Fighting Irish Forums

McBiggles and Noter (right?) will get their checkers on the nose if they want and soda gets the checkered arse.

You know it, plus now we can add our nose art 'cause we won't have those stupid squad markings on the whole side of the plane...It looks fantastic Falcon, very nice.

Now that we have teams and a side I'll get to work on 'em (39 and VIII). Should my Mk VIII still be desert, because right now it still is, and with US markings?

My Axis FI squad is ready if that's what we're using, still not sure what's going on with those...

Noter

Tac went from, "tell me exactly what's going on ...", early in the last design project to, "huh? ... you axin' me?" now, so ... I s'pose we can just go with what we want.

I fink:

- either a Brit or US P-40 will be great. Let us know if you need any info in your search Jake,

- a US Spit would be cool and that it should blend in with the Italian map. Tac and others say that the desert skins would be lousy camo there,

- at first I didn't like the idea, but having the dark FIS insignia for the Axis and the old green one for the Allies sounds good. If we are finalized on which style we want, (Sneaky had a good design too), we should go with it. First guy with a finished insignia wins? >shrug<

- if I have time I may make Allied AND Axis skins for all HE mates just in case we switch 'round later,

- I need to cut the grass before it rains ...


Falgone

The allied P40M squadrons in this theatre are some real heavyweights. They include, for the RAF, the 112 Shark squadron and for the USAAF, the Checkertail Clan of the 325th Fighter Group. Lots of aces, and veterans of countless missions over North Africa. Both groups took part in the Sicily invasion in some capacity. The American planes would have the red outline on the stars and bars insignia.

As for the Spitfires, the 308th Fighter Squadron of the 31st Fighter Group of the USAAF, were stationed near to, and on Sicily in July-August 1943 and flew MkVIII Spitfires. They have an amazing history and an outstanding record for the North African theatre. Again the stars and bars would be outlined in red.

All these skins are going to be great additions to any pilots collection.

Can't wait to see the P40M.

Moe

Excellent info Moe!

Lots of good Google hits w/Checkertail Clan of the 325th Fighter Group




found this wee pic.

Maybe a gold/green or something checker on the P-40 tail?

~~~

Most of the US Spits I found were still stone/brown into '43. Here's a link to a typical profile ...

http://worldatwar.net/chandelle/v4/v4n1-2/gozo.html

F

found this @http://www.mts.net/~royb/units_middle_east_1942.html

That looks almost desert-y Sneaky....

SAAF were allegedly equipped with these for Italy

...the debate rages...leave them with the desert skin or make 'em green and gray? Historically they should be desert scheme?

Noter

Well, it looks like they used any colour they could throw at them!

The Desert Air Force were involved, as were a lot of new units brought in for the invasion , FAA etc. so I suppose it depends largely on where the unit came from. They were certainly staging attacks from N.Africa and Malta. The Allies quickly established air superiority, "If you see an aircraft it's Allied." was the commonly repeated phrase among Axis ground forces. About the only Luftwaffe unit I've come across is the Herman Goering Panzer Division!

If we're that concerned about historical accuracy the Axis (LW) side should be flying on the Stalingrad or Berlin map, while the Allies fly Italy

That's all well and good but, what're the SAAF?

One solution to the debate ...



Sneaky and Noter,

You are now, by Tac's proclaimation, members of the evil horde. Give the Allied ac you do a good Italy map camo and we of the righteous forces of Dog will promise not to paint your 109's and 190's bright pink, yellow and white with target reticles all over them.

Snaphoo and Falcon





SAAF: South African AF

shouldn't that be " Seth Effrican Eyirr Ferssse" ?

:FI:Falcon wrote:One solution to the debate ...



Sneaky and Noter,

You are now, by Tac's proclaimation, members of the evil horde. Give the Allied ac you do a good Italy map camo and we of the righteous forces of Dog will promise not to paint your 109's and 190's bright pink, yellow and white with target reticles all over them.

Snaphoo and Falcon





SAAF: South African AF

Except for McBiggles. His plane gets special attention.

Moe,

This is a kinna cool pic.



Would you rather this or the knife thing for nose art?

~~~

Sneaky,

Are the Stuckas ready for numbering and detailing?

~~~

Who's doing the 111?

~~~

Tac,

About how long 'til we move to Italy?

~~~

Noter or Sneaky,

Is the new FIS "dark side" insignia ready to send?



Falcon

A gold/green checker would look great on the P40, imho.

The Spitfire Mk Vs of the 31st FG seemed (from the sources I have seen) to carry the Operation Torch roundels (with the yellow outline) through to the end of 43 and possibly to their end of service date in March 44. The Spitfire Mk VIIIs and IXs probably had the red outline as they were introduced to the group in Apr-Jun 1943. They would have changed to the non-outlined stars and bars in 1944.

That pic is cool Falcon and would make an excellent noseart. I'm kinda attached to the knife noseart (thanks Noter! ) and wouldn't want to make any extra work for you skinners.

Moe