Stuka in Maine

wrote:

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired wrote:

Ron Wanttaja wrote:

On Sat, 24 Sep 2005 18:40:46 -0500, John T wrote:



In summary, if someone wants to be touch-feely about historical aircraft
markings, I say, who cares! You cannot change the past, and replica
aircraft and paint schemes do not necessarily reflect the attitudes of
the governments or political parties of those countries.


I certainly agree when it comes to historical aircraft or accurate replicas. If
I had a *real* JU-87, I'd put the swastika on the tail.

With a non non-warbird, though, or with what is essentially a "joke" paint
scheme (like that Cessna 140 with the Luftwaffe markings)....that's a little
different.

The issue about Japanese markings is not quite as bad, as you mention. Heck,
their aircraft today still carry the same "meatball" as in WWII.

Heck, the thing to do would be to paint the Fly Baby like a Finnish Brewster
Buffalo:

http://www.classicairframes.com/images/ca4101_box.jpg

Then just laugh when folks complain about the swastika. :-)

Ron Wanttaja

Well, in that case you could point out the Finns used the swastika on
their aircraft before being taken over by the Nazis, that for them it
wasn't a Nazi symbol, that the U.S. Army had an arm patch with a
swastika ( NM national guard? ), that the swastika has thousands of
years of history world wide as a sun symbol or good luck symbol etc.



IIUC the Finns were NEVER 'taken over' by the Nazis.

During the Winter War, the Finns fought the Russians who
were cobelligerants with Germany. The Finns allowed German
troops on Finnish soil during or just after Operation
Barbaraossa which drew them into the Continuation war in
which they were allied with, but not 'taken over' by the
Nazis.

The terms of the armistice that ended the Continuation War
required Finland to fight any German units remaining on
Finnish soil. They did so, driving the last of them
accross the border into Norway.

The US sold buffaloes to Finland during the Winter War,
but they did not see combat until the Continuation War
during which the US sold Buffaloes to the Soviets.

Were there ever any Finnish Buffalo v Russian Buffalo
dogfights?

You are correct about the "taken over" term, it was ill chosen on my
part. It's my personal opinion Finland wasn't exactly autonomous once
the Nazis arrived.

Dan, U.S. Air Force, retired