.F. one 20mm cannon firing through the airscrew, two 50-in. machine-guns in the nose and four '300 machine-guns in the wings.

Interesting bit of reading and maybe just a little bit of propaganda on the Airacobras behalf.

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

I did come across some references in regards to the RAF Airacobras in some of my The Aeroplane Spotter publicactions. First was an issue from August 14 1941 and it has nice side shot of an Airacobra in RAF colors is interesting in that it has 12 exhaust stubs on the side as apposed to 6 found on the Airacobra Mk.I. Interesting note on caption reads, " The progress of the Airacobra (Not now called the Caribou) will be watched with the greatest interest in action). The Not is actually bolded in the print. Next issue that has the Airacobra in it is October 16 1941, and it is a shot of an Airacobra I of the R.A.F. in flight. Aircraft in photo looks to be looks to be in the livery of the 601 Sqn, but cannot make out its aircraft number. This photo was in a section titled New Types In Service. Last article I found was from October 23 1943 issue. It has a nice in flight picture of a 601 Sqn Airacobra with aircraft number which looks to read AH 577. Interesting caption with this picture and it reads as follows:

THE COMING OF THE AIRACOBRA-Bell Airacobra single-seat fighters of the R.A.F. Fighter Command made their first operational flight over the Channel on October 9, 1941. They shot up a ship and enemy soldiers on a pier, but did not have the luck to meet any hostile aeroplanes. The Airacobra is distinctive in the air because of its long, slim nose and crackling sound which it makes--a noise which distinguishes it readily from other fighters. The Airacobra is not in the fastes class of fighters, nor is it a high-flying interceptor, but low down it is the fastest aeroplane now in service and the superior of the Messerschmitt Me 109E and the Me 109F in all counts--speed, fire power and manaeuvrablity. It should do well in service. The armament of the Airacobra in the R.A.F. one 20mm cannon firing through the airscrew, two 50-in. machine-guns in the nose and four '300 machine-guns in the wings.

Interesting bit of reading and maybe just a little bit of propaganda on the Airacobras behalf.

Very interesting additional-info'..........

I'm absolutely amazed that it had (as they claim) "two .50-in M.G.'s in the nose" (as I ALWAYS thought they were just the usual 'ubiquitous' .303 M.G.'s that were SO STANDARD for British Fighters of the time.....(before the advent of the Hurricane II.C & the Typhoon Ib.'s) ?????????

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by Hornchurch

Very interesting additional-info'..........

I'm absolutely amazed that it had (as they claim) "two .50-in M.G.'s in the nose" (as I ALWAYS thought they were just the usual 'ubiquitous' .303 M.G.'s that were SO STANDARD for British Fighters of the time.....(before the advent of the Hurricane II.C & the Typhoon Ib.'s) ?????????

All the descriptions in these pubs state the .50 cal armament in the nose. Even the Detailed Drawing by L.H. Clark go with the .50s in the nose. Kind of surprised, because he was fairly spot on with his drawings, even has the appropriate stagger in the wing gun armament. Even more interesting because these publications were done up in the UK.