The P-47 Thunderbolt's Controversial Ancestor - Seversky P-35 | Aircraft History 112

Summary

The video delves into the history of the Curtiss P-35, exploring its use during the early days of the Pacific War. Despite its innovative design, the P-35 quickly became obsolete, facing numerous challenges in combat, including a lack of pilot armor and poor fuel tank construction. The aircraft's deployment in the Philippines in 1941 led to significant losses, with only a few aircraft surviving. The script also covers the P-35's evolution into the XP-41 and the eventual development of the P-43 Lancer. The narrator reflects on the P-35's shortcomings while highlighting the heroic but doomed efforts of its pilots.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Curtiss P-35 was one of the primary fighters in the Philippines' air defense before and during the early stages of World War II.
• 😀 The P-35 was deployed alongside P-36s and older P-26s in the 24th Pursuit Group at Clark Air Base in the Philippines.
• 😀 By December 8, 1941, P-35s still formed a major part of the defense, even as newer P-40 Warhawks began to arrive.
• 😀 P-35s were vulnerable in combat due to a lack of armor for the pilot, non-self-sealing fuel tanks, and leakage issues in the wet wings.
• 😀 Despite these vulnerabilities, some P-35 pilots claimed two kills of Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zeros, although these claims are difficult to verify.
• 😀 The P-35's most notable combat action included an attack on a Japanese minesweeper, which was successfully sunk by Lieutenant Sam Moret, though he died in the attempt.
• 😀 After the attack on the Japanese fleet, P-35s were caught by Japanese aircraft while returning to base, resulting in the loss of 12 more planes and further damage to others.
• 😀 By December 24, 1941, only six operational P-35s remained, and they were eventually mistaken for enemy aircraft, leading to friendly fire incidents that further reduced their numbers.
• 😀 The last combat sortie of a P-35 occurred on May 3, 1942, marking the end of its active service in the Philippines, with most losses attributed to enemy or friendly fire rather than air-to-air combat.
• 😀 The P-35's design, though innovative at its introduction, quickly became obsolete, leading to its replacement by more capable fighters like the P-40.
• 😀 Despite its limitations, the P-35 was appreciated for its good handling and ease of maintenance, though it was underperforming in the face of modern warfare demands.

Q & A

What was the primary role of the P-35 in the Philippines before the Pacific War?

The P-35 was part of the Philippine Air Force's defense, assigned to squadrons within the 24th Pursuit Group, based at Clark Air Base. It was one of the main fighters defending the Philippines, along with the Curtis P-36s and older P-26s, leading up to the Pacific War.

What were the main vulnerabilities of the P-35 during combat?

The P-35 lacked effective protection for the pilot, with no armor and non-self-sealing fuel tanks. Additionally, its wet wings were prone to fuel leaks, making the aircraft highly susceptible to fires from gunfire or engine exhaust.

How effective were the P-35s in combat against the Japanese during the early days of World War II?

The P-35s were largely ineffective against the superior Japanese aircraft. While there were claims of two Mitsubishi A6M Zero kills, these are unverified, and most P-35 losses were due to enemy action or friendly fire. By December 10, 1941, the P-35's numbers had dwindled significantly.

What was the last combat action involving the P-35?

The last combat sortie flown by the P-35 occurred on May 3, 1942, when Captain Ramon Zoza carried out a strafing attack on Japanese landings. Afterward, he landed the aircraft on a small jungle airstrip, marking the end of the P-35's combat service.

What happened to the P-35s by December 24, 1941?

By December 24, 1941, only six P-35s were still operational in the Philippines. They were ordered to pull back to Bataan Field, but several of them were shot down or damaged by friendly fire as they were mistakenly identified as enemy aircraft by U.S. anti-aircraft gunners.

How did the P-35 perform in the attack on the Japanese invasion fleet?

During the attack on the Japanese invasion fleet, Lieutenant Sam Moret flew a P-35 that successfully strafed and sank the Japanese Minesweeper W-10, marking the P-35's only naval kill. Unfortunately, Moret was killed in the process when the shock wave from the explosion tore off the wing of his aircraft.

What were the primary design flaws of the P-35 that made it obsolete in combat?

The P-35 was rapidly made obsolete by newer, more advanced fighter aircraft, such as the P-40. Its main flaws included a lack of pilot protection, insufficient fuel tank safety, and the dated design of its wet wings, which led to fuel leaks and fires. It also struggled with performance against faster Japanese aircraft.

What steps were taken to improve upon the P-35's design?

In response to the P-35's obsolescence, several improved designs were created, including the XP-41 and P-43 Lancer prototypes. These featured more powerful engines, such as the Pratt and Whitney turbo-supercharged engines, and better performance at higher altitudes.

What was the fate of the P-35 in the Philippines by the end of the conflict?

By the end of the conflict in the Philippines, almost all P-35s were lost. Most were destroyed by enemy action or friendly fire, with only a few lost in aerial combat. The remaining P-35s were withdrawn from service by early 1942.

How did the P-35's service life compare to other aircraft like the P-40 and P-36?

The P-35 had a much shorter service life compared to the P-40 and P-36. It was obsolete by the time it saw combat, whereas the P-40 and P-36 continued to serve effectively for a longer period. The P-35’s innovations were quickly overshadowed by the rapid advancements in fighter aircraft design.