The part where the Marine pilots taunted the Japs really did happen if you read the historical books. It went something like Pappy Boyington on the radio saying to the effect "Come on up you yellow bastards!" whilst flying over a Jap base with the Jap fighters still on the ground and the Jap replied back "Why don't you come down Major Boyington" all in plain English. Radio security is a funny thing as even my friend's father has described how during the Konfrontasi time, each side was listening in to each other's tactical radio messages (Malay regiment versus Indonesian soldiers).
There was one time when Saburo Sakai, Jap ace, did aerial aerobatics over an American airbase with another Jap pilot.
And yes I agree Thunderbolts were one of the most understated aircraft. I guess ugly aircraft like the Jug didn't get as much credit as clean lines Mustangs even though they were used extremely well by the Allied European Theatre aces. Still in the Pacific Theatre, it was the P-38 Lightnings which did major gruntwork. Corsairs are still my favourite WW2 fighter next to the Focke-Wulf 190 Doras.
One question, were Spads already available and deployed during the Korean conflict (the piston engine aircraft you almost always see in Vietnam war flicks)?
Originally posted by panzerjager:
So the Koreans were like Black Sheep Squadron in the movie....? The old 70s series about US Pacific fleet land-based fighter aces against the Japs. Funny thing in that show was that the Yankees traded 'friendly' taunts with the Jap pilots over common radio frequency, in English! before they proceed to dogfight. 'Friendly' as in the same attitude between drunken sailors/airmen (on the same side) brawling over beer-fight in club
Anyway the Thunderbolts were indeed the understated ultimate fighters of WW2, everyone just seem to like the Mustang, Spitfire etc just because of the elitism they won through air-air combat. The real hard and dangerous fight was just above ground level and that's where the Thunderbolt was at home, among Typhoon, Schturmmovik, Mosquito, Beau-fighter etc