Post by rickthelibrarian on Jan 27, 2011 11:17:31 GMT -5
The Air Force Museum (now known as the "National Museum of the U.S. Air Force") has a Seversky P-35 on display in their main collection. The aircraft is "dressed up" in colors of the 17th Pursuit Squadron of the 4th Composite Group, which was stationed at Nichols Field in 1940-41. Nice restoration, but one thing: The colors and markings are wrong for that aircraft. The aircraft at the museum is an earlier model which never saw service in the Philippines.
What's ironic (as I state in the letter), I wrote an article many years ago for their magazine, stating the differences and including several pictures from their collection
Although it is nice that they honored a unit seeing service in the Philippines, the Museum is supposed to be THE "benchmark" for accuracy and research. I wrote them to following letter: (pardon the length!)
Dear Sirs,
In looking at your website online, I noticed that you have a Seversky P-35 on display at the Museum in the colors and markings of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, assigned to the 4th Composite Group at Nichols Field in the Philippines in 1940-1941. The technical side of the restoration is excellent, as are nearly all restorations done by the Museum.
However, I am not quite sure what possessed you to paint this aircraft in the colors and markings you chose. The 17th did fly the earlier model of the P-35 while stationed in the States, but used a totally different model of the P-35 while in the Philippines. There were numerous differences between the aircraft pictured and the P-35A which was actually used. The P-35A used by the 17th in the Philippines was manufactured as an export version for Sweden two or three years later than the original P-35. Before most of these aircraft were exported, they were seized while in the U.S. and all but a handful were sent to the Philippines in late 1940.
I have some knowledge of this subject, as, in the 1980s I published a number of magazine articles on U.S. aircraft in the Philippines before and during World War II. Ironically, in view of this letter, one was for the (then) Air Force Museum Friends magazine (Winter, 1987-88 issue). I covered the differences between the P-35 and P-35A in some detail in my article for the Museum. I also included a number of photographs (many obtained from the Museum’s collection), which again, show the considerable differences between the two models.
Although I am always glad to see the aircraft in Philippine Department colors, I cannot understand who was responsible for the research which resulted in this color scheme. As you are probably aware, there are numerous photographs and paintings of earlier P-35s in correct colors and markings, which would have served, just and well (and with considerably more accuracy). As I know doing this type of restoration was not cheap, either in cost and time, I can only wish that somebody would have done a little more research on this aircraft.
In my opinion, it would be similar to painting an early B-17D/E in late WWII 8th AF colors or a F6F in pre-WWII colors. While this may be done by individuals or small museums lacking the knowledge or resources, it is inexcusable by such a “state of the art” museum as the Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Again, I was glad to see the “publicity” showing an aircraft used in the Philippines, but I would have thought you would have picked a better (and less rare) “vehicle”. The museum run by Kermit Weeks in Florida does have a legitimate P-35A, which was in correct colors and markings a few years ago.
I would be happy to send you a detailed “rundown” on the differences between the P-35 and P-35A, as well as markings on Philippines-based aircraft. I do not know what can be done to correct this matter, but I wanted you to be made aware of it.
Sincerely,
Richard R. Slater
What's ironic (as I state in the letter), I wrote an article many years ago for their magazine, stating the differences and including several pictures from their collection
Although it is nice that they honored a unit seeing service in the Philippines, the Museum is supposed to be THE "benchmark" for accuracy and research. I wrote them to following letter: (pardon the length!)
Dear Sirs,
In looking at your website online, I noticed that you have a Seversky P-35 on display at the Museum in the colors and markings of the 17th Pursuit Squadron, assigned to the 4th Composite Group at Nichols Field in the Philippines in 1940-1941. The technical side of the restoration is excellent, as are nearly all restorations done by the Museum.
However, I am not quite sure what possessed you to paint this aircraft in the colors and markings you chose. The 17th did fly the earlier model of the P-35 while stationed in the States, but used a totally different model of the P-35 while in the Philippines. There were numerous differences between the aircraft pictured and the P-35A which was actually used. The P-35A used by the 17th in the Philippines was manufactured as an export version for Sweden two or three years later than the original P-35. Before most of these aircraft were exported, they were seized while in the U.S. and all but a handful were sent to the Philippines in late 1940.
I have some knowledge of this subject, as, in the 1980s I published a number of magazine articles on U.S. aircraft in the Philippines before and during World War II. Ironically, in view of this letter, one was for the (then) Air Force Museum Friends magazine (Winter, 1987-88 issue). I covered the differences between the P-35 and P-35A in some detail in my article for the Museum. I also included a number of photographs (many obtained from the Museum’s collection), which again, show the considerable differences between the two models.
Although I am always glad to see the aircraft in Philippine Department colors, I cannot understand who was responsible for the research which resulted in this color scheme. As you are probably aware, there are numerous photographs and paintings of earlier P-35s in correct colors and markings, which would have served, just and well (and with considerably more accuracy). As I know doing this type of restoration was not cheap, either in cost and time, I can only wish that somebody would have done a little more research on this aircraft.
In my opinion, it would be similar to painting an early B-17D/E in late WWII 8th AF colors or a F6F in pre-WWII colors. While this may be done by individuals or small museums lacking the knowledge or resources, it is inexcusable by such a “state of the art” museum as the Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Again, I was glad to see the “publicity” showing an aircraft used in the Philippines, but I would have thought you would have picked a better (and less rare) “vehicle”. The museum run by Kermit Weeks in Florida does have a legitimate P-35A, which was in correct colors and markings a few years ago.
I would be happy to send you a detailed “rundown” on the differences between the P-35 and P-35A, as well as markings on Philippines-based aircraft. I do not know what can be done to correct this matter, but I wanted you to be made aware of it.
Sincerely,
Richard R. Slater