Author Topic: Looking for info/images of A-24 Banshee (Read 1013 times)

oboe · « **on:** April 05, 2005, 07:19:09 AM »

This was the Army version of the SBD Dauntless. Pics I've seen of it show the standard OD green over grey scheme. I know they were were used operationally in Indonesia in the early part of the War before they were pulled out of combat due to horrendous losses.

Wondering if anybody has a pic or image of one from a combat unit...

CPorky · « **Reply #1 on:** April 05, 2005, 07:55:13 AM »

I found a few, I'm hesitant to cut and paste stuff from other people's pages unless its 'ok' with them first.

Here is the USAF page http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/research/attack/a3/a3-24.htm

Here is the quicklink Google CLICKME

Dux · « **Reply #2 on:** April 05, 2005, 08:21:59 AM »

I had made a Banshee skin in AH1 for the Tunisia terrain... let me see if I have it somewhere.

Kegger26 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 05, 2005, 10:00:47 AM »

Oboe you gonna make that for us? That would be great. I love flying the SBD. This would give me a reason to fly it off land now.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 05, 2005, 11:20:51 AM »

From "Bloody Shambles" by Christopher Shores and Brian Cull. It's an excellant book on the early airwar in the Pacific.

Photo ID'd as a 91st Squadron A24 Dauntless. 91st was flying out of Malang, Eastern Java.

Not much to the markings but it is an Army Dauntless

Dan/CorkyJr

oboe · « **Reply #5 on:** April 05, 2005, 11:44:07 AM »

Nice pic tho. Do you suppose it was taken in Louisiana during the war exercises in 1941? The red center of the star was eliminated from the insignia in early 1942 I think. I also think the insignia was made much larger for recognition.

Yeah, I'd like to do a few skins for the Dauntless, and a USAAF Banshee would be real different. I also found a Free French AF one with the black/white stripes similar to the Ju88 that was done recently. Very sharp.

btw did the French only fly the F-5 photo recon version of the P-38? Or did they take them to combat?

Guppy35 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 05, 2005, 11:53:26 AM »

Funny how that works. Found a profile of one of those French Birds

Dan/CorkyJr

Guppy35 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 05, 2005, 11:55:22 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by oboe
Nice pic tho. Do you suppose it was taken in Louisiana during the war exercises in 1941? The red center of the star was eliminated from the insignia in early 1942 I think. I also think the insignia was made much larger for recognition.

Yeah, I'd like to do a few skins for the Dauntless, and a USAAF Banshee would be real different. I also found a Free French AF one with the black/white stripes similar to the Ju88 that was done recently. Very sharp.

btw did the French only fly the F-5 photo recon version of the P-38? Or did they take them to combat?

I don't believe the French had anything but recce P38s. I don't recall ever seeing an image of a fighter version in French markings

BTW I'm inclined to believe the A24 photo I posted is accurate. Shores is a stickler for accuracy in the photos and the time frame for the photo is February 42 or before as the 91st was operating then. The RAF birds still had red in the markings as did the USAAF and USN birds and they hadn't taken the time to adjust the markings at that point. Photo may have been taken in Australia too, prior to the 91st's move to Java

Dan/CorkyJr

oboe · « **Reply #8 on:** April 05, 2005, 01:19:41 PM »

Interesting! I would love to be able to do a US combat plane with the original US insignia.

CPorky's link above was very enlightening as to the plight of these A-24 squads, too. Apparently they arrived in Australia with Lousiana mud still on their worn out tires, and were refitted with Aussie truck tires!

I found a model review of that same French Banshee - very nicely done.

My thoughts are to do an AAF A-24, the French A-24 above, an early war Pacific USN SBD, and an Atlantic Fleet grey over white SBD.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 05, 2005, 02:12:08 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by oboe
Interesting! I would love to be able to do a US combat plane with the original US insignia.

CPorky's link above was very enlightening as to the plight of these A-24 squads, too. Apparently they arrived in Australia with Lousiana mud still on their worn out tires, and were refitted with Aussie truck tires!

I found a model review of that same French Banshee - very nicely done.

My thoughts are to do an AAF A-24, the French A-24 above, an early war Pacific USN SBD, and an Atlantic Fleet grey over white SBD.

Imagine if HT and company ever did some of the early war Japanese stuff, like the Ki 27 or Ki-43 as well as some of their light/medium bomber stuff. Then hope that maybe they throw in the P39, Buffalo, Catalina and maybe a Hudson or Blenhiem to go with it, along with the Hurri I, II and P40B and E we already have.

Then throw it into a scenario or the CT. What an interesting world that would be

Dan/CorkyJr
80th had P39s first so I'd be fine

oboe · « **Reply #10 on:** April 05, 2005, 02:36:29 PM »

The Buffalo and a Ki.43 would be great additions to an early war Indonesia setting, and adding the P-39D would be great for 1942 Southwest Pacific.

Some great skinning potential on the P-39, too.

Guppy35 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 05, 2005, 04:52:01 PM »

Enjoying the day off and doing some digging on the history stuff

Looks like the red center in the national insignia started getting painted out in late April-May 42. Doolittle Raider B25s still had them and that was April 18, 1942.

49th FG history has photos of P40s with both painted out and still showing red centers in late April 42.

8th FG painted the red dots out in June-July 42 according to their history.

So any of the right after Pearl Harbor fights up til Midway is probably a safe bet to keep the red circle in the national insignia on a USAAF plane.

Looks like the Navy had done the same by June 42 prior to Midway.

Dan/CorkyJr