Author Topic: Apophenia's Offerings (Read 764914 times)

apophenia · « **Reply #2975 on:** May 27, 2022, 02:59:51 AM »

De Havilland Comet Inflight Refuellers Down Under - Part Two

From Singapore-Changi, RAAF fighters could readily deploy to forward bases during the final years of the 'Malayan Emergency'. In the opening phases of Australia's involvement in the Vietnam conflict, RAAF Sabres re-deployed to the Royal Thai Air Force Base Ubon. By this stage in the early '60s, the aging Comets had lost their cachet as VIP transports. Well-used Comet A87-101 was retired and sold off. [1] But the remaining three No. 33 Squadron Comets could now be dedicated to IFR and trooping. But, to the surprise of all, inflight refuelling by Comets would play a critical role in RAAF operations in South Vietnam.

In December 1967, it was decided to forward-deploy Sabres at Vung Tau in the Republic of Vietnam to support the 1st Australian Task Force in Phuoc Tuy province. The Sabres were operating in high heat and humidity, while often carrying heavy ground-attack ordnance. Whenever possible, the RAAF fighter took off 'light' and refuelled enroute to targets. Two Comets would trade off doing circuits over SE Vietnam to top-up the Sabres. [2] The pace was relentless. By the beginning of 1970, both the Sabres and the Comets were withdrawn from Vietnam. Having played essential roles in supporting 1 ATF on the ground, both aircraft fleets were worn out. The last Sabre was retired in 1971. The Comets lingered on in storage at RAAF Base Woomera until August 1975 when the surviving trio were sold for scrap.

Image De Havilland DH.106 Comet Mk.4CR of No. 33 Squadron, RTAF Base Ubon, eastern Thailand, December 1967. Inset is a probed CA-27 Sabre Mk.33 fighter. Note the tropical fading of the Sabre's camouflage by comparison with Comet A87-102's newly applied paintwork.

In common with most other RAAF aircraft deployed to SE Asia, large black serials have been applied to the rear fuselage. [3] This dictated the unusual moving of the Australian roundel forward (almost to the nose). An Australian flag is displays above the fin flash but the camouflaged Comets carried few other markings.

______________________________________________

[1] This sale, in part helped provide funds for the purchase of an ex-Qantas Boeing 707-138B. The appropriately-named 'City of Canberra' (VH-EBC, c/n 17698) was returned to Boeing in October 1961. At Renton, she was refitted for the government VIP role and returned to Australia in February 1962.

[2] A third IFR Comet was always kept in reserve in Australia - while usually also undergoing maintenance and repair to keep the overworked RAAF Comet fleet airborne.

[3] The camouflaged Sabres were also exceptional in this. In contrast to the deployed Comets, Canberras, and Caribous, the Sabres worn their 'last three' numerals on their noses. Their roundels remained on the rear fuselage.

Old Wombat · « **Reply #2976 on:** May 27, 2022, 08:30:02 AM »

apophenia · « **Reply #2977 on:** June 07, 2022, 09:25:52 AM »

Over in the Maritime Patrol GB, Jonesthetank mentioned the Blackburn Botha.

-- https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=10349.0

For some, inexplicable reason, I have a soft spot for the Blackburn Botha. No question that this was a dog of an aircraft (much of that attributable to the specification bloat leading to M.10/36). The question is: was there any potential for improvement?

Bottom: "There's no substitute for horsepower!" A basic B.26 Botha airframe re-engined with higher-powered Bristol Hercules twin-row radials. The larger propellers would necessitate a broader wing centre-section for clearance. I've also extended the outboard wing panels. A beefier undercarriage is fitted and the forward fuselage extended (to improve all-around visibility from the cockpit).

Less obvious is the enlarged rudder - which had a deeper chord than the original B.26 Botha. This aircraft also has the 'North Sea' mod - replacing the Frazer-Nash FN7 dorsal turret with a 4-gunned Boulton-Paul 'A' unit (made surplus by the cancellation of the Blackburn Roc turret fighter.

Top: A more extreme modification of the B.26 Botha airframe. The wing is of the original size but now centre-mounted on the fuselage. The powered turret has been removed to reduce weight and to lessen drag. The navigator's position has been move aft, allowing the 'Nav' to operate one of two Vickers GO guns in Sunderland Mk.I style dorsal stations.

The vertical tailplane has been moved forward ... but just for fun and to look more Blackburn-y.

NB: These sideviews are based on an original profile done by Simon Glancey in 2003.

Jonesthetank · « **Reply #2978 on:** June 07, 2022, 04:22:38 PM »

Nice!

Like the idea of adding the BP turret in place of the original FN one, hadn't thought of that on my profile.

Cheers

Mark

apophenia · « **Reply #2979 on:** June 11, 2022, 08:32:01 AM »

Something I did for the Secret Projects Forum ... a retouch of a Julio López Caeiro profile to show an Hispano Aviación-built Republican D.XXI powered by a Soviet Shvetsov M-25 driving a VFSh-6 propeller. Armament was to be four ShKas machine guns - I have assumed 2 x synchronized cowl guns and 2 x wing-mounted guns.

-- https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/fokker-d-xxi-projets-and-derivatives.3514/page-2#post-536935

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2980 on:** June 12, 2022, 01:16:28 AM »

apophenia · « **Reply #2981 on:** June 16, 2022, 08:21:41 AM »

The Maritime Patrol GB - https://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?board=103.0 - is proving very lively

apophenia · « **Reply #2982 on:** June 28, 2022, 08:24:41 AM »

This started off as a notion for the Maritime Patrol GB that didn't pan out. The MPA was going to be a further evolution of the Ju 188H-2 with fuselage stretches inspired by the Ju 88H. It didn't work, so I bailed ...

Anyway, I modified that 'Ju 188H-4' concept into another whif evolution of the Ju 188. I have no idea what the abandoned RW Ju 188M long-range reconnaissance project was to look like. But I decided that my Ju 188M would originally be a mixture of Ju 188 and Ju 388 features.

Bottom Surrendered Junkers Ju 188M-0 pre-production machine during its evaluation as TS474 by 1426 (Enemy Aircraft) Flight RAF. Trials at Farnborough revealed the design weakness inherit in the FA 15 tail barbette and its PVE 11 periscopic sight. The BMW 801TJ engines also proved unreliable.

The production Ju 188M-1 was based on the Ju 188E airframe, dispensing with the troublesome FA 15 barbette and adopting more readily-available BMW 801G radials. The drag-inducing top turret was eliminated in favour of a more Ju 88-like rear guns arrangement. This defensive armament was regarded as inadequate by operational Luftwaffe units. When Luftwaffe Aufklärer shifted to Ju 388Ls, the Ju 188Ms were passed on to the Kriegsmarine.

Top A naval Ju 188M-1 of 2./Aufklärungsgruppe (F)131 (See) based at Pillau-Neutief in East Prussia. This aircraft is in full post-Juli Plot markings - greyed-out Schwarzes Kreuze and 'Diamant dreifarbig' on the fin. Junkers 4F+UN was lost to Soviet fighters off Memel in January 1946.

___________________________

BTW, these sideviews began life as a Ju 88G profile by Herbert Ringlstette. Why the odd-ball markings? Just not in the mood right now for any Nazi Scheißen ...

kitnut617 · « **Reply #2983 on:** June 28, 2022, 10:47:57 PM »

I've got a book called 'War Prizes', there's hundreds of photos of Air Ministry numbers on captured aircraft.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2984 on:** June 29, 2022, 01:38:39 AM »

I like the idea of "post-Juli Plot markings"

apophenia · « **Reply #2985 on:** June 29, 2022, 04:23:15 AM »

Thanks Greg. Some time back, I started working on an alternative 'Kesselring Plot'. Maybe I'll get back to that storyline at some point ...

Quote from: kitnut617 on June 28, 2022, 10:47:57 PM

I've got a book called 'War Prizes', there's hundreds of photos of Air Ministry numbers on captured aircraft.

Ooo, that would've been handy! I was just making up markings from memory

I'm not sure what the RW serial iTS474' was applied to. But TS472 was a captured Ju 88S-1 so, I figured, close enough

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2986 on:** June 29, 2022, 04:31:58 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on June 29, 2022, 01:38:39 AM

I like the idea of "post-Juli Plot markings"

Some fighters in similar markings would be interesting.

kitnut617 · « **Reply #2987 on:** June 29, 2022, 04:33:15 AM »

Quote from: apophenia on June 29, 2022, 04:23:15 AM

Quote from: kitnut617 on June 28, 2022, 10:47:57 PM
I've got a book called 'War Prizes', there's hundreds of photos of Air Ministry numbers on captured aircraft.

Ooo, that would've been handy! I was just making up markings from memory

I'm not sure what the RW serial iTS474' was applied to. But TS472 was a captured Ju 88S-1 so, I figured, close enough

Written by Phil Butler, IIRC I got my copy through Air-Britain but they're available on the internet by the looks of it.

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2988 on:** June 29, 2022, 04:36:08 AM »

This is the book:

kitnut617 · « **Reply #2989 on:** June 29, 2022, 04:38:41 AM »

Yup!

Depending on the results for my last medical test I have to have done, will decide if I'll have to find some good homes for my book collection

Sport25ing · « **Reply #2990 on:** June 29, 2022, 06:55:32 AM »

Just imagine the Allies having to use some of the captured aircrafts for frontline use - or in Top Gun-style military trainings.

apophenia · « **Reply #2991 on:** June 29, 2022, 07:51:03 AM »

Quote from: kitnut617 on June 29, 2022, 04:38:41 AM

Depending on the results for my last medical test I have to have done, will decide if I'll have to find some good homes for my book collection

Whoa! That sounds grim Robert

Fingers crossed (twice)!

Quote from: GTX_Admin on June 29, 2022, 04:31:58 AM

Some fighters in similar markings would be interesting.

Hmm ... might have to move on some post-Juli Plot Messerschmitts and Doras ...

kitnut617 · « **Reply #2992 on:** June 30, 2022, 03:51:51 AM »

Quote from: apophenia on June 29, 2022, 07:51:03 AM

Quote from: kitnut617 on June 29, 2022, 04:38:41 AM
Depending on the results for my last medical test I have to have done, will decide if I'll have to find some good homes for my book collection

Whoa! That sounds grim Robert Fingers crossed (twice)!

Just got a call from the clinic I have to go to, I'll find out next week on July 7th. It's a 2 hour test ----

apophenia · « **Reply #2993 on:** July 06, 2022, 04:17:04 AM »

Quote from: GTX_Admin on June 29, 2022, 04:31:58 AM

Some fighters in similar markings would be interesting.

Not the same markings ... I concluded that the Schwarze Kreuze were premature. Instead, I've gone with a USAAF-style roundel with a white Balkankreuze replacing the US star.

_________________________________________

Nach dem Juli-Plot - Focke Wulfs

As Bundesluftwaffe fighter-interceptors, all 'Langnasen' Focke Wulfs were gathered together in Jagdgeswader 30 under Major Günther Rall. [1] The JG 30 Fw 190Ds and Ta 152Hs took on a top-cover role for the JaBos - usually Fw 190Gs but sometimes Bf 109s as well.

Initially, Bundesluftwaffe fighters wore their previous camouflage scheme overmarked with post Juli-Plot national markings. New and refurbished aircraft were delivered to units stripped to natural metal before covering in clear lacquer finish. Flight controls (and the wooden tail surfaces of Ta 152Hs and Bf 109Ks) were covered in silver dope. In most cases, an anti-glare panel was applied in front of the windscreen - in RLM 83 dunkelgrün or, occasionally, RLM 70 schwartzgrün.

Top Focke Wulf Ta 152H-1n of 1./JG 30 flown by Oberfeldwebel Helmut Zander. [2] At the time, elements of 1./JG 30 were stationed in western Lithuania at Feldflugplatz Eigirdziai - 60 km west of Schaulen (Šiauliai). Note that this aircraft has yet to have its underwing OstFront bands applied.

The 'n' suffix in the Ta 152H-1n designation stood for neue Produktion - indicating a post-collapse assembly from available components at Focke Wulf's Sorau plant.

Bottom Focke Wulf Fw 190D-9 flown by Leutnant Arnold Döring once 2./JG 30 had moved north back into Latvia. While operating from Flugplatz Dünaburg (Daugavpils), 180 km southeast of Riga, Lt Döring claimed two Tu-4 Bat bombers downed while trying to attack Dünaburg rail junction and yards.

'Schwarze Vier' was a mélange of recovered 'Dora' components reassembled into a whole. OLt Döring would latter become Gruppenkommandeur of 2./JG 30.

_______________________________

[1] Rall had been recruited out of hospital to resume command of his old unit - JG 30 being a renumbered Jagdgeswader 301.

[2] Prior to the 'collapse', OFw Zander had trained on the Me 262. He served as a consultant pilot on turbojet-engined aircraft for Allied Intelligence prior to rejoining JG 30.

Old Wombat · « **Reply #2994 on:** July 06, 2022, 09:22:07 AM »

That's pretty cool!

perttime · « **Reply #2995 on:** July 06, 2022, 01:02:23 PM »

Love the Juli-Plot Focke Wulfs!
It just might be possible to blend that alt history with my funny Spitfires and Hestons, used by Finland, Baltic States and Scandinavian countries. http://beyondthesprues.com/Forum/index.php?topic=2970.msg44727#msg44727

apophenia · « **Reply #2996 on:** July 08, 2022, 05:51:12 AM »

Cheers folks

perttime: Those alt-Spitfires definitely fit! Dig your 'Finnic Federation' concept too

___________________________

Die Übergangsluftwaffe - The Transition Luftwaffe

It took some time (and negotiation with Die neuen Verbündeten) to determine the new marking scheme for Bundesluftwaffe aircraft. During the Bürgerkrieg im Dritten Reich - the civil war which erupted between supporters of the Juli-Plot and those loyal to the Nazis - die Plotters scrubbed the Hakenkreuze from their tailplanes. In the immediate aftermath, the Balkankreuze were also covered over (in a sop to Western Allied anti-aircraft gunner recognition).

New markings were agreed between the Interimsleitung (Interim Leadership) in Bonn and Western Powers. This was to consist of a white Balkankreuze superimposed over a black disc for non-combatant aircraft - trainers and other support types. [1] Combat aircraft would wear similar crosses over a blue disc banded with white. Obviously based upon USAAF roundels - to the point of including asymmetrical wing markings - this style was adopted primarily to further aid in recognition.

Since Bundesluftwaffe combat aircraft were intended to operate exclusively on the OstFront, yellow theatre markings were also applied. In many cases this meant the overpainting of previous Reichsverteidigung color bands. This may explain why many Bundesluftwaffe combat types lacked RLM 04 Gelb wingtip panels.

Schlacht - Messerschmitts for Ground-Attack

Ground-attack was the key role assigned to the Bundesluftwaffe in pushing back the advancing Red Army from Germany's eastern borders. Losses were high and the supply of refurbished Fw 190F and 'Gs could not keep pace with demand. As a result, many former Reichsverteidigung Bf 109s were allotted to make up numbers for the struggling Schlachtgeschwadern.

Top Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14 of IV./SG 77, lost to 'friendly fire' over Narva. This aircraft is shown ohne Markierungen - with national markings overpainted - as it appeared when shot down in error by an Estonian light flak battery.

Bottom Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/R6 of III./SG 3 while at Feldflugplatz Vinschai (Vincai) in southwestern Lithuania, February 1945. 'Weiße A' is in a typical late-war camouflage scheme with post Juli-Plot markings overpainted in the field. The 'erks' got the asymmetrical underwing markings right but missed the 'bars' on the fuselage roundels.

In the Schlachtgeschwadern, the underwing 'Gondel' cannons revealed a Flak-Strafer escort role. For such aircraft, the under-fuselage rack was strictly for fuel tanks - no bombs were ever carried by these Flak-Strafflugzeuge.

________________________________

[1] Black and white being the traditional colours of Prussia.

perttime · « **Reply #2997 on:** July 08, 2022, 12:47:04 PM »

Quote from: apophenia on July 08, 2022, 05:51:12 AM

... Dig your 'Finnic Federation' concept too

I recall needing the Federation so that I could put a Finnish Border Guard aircraft in an Asiatic group build

Quote

Bottom Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2/R6 of III./SG 3 while at Feldflugplatz Vinschai (Vincai) in southwestern Lithuania, February 1945. 'Weiße A' is in a typical late-war camouflage scheme with post Juli-Plot markings overpainted in the field. The 'erks' got the asymmetrical underwing markings right but missed the 'bars' on the fuselage roundels.

It is a little surprising to see a G-2 with the bumps required by the bigger machineguns on the nose.

Litvyak · « **Reply #2998 on:** July 08, 2022, 10:15:51 PM »

Quote from: perttime on July 08, 2022, 12:47:04 PM

I recall needing the Federation so that I could put a Finnish Border Guard aircraft in an Asiatic group build

Suuri Suomi Uraaliin asta!

GTX_Admin · « **Reply #2999 on:** July 09, 2022, 02:36:55 AM »

I wonder...will we see any Allied types in Juli-Plot markings? Some Typhoons or Tempests? P-51s or P-47s?


"From the Sea" Amphibious GB

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Author Topic: Apophenia's Offerings (Read 764914 times)