Warplanes in the "away end"

[Tyre Smoke]

I've always had a fascination for warplanes that are in the enemy's markings. And how it came about.

I've seen ME109s in RAF roundels, Spitfires in Luftwaffe markings and I think a Flying Fortress in Luftwaffe markings.

Anyone got any pictures or stories to tell?

[Seight_Returns]

Argentine Pucara captured at end of Falklands Conflict - shipped back to UK and put on the UK Mil Register as ZD485 with British Mil Markings. Evaluated at Boscombe Down in 1983 - now back in Argentine markings and on display at Cosford.

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001151...

https://www.facebook.com/War1982/posts/captured-ar...

Vaguely remember at least one Argentine helicopter being captured and used in British markings in the later days on the conflict - but can't find the details.

[Dr Jekyll]

One captured helicopter was used by the Hereford hooligans for a few years after the conflict.


A more recent example of strange markings, bought not captured.



Plenty of US examples





I think this is a photoshop based on image of an Iranian F14.

Edited by Dr Jekyll on Friday 8th January 10:06

[Seight_Returns]

Been a while since I read Jeffrey Quill's book - but I remember reading therein about a captured FW-190 in RAF markings being escorted by 4 Spitfires. Can't remember the circumstances of how it was captured.

A Google search for "FW-190 RAF Markings" shows that there was a WW2 RAF Unit - Flight 1426(Enemy Aircraft). Some IWM film on them operating German Aircraft:

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/search?filters%...

[Simpo Two]

Seight_Returns said:

Been a while since I read Jeffrey Quill's book - but I remember reading therein about a captured FW-190 in RAF markings being escorted by 4 Spitfires. Can't remember the circumstances of how it was captured.

The first Fw190 to be captured intact was when the pilot flew a reciprocal course, I believe, and landed in England thinking he was home.

[Yertis]

Seight_Returns said:

Been a while since I read Jeffrey Quill's book - but I remember reading therein about a captured FW-190 in RAF markings being escorted by 4 Spitfires. Can't remember the circumstances of how it was captured.

I think the chap landed in the wrong place.

Not directly relevant but I read only last night about the Germans using captured Russian tanks as armoured recovery vehicles.

edited to add: Damn you Simpo, with your faster and better answer.

Edited by Yertis on Friday 8th January 16:36

[psi310398]

Didn’t the Swiss co-opt all manner of aircraft, both Allied and Axis, that landed on their soil in WW2?

ISTR seeing a YouTube fillum on the topic. Equally, I might simply be going gaga.

[RizzoTheRat]

Light on pictures but you'd probably enjoy Eric "Winkle" Browns book Wings On My Sleeve. He was involved in flying many captured German aircraft back to Britain after the war.

A lot of form soviet countries have some interesting equipment. The Polish fly F16s SU-22 and Mig 29s for example.



https://theaviationist.com/2016/08/15/stunning-air...

[Eric Mc]

There are many, many pictures of such situations, especially from World War 2. The most recent edition of "Aeroplane" has a whole article on the display of captured German aircraft held at Farnborough in November 1945. It was actually the first ever public air display held at Farnborough.

[KieronGSi]

Seight_Returns said:

Argentine Pucara captured at end of Falklands Conflict - shipped back to UK and put on the UK Mil Register as ZD485 with British Mil Markings. Evaluated at Boscombe Down in 1983 - now back in Argentine markings and on display at Cosford.

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001151...

https://www.facebook.com/War1982/posts/captured-ar...

Vaguely remember at least one Argentine helicopter being captured and used in British markings in the later days on the conflict - but can't find the details.

Registration for the helicopter is G-HUEY.

[Yertis]

Eric Mc said:

There are many, many pictures of such situations, especially from World War 2. The most recent edition of "Aeroplane" has a whole article on the display of captured German aircraft held at Farnborough in November 1945. It was actually the first ever public air display held at Farnborough.

Staggering to think that someone said "right, let's chop them up!"

I actually think about this sometimes when I'm chucking away a perfectly functional – but outdated – bit of computer equipment.

[vetrof]

KieronGSi said:

Seight_Returns said:

Argentine Pucara captured at end of Falklands Conflict - shipped back to UK and put on the UK Mil Register as ZD485 with British Mil Markings. Evaluated at Boscombe Down in 1983 - now back in Argentine markings and on display at Cosford.

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001151...

https://www.facebook.com/War1982/posts/captured-ar...

Vaguely remember at least one Argentine helicopter being captured and used in British markings in the later days on the conflict - but can't find the details.

Registration for the helicopter is G-HUEY.

2 Augusta A109 were captured and returned to UK, they were put to use in support of the SAS. I don't believe either have ever carried that registration which would be more at home on a Bell UH1.

[Equus]

Simpo Two said:

The first Fw190 to be captured intact was when the pilot flew a reciprocal course, I believe, and landed in England thinking he was home.

I know a lot of Welshmen who would take serious issue with that statement...

[motomk]

vetrof said:

2 Augusta A109 were captured and returned to UK, they were put to use in support of the SAS. I don't believe either have ever carried that registration which would be more at home on a Bell UH1.

I'm sure there used to be one (A109) at the Fleet Air Arm Museum in one of their displays back in the '80s?, seem to remember it parked near the blue Wessex 3 Humphrey. No idea, if it is one of the above.

[frodo_monkey]

There was also a Puma used that was ex Argentine; no longer in service though as it wasn’t upgraded:

https://www.helis.com/database/cn/200/

[frodo_monkey]

Oh and the ‘cut and shut’ Chinook:

https://en.mercopress.com/2009/07/18/falklands-war...

[KieronGSi]

vetrof said:

KieronGSi said:

Seight_Returns said:

Argentine Pucara captured at end of Falklands Conflict - shipped back to UK and put on the UK Mil Register as ZD485 with British Mil Markings. Evaluated at Boscombe Down in 1983 - now back in Argentine markings and on display at Cosford.

https://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/photo/001151...

https://www.facebook.com/War1982/posts/captured-ar...

Vaguely remember at least one Argentine helicopter being captured and used in British markings in the later days on the conflict - but can't find the details.

Registration for the helicopter is G-HUEY.

2 Augusta A109 were captured and returned to UK, they were put to use in support of the SAS. I don't believe either have ever carried that registration which would be more at home on a Bell UH1.

I was referring to this UH-1.

http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Se...

[Simpo Two]

Equus said:

Simpo Two said:

The first Fw190 to be captured intact was when the pilot flew a reciprocal course, I believe, and landed in England thinking he was home.

I know a lot of Welshmen who would take serious issue with that statement...

Ah yes, now I recall he mistook the Bristol Channel for the English Channel!

[Condi]

psi310398 said:

Didn’t the Swiss co-opt all manner of aircraft, both Allied and Axis, that landed on their soil in WW2?

ISTR seeing a YouTube fillum on the topic. Equally, I might simply be going gaga.

Yes, they had a lot of aircraft, mainly German, but some from other nations too.

From memory they equipped an entire squadron of FW109's which had landed in Swiss territory.

Probably a Mark Felton video on the subject somewhere.


There is also the story of how the Americans stole a Libyan MIL helicopter towards the end of the Cold War.

https://warisboring.com/operation-mount-hope-how-t...

[Eric Mc]

The Swiss actually bought a batch of Messerschmitt 109Es before World War 2.
They inherited some aircraft during the war through crash landings and defections.