Foreign aircraft used in combat by the US

[Sandman]

Originally posted by jollyFE
Krusty

I think the plane the Navy uses at TopGun is the Kifr, built in Isreal.


Jolly

IIRC, the Kfir was used for a year or two in the early-mid 80's. It's a knockoff of a Mirage 5.

[Sandman]

Originally posted by zarkov
You mean the average American drives as if his car is a lethal weapon and everyone on the street has been sleeping with his wife?

Only inside the DC loop.

[hopper16]

Gentlemen

I am not the Worlds Autority on this subject BUUT, I have served 17+ years in the RAF & have access to the UK MOD historcal Archives.

Here is some interesting info on the American Spits:

Two American Army Air Corps Fighter Groops were privileged to fly British Spitfires in WWII: the 31st & 52nd.

The 31st takes the Honor of being the firts American unit to fly & Fight over Europe since WWI. While they were briefly based in England, Neither group saw heavy action but that all changed when they were shipped to North Africa.

The 31st formmed in USA late January 1942(Harrison R Thyng became the first 309th Squadron commander) by August 1942 Thyng & the 309th were engaged in fighter sweeps over the English Channel from RAF West HAmpnett equipped with the Spit V( that same month Thyng logged a damage claim on an FW190 the first claim by an American pilot against the Luftwaffe)
That same year saw the 309th shipped to the Mediterranean theater via Gibralter( the 309th had to exit Gibralter fast it had only just been captured from the Germans) they picked up thier Trusty Spit Vs & flew to Tafaraoui Airfield in Algeria( the 31st Group consisted of the 308th & 309th Sqns at this time)
The Americans did not have to wait long for action in fact on arriavl to Tafaraoui Airfield they were attacked by four enemy aircraft( Thyng Red Flight shot down 3 out of 4 of the attackers. the 31st got itts first confirmed kils but lost thier first KIA Joe Byrd killed while trying to land.

I have volumes of info & Picture of the American Spitfire Experience but here are the figure of a superb Fighter Group:

On March 30th 1944 the Group (31st) officially finished flying Spitfires and was in the process of converting to the P51B Mustang.

307th Sqn 65 kills confirmed
308th Sqn 67 kills confirmed
309th Sqn 56 kills confirmed
31st Headquaters Group 6 kills confirmed
Group Total 194 kills confirmed in Spitfires

Spitfires flown MKvs & MK IX

Highest scoring Ace Lt Leland Molland 11 kills

The 31st Fighter Grop produced 39 Aces, 15 from the 309th Sqn, 13 from the 307th Sqn & 11 from the 308th Sqn.

I am currently researching other American flown spitires the 7th Photo Group 8th & 14th Photo Sqns.
These brave men flew unarmed Spitfires on missions over Germany reecording Bomb damaged & looking for new targets for the Bomber groups to hit

Hope you find this interesting I will post more if wanted

Regards
Hopper 16 Grims Reapers

[eskimo2]

I'm pretty sure we used used some Airspeed Horsa gliders.

eskimo

[eskimo2]

Here’s a good one:  What German made aircraft was bought and used by the us military?

eskimo

[zarkov]

Gibraltar had just been captured from the Germans in 1942?

With the exception of the channel islands, I hadn't realized that any bit of British soil had been occupied by the Germans.

[hopper16]

zarkov

You are correct Gibralter was not occupied by the Germans but the Aifield at Tafaraoui Algeria was.
Sorry for the mis representation I was condensing a large ammount of info I lost my place in my summary.

Hopper16

[zarkov]

Originally posted by hopper16
zarkov

You are correct Gibralter was not occupied by the Germans but the Aifield at Tafaraoui Algeria was.
Sorry for the mis representation I was condensing a large ammount of info I lost my place in my summary.

Hopper16

Well, say twenty Hail Marys and don't let it happen again.

[Brooke]

The P-51 is half British, with its Merlin engine.

[eskimo2]

Originally posted by eskimo2
Here’s a good one:  What German made aircraft was bought and used by the us military?

eskimo

No one has a guess?

eskimo

[Angus]

I have some records of the U.S. Spitfires landing in N-Africa.
They were rather green when they arrived I belive.
BTW the USN or is it the coastguard has French Helicopters - Aerospetale?

[eskimo2]

Answer:



eskimo

[Scherf]

Hi Karnak:

The USAAF used the Mosquito Mk. 30 nightfighter on the 416th NFS in Italy - at one point they had a detachment in France, with the 425th at Etain IIRC.

Some Canadian B.XXs converted to P.R. work were used as F-8s in the Med. I was not aware of any PR.IVs in American service. Let me know if you've got better info.

Cheers,

Scherf

[Karnak]

Originally posted by Scherf
Hi Karnak:

The USAAF used the Mosquito Mk. 30 nightfighter on the 416th NFS in Italy - at one point they had a detachment in France, with the 425th at Etain IIRC.

Some Canadian B.XXs converted to P.R. work were used as F-8s in the Med. I was not aware of any PR.IVs in American service. Let me know if you've got better info.

Cheers,

Scherf

That was said out of memory.  I know that the USAAF wanted to replace all F-5s with F-8s and that a number of PR Mossies were handed over to the USAAF in the UK.  Unfortunately Mossie production was never high enough to meet all the demand for Mossies.  I understand Curtiss considered ceasing production of P-40s and building Mossies on liscense, but decided against it.  A shame really too, the Mossie was useful enough that having an extra four ot five thousand would have been very nice.

EDIT:

The only Mk IV I can find reference to is the initial Mossie turned over to Col. Roosevelt for evaluations.  Other than that it looks like the USAAF operated NF.XIIIs, PR.XVIs and NF.30s.