US pilots flew Soviet planes in Spain against Francos fascists, some of them even became ace status.
The most famous one was Frank Glasgow Tinker, who was the first pilot ever to shoot down an bf-109, unfortunately he did not live long enough to fight in WW2, as he apparently committed suicide.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mT153c1Ev8
http://www.encyclopediaofarkansas.net/encyclopedia/entry-detail.aspx?entryID=4581
Hmmn, very interesting, thanks.
I did nevere heard the american pilots fought on soviet fighters in spain, seriously;)
During the Spanish Civil War, Tinker flew with other notable American mercenaries, including Harold Dahl, Orrin Dwight Bell, Derek Dickinson, Jim Allison, Charlie Koch, and Albert Baumler. Tinker has been placed in the American Fighter Aces Association for his eight confirmed kills and recorded compensation totaling $18,500 from his exploits in the Spanish Civil War. His eight confirmed enemy kills of the war placed him at the top among the American pilots.
Eight kills not bad for “Ishachok” ( I-16 informal name).
He was capable to fight even with speedy superior bf-109g2 , coz its incredible maneuvraability. But at that same time I-16 had a troubles with engine.
Yes the engine had some problems, it did overheat easily i guess.
Not bf-109G-2(later model) but bf-109B’s who where faster than the I-16 in level flight but had some problems in gaining heights. The republican pilots did in some cases profit on that, and used the I-16’s better maneuverability to shot the bf-109’s down.
beloved child has many names, and the I-16 was named the rat(Ratta) by the Facist, and fly(Mosca) by the Republicans.
One of the greatest fighter pilots ever, the Finnish ace Juutilainen said about the I-16
“the Fokker was our best fighter in 1939, but the Soviet Polikarpov I-16 was faster, had better agility and also had protective armor for the pilot. I flew later a war booty I-16, and it did 215 knots at low level and turned around a dime. I liked that plane”
Some Soviet pilots in the spanish war scored over 20 kills in the I-16, some can wonder why VVS did not use the experience of the returning Spanish or Asian vets better against the Finnish, though in pure Fighter to Fighter encounters their scores in the winter war where quite even.
The Rata is cult
Even in the Kellogs boxes
Amazing.
I heard in Khalkhin Gol
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Khalkhin_Golthe
first soviet I-16 were very succesfull against Japane fighters.
Some Soviet pilots in the spanish war scored over 20 kills in the I-16, some can wonder why VVS did not use the experience of the returning Spanish or Asian vets better against the Finnish, though in pure Fighter to Fighter encounters their scores in the winter war where quite even.
It was used but as you’ve noticed the fighter-firghter battles were rare in winter war.
James Peck was a US African American who flew for the Republicans during the Spanish Civil War. Some accounts credit him with five victories (making him the first black US ace) but others say he was not allowed to fly at all. Whatever his record he was there and was willing to fight.