April in Aviation History

**Don Boose** · #1 04-19-2018, 07:12 AM

MichaelS has reminded me that yesterday was a doubly famous date in the history of World War II in the Pacific.

It was on 18 April 1942 that the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo was launched and, the following year, U.S. Army pilots shot down and killed Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, the Commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet.

Some resources on these events:

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders - Official Web Site of the Raiders
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-...ttle-raid.html
Access Denied

Death by P-38 | HistoryNet

Also, 1 April was the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the British Royal Air Force. The British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast an oral history of the RAF in commemoration: Per Ardua Ad Astra: RAF Voices -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x8ygn

Don

**MichaelS** · #2 04-19-2018, 07:29 AM

Thanks for that Don. As the Forum Historian you are hereby designated to do one of these each month. Maybe there is someone from the other paper modeling interest like cars, architecture, etc. that could add something as well.

**elliott** · #3 04-19-2018, 12:30 PM

Vermin King does a similar thing on Dave Winfield's (Airdave) Cut and Fold Forum.

**Vermin_King** · #4 04-19-2018, 01:15 PM

Well, I try. Luckily I have an archive to dip into now. Last year was the first year I actually had a post for each day.

I enjoy the rabbit trails, and sometimes I want to do a post and there is no appropriate model.

But if you are registered there, you can check it out ... Login

RickPink65 · #5 04-20-2018, 07:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Don Boose

MichaelS has reminded me that yesterday was a doubly famous date in the history of World War II in the Pacific.

It was on 18 April 1942 that the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo was launched and, the following year, U.S. Army pilots shot down and killed Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, the Commander of the Imperial Japanese Navy Combined Fleet.

Some resources on these events:

Doolittle Tokyo Raiders - Official Web Site of the Raiders
https://www.history.navy.mil/browse-...ttle-raid.html
Access Denied

Death by P-38 | HistoryNet

Also, 1 April was the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the British Royal Air Force. The British Broadcasting Corporation broadcast an oral history of the RAF in commemoration: Per Ardua Ad Astra: RAF Voices -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b09x8ygn

Don

You missed the most important event in aviation history that took place exactly today 100 years ago: The death of Baron Manfred Von Richthofen when he was downed by Australian troops when he was flying his beautiful Fokker Dr-1 Tri-Plane 425/17. This event is much more important than any other that took place during WWII or any other happening because the Red Baron was the first real fighter pilot with a very high score of 80 kills. Also, because aviation was still in its infancy and Von Richthofen was real genius as a fighter pilot something really unknown 100 years ago. He also turned his pilot career into a legend with his beautiful airplanes attractively colored.

**rickstef** · #6 04-20-2018, 08:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickPink65

You missed the most important event in aviation history that took place exactly today 100 years ago: The death of Baron Manfred Von Richthofen when he was downed by Australian troops when he was flying his beautiful Fokker Dr-1 Tri-Plane 425/17. This event is much more important than any other that took place during WWII or any other happening because the Red Baron was the first real fighter pilot with a very high score of 80 kills. Also, because aviation was still in its infancy and Von Richthofen was real genius as a fighter pilot something really unknown 100 years ago. He also turned his pilot career into a legend with his beautiful airplanes attractively colored.

The baron was killed on April 20, the Doolittle Raid took place on April 18, technically 2 days removed, and over 20 years between the two events.

All pilots in WW1 were real fighter pilots, as they all develops the tactics in use today.

**Don Boose** · #7 04-20-2018, 09:12 AM

Thanks for the additional info on April aviation anniversaries, Rich.

Don

**MichaelS** · #8 04-22-2018, 10:08 AM

Red Baron day

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manfred_von_Richthofen

**airdave** · #9 04-22-2018, 12:21 PM

I quote Wiki too, but remember its a public site...anyone can post "facts".
Don't place a bet on anything you read there!

Yesterday (the 21st) Bing was broadcasting that it was the day Richtofen was shot down.
I assume that also refers to the day he was killed.

They could have got their "facts" from Wiki too! LOL

Give or take a day or so, we're close enough! lol

RickPink65 · #10 04-22-2018, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rickstef

The baron was killed on April 20, the Doolittle Raid took place on April 18, technically 2 days removed, and over 20 years between the two events.

All pilots in WW1 were real fighter pilots, as they all develops the tactics in use today.

Wrong frog. The baron was killed April 21. We are both outdated