The Candy Coloured Air Force - Argentine P-47D complete

[comrade harps]

Hawker Tempest V, a/c "T" of Groupe de Chase 1/7 Provence, T, Pohang, southern Korea, May, 1946

After the deal which Germany's post-Nazi regime saw the withdrawal of occupation forces from France, the Armée de l'Air received 200 Tempest Vs from the RAF. These were chiefly used in Asia. Two escadrille joined SEAC for the September 1945 invasion of Malaya and moved through to campaigns in Thailand and the reclamation of French Indo-China. The other two, G/C 1/7 and C/G11/7, joined the USAAF's 5th Air Force in the Philippines, moving forward to Okinawa in November 1945. From here they conducted several Apple shuttle missions, taking off from Okinawa, conducting fighter sweeps over the Japanese main islands and landing in southern Korea before reversing their journey a day or two later.

On 5 April, 1946, the day before X-Day, the invasion of Honshu, G/C 1/7 flew an Apple mission to Pusan, leaving C/G 11/7 on Okinawa to perform a similar mission the next day. The plan was for both units to conduct a series of Strawberry seek-and-destroy missions against Japanese road, rail and maritime traffic over the next week before returning to Okinawa on the second half of their Apple mission.



On X-Day both units flew seek and destroy missions over Kyushu and inevitably encountered Japanese planes in the air, claiming 8 Japanese planes without  loss. Both units deployed to Pohang from 17 April, conducting CAS missions (code named Watermelons) and interdiction missions (including Strawberries and Pumpkins, the latter being strikes against fixed targets) until the Japanese surrender. Just visible under the bomb mission markings are several Asparagus mission symbols. With the Red Army giving every appearance that it might invade the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, the Western Allies undertook a campaign of deterrence, which included combat air patrols (code named Asparagus) over Hokkaido and the Sea of Japan.



The kill markings on this aircraft were all earned on X-Day and X-Day+1, when over two sorties, two pilots claimed two Ki-84s and a Ki-61.

[Taiidantomcat]

Wow!! 

[NARSES2]

Stunning Tempest 

Like the backstory as well. My own alt WWII scenario hasn't got quite as far as yours yet. US are just about to re-take the Phillipines and the Anglo/French are pushing on through Indo China on to S China and Formosa.

I may use parts of your story if that is ok ?

[comrade harps]

I may use parts of your story if that is ok ?

Not a problem, be my guest.

[GTX]

Pretty

[NARSES2]

I may use parts of your story if that is ok ?

Not a problem, be my guest.

Thanks

[sideshowbob9]

A pair of great looking models you have there!

[comrade harps]

The 3rd in the candy coloured triology:




Argentine Jug vs Japan.

[sequoiaranger]

The "candy" camo is PERFECT for hiding the P-47 on your workbench!  

[comrade harps]

Republic P-47D-40
aircraft of Major Pablo Aguirre
301 Escuadrón, Argentine Expeditionary Air Force, Latin American Fighter Group, Taegu, southern Korea, May 1946



After several attacks on its shipping by Axis forces, the Argentine government declared war on Germany, Italy and Japan in December 1942. One result of this was the establishment of an expeditionary fighter squadron, which first saw combat in the Philippines in June 1945 equipped with ex USAAF P-47D-28s and -30s. In September, this unit was united with similarly armed fighter squadrons from Brazil and Mexico to form the 1st Latin American Fighter Group (LAFG).



At around the same time, the LAFG was equipped with new P-47D-40s. Built exclusively for Lend-Lease customers, the delivery of these aircraft had been held back from the LAFG until they were deemed to be combat proficient with the earlier models.



In October, 1945, the LAFG moved to Okinawa and began operations against the Japanese home islands before moving to Taegu in southern Korea for more tactical missions in November. The 2nd Latin American Fighter Group, equipped with Kaiser-built Grumman P-50K Spitfires, joined them at Taegu in December.

The blue anti-glare finish on the fuselage and wing tops was adopted whilst at Okinawa. Up to X-Day, most missions were Strawberries and Pumpkins, with the occasional Asparagus deterrence CAP against possible Red invention. After the invasion, Watermelon cab-rank CAS missions were also undertaken. On X-Day itself, though, 301 Escuadrón conducted air defence CAPs against Japanese kamikaze attacks on Korea, Major Aguirre claiming his only two air combat victories on this day. Both victims were Ki-155s, shot down on approach to Pusan.

The LAFG's colours were white, red and black, and proved to be controversial. Officially, the white was for "the purity of our hearts and the righteousness of our cause," the red signifying "the blood we will spill in pursuit of freedom and liberty" and black was for "the death we will bring upon our enemies." 

[manytanks]

Is that Stkilda colours i see there on the tail section and around the engine?

[comrade harps]

You got me in one!

[AXU]

Nice work ! 

[GTX]

Pretty