And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
The Airacobra wasn't 'panned' by the Air Force (which didn't exist until after the war). The P-39 was unsuitable for the theaters in which the Air Corp operated it. The U.S. continued use of the P-39 after the deficiencies were noted.
I only add this in the interest of keeping history accurate.
Check out Greg's Airplanes on YT, he has a whole discussion on this issue. Essentially the P-39 lacked a 2 stage supercharger so over 10k feet it didn't have the performance needed on the western front. US & England were using high altitude bombers so it couldn't do anything up there. The eastern front combat generally took place well below that altitude and for that type of combat, it did pretty good.
The Aircobra was panned by the U.S. air force during WW2, but the Soviets loved the aircraft.
ReplyDeleteThe Airacobra wasn't 'panned' by the Air Force (which didn't exist until after the war).
ReplyDeleteThe P-39 was unsuitable for the theaters in which the Air Corp operated it. The U.S. continued use of the P-39 after the deficiencies were noted.
I only add this in the interest of keeping history accurate.
Airacobra; why climb out of a cockpit when you can be a Gentleman and use the Airacobra's side door?
ReplyDeleteCheck out Greg's Airplanes on YT, he has a whole discussion on this issue. Essentially the P-39 lacked a 2 stage supercharger so over 10k feet it didn't have the performance needed on the western front. US & England were using high altitude bombers so it couldn't do anything up there. The eastern front combat generally took place well below that altitude and for that type of combat, it did pretty good.
ReplyDeleteMy Dad flew P-39's in the Pacific, primarily in ground attack role.
ReplyDeleteI bet the "Night Witches" would've loved these
ReplyDelete