History Up Close with the P-40 Tomahawk

[@qedsteve]

The third highest scoring pilot in the AVG was Charles Older who became a lawyer then judge. Older was the presiding judge in the Charles Manson trial. He earned the praise of prosecuting attorney, Vincent Bugliosi for his handling of the trial.

[@p47thunderbolt68]

A pilot knowingly climbs into a machine knowing his enemies are better equipped take one heck of a brave man .

[@tempestfury8324]

Well that's certainly true but the Japanese weren't "better equipped", especially against the AVG. The P-40 was faster, could outdive, was better armored and armed than the Japanese Army fighters...mostly Ki-21 and Ki-43 planes.

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The biography of Gregory Pappy Boyington, is an excellent read. To describe him as a colorful character would not do it justice. Another excellent read about an AVG pilot is " God is My Co-Pilot " Robert L Scott. This was also made into a movie. An interesting side note to Robert L Scott was that he made a trip to visit the China wall after Nixon went to China. He got off the train and decided to start walking across some of the terrain he had flown across. It turns out the area he decided to walk around was the Chinese ICBM area. He was quickly picked up arrested period when they discovered he had flown for the American volunteer group AKA The Flying Tigers, they unarrested him and gave him the red carpet treatment. Personally I'm not fond of the red Chinese government but they showed a lot of honor and appreciation to Robert L Scott in their treatment of him once they realize he had flown for the Flying Tigers. I read about that Reader's Digest I think it was the early 80s late 70s.

[@ieatoutoften872]

I love the video, but there is a glaring mistake a few seconds after 2:21. Before December 1941, the Commander, Claire Chennault divided the pilots and planes of the First American Volunteer Group into three squadrons. Pilots of each squadron decided the squadron name. The insignia of the First Squadron was a green apple. The insignia of the Second Squadron was a panda bear. The insignia of the Third Squadron was an Hell's Angell. So it was a GROUP of 3 squadrons and the tiger decal was applied to some (not all) of the planes of each of the 3 squadrons in April of 1942. So the tiger decal was a group insignia (not a squadron insignia).

[@JohnRodriguesPhotographer]

The P40 was obsolescencent on 12-7-1941, inspite of that it continued to soldier on throughout the war. A testament to the designs ruggedness and versatility below 15,000 feet.

[@tempestfury8324]

It certainly wasn't "obsolete" by the attacks on Pearl Harbor. The P-40 had it's strengths and weaknesses just like every other plane. This proved especially true for the AVG pilots against the JAAF aircraft where the P-40 outclassed the Ki-27 and Ki-43 in almost every regard (speed, outdive, armor, and armament, self-sealing tanks, etc.)

[@adirondacker007]

What a beautiful display! I'd say keep the paint as is. I've been studying World War Two aviation history since the late 70's, when I found John Toland's book on the Flying Tigers in my elementary school library. From this background, I can say you did a fine job with this video. Thank you for your contributions! Both in this video, and your others as well. Best regards!

[@davidhayes7596]

I noticed that when the 23rd group was mentioned being named the tigers that the tape was cut and some information was omitted. Well that's okay , it was a part that was interesting.

[@Idahoguy10157]

Warhawk Air Museum in Nampa Idaho flies one of their P-40’s

[@daha2337b]

OOPS footage of P51B/C at 1:40. Otherwise thanks for a great video.

[@charlesdudek7713]

I would bet the amount China paid for the services of the Flying Tigers was still less than it would have cost to R&D and build a fighter plane and train pilots to fly and fight. Not to mention they would have been defeated before that happened. In that light maybe not such an exorbitant amount was paid by China. Interesting video!

[@jasons44]

Where's the planes