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To: Light Speed
What beautiful aircraft! I love those shark teeth.

Do you know the history behind why the Flying Tigers painted shark teeth on their aircraft? I vaguely remember something about the Chinese being afraid of sharks, or something like that.
1,086 posted on 06/22/2002 1:44:39 AM PDT by Jen
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To: AFVetGal
We had Shark teeth on our Phantoms for a while :-)
1,088 posted on 06/22/2002 1:45:14 AM PDT by RadioAstronomer
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To: AFVetGal
Actually..and hold on..its true,..the R.A.F....yup..the Brits were first to paint Shark teeth on their planes from earlier on in WW-2.
Different than the P-40's design which really suited the plane.
During ww-2 the Germans had a twin engine light bomber...over the Russian front..one squadron painted a "HORNET" Down the entire length of the planes body.
Talk about "Buzzin the enemy"
Famous Luftwaffe Air ace.."Adolf Galland" had a logo of Mickey Mouse painted on the side of his Me 109 ..the Mouse had a gun in his hand..and a cigar in the other...who says the Germans have no sense of humor!
Galland was the "Swaggering" fighter pilot type..he loved cigars..so much so..he had a cigar holder mounted inside the Me109's cockpit.
Shift:
My Moms first Cousin flew with the Flying Tigers in China..after the war..at a party..he met my mom..and tried to hit on her.
He offered her his Flying Tiger Jacket..with the Chinese rescue patch on the back.
Telling this story during a large family dinner..she said.. "I gave the Jacket back to him...what did I need with that dirty old thing"!
My dad buried his face in hands..and shook his head...
I leaned over to dad and said..."We just lost $3000.00"!
1,128 posted on 06/22/2002 2:09:39 AM PDT by Light Speed
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