Robert L Scotts encounter with a Japanese P-40?

[Nathan]

I have read about this a few times where Robert Scott accountered a Japanese P-40 in China. Indeed the Japanese captured a few P-40's. Interesting and was wondering if anyone here has anymore about it?

Wondering could these P-40's be ones captured in the Philippines? Why would Japan use captured allied aircraft?

[Jack Cook]

The whole story is pure HS and he was telling the story not has a first person account.
BTW pictures in the mail with a few extras

[Nathan]

The whole story is pure HS and he was telling the story not has a first person account.
BTW pictures in the mail with a few extras

Thanks Jack! Can't wait.

[Dudley Henriques]

I have read about this a few times where Robert Scott accountered a Japanese P-40 in China. Indeed the Japanese captured a few P-40's. Interesting and was wondering if anyone here has anymore about it?

Wondering could these P-40's be ones captured in the Philippines? Why would Japan use captured allied aircraft?

I can't say for sure the story is false as I'm no where near a historian, but
I knew Scotty for many years and in our talks and letters back and forth he never mentioned this to me.
Dudley Henriques

[JDK]

The 'one of ours flown by an enemy' stories have circulated throughout the history of air combat. With only a couple of exceptions, when investigated, there's a more reasonable explanation - errors in combat, misidentification etc.

The problems of operating an enemy aircraft in combat with them overwhelm the few 'advantages' when examined in detail - problems the novelists tie themselves in knots over with secret signals, paint, special manoeuvres etc. so their fellows know they're 'one of them' - funny how the other guys never tell about those codes...

The only documented case (rather than BS or speculation based on a post-flight debrief) I'm aware of is an Italian flown P-38. There may be more.

(Of course there are also confused cases in places like the Balkans with changing alliances and getting anything flying.)

Cheers,

[Dudley Henriques]

The 'one of ours flown by an enemy' stories have circulated throughout the history of air combat. With only a couple of exceptions, when investigated, there's a more reasonable explanation - errors in combat, misidentification etc.

The problems of operating an enemy aircraft in combat with them overwhelm the few 'advantages' when examined in detail - problems the novelists tie themselves in knots over with secret signals, paint, special manoeuvres etc. so their fellows know they're 'one of them' - funny how the other guys never tell about those codes...

The only documented case (rather than BS or speculation based on a post-flight debrief) I'm aware of is an Italian flown P-38. There may be more.

(Of course there are also confused cases in places like the Balkans with changing alliances and getting anything flying.)

Cheers,

Angelo Tondi I believe flew that P38 but I could be mistaken. It's been a long time. One of our association people was a WW2 heavy vet who flew B24's out of Foggia and Bari. I believe I recall him mentioning Tondi who might have nailed a Lib or two with that Lightning. Had something to do with Sardinia I think.
DH

[mas]

While not related to Scott's story, here's an interesting site with reports of Japan putting captured P-40s to use:

http://www.j-aircraft.com/captured/capt ... ed_p40.htm

[JDK]

Interesting, thanks! Although not particularly useful in combat, one has to draw a distinction between operating an enemy type in one's own colours, and operating an enemy type in enemy colours - critical in the rules of engagement.

[tom d. friedman]

as history lengthens, so does embellishment.