Last combat mission for WW2 era fighters? - Aircraft of World War II

racerguy00 · 10-25-2009, 02:00 AM

I was just wondering if anybody knows when the last combat or even non-combat operational miliary mission by a WW2 era fighter was flown? I know the Central American "Soccer War" was in 1969. And I know about some non-fighter aircraft like the Dakota "Puff the Magic Dragon" gunship in Vietnam. (My dad was a witness to it's effectiveness from a safe distance).

What about any Soviet bloc planes in 3rd world airforces? It would seem like it would be possible for a plane like that to at least serve as a trainer in some out of the way part of the world later than 1969.

Sorry if this has been covered before.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 10-25-2009, 06:16 AM

Here is what I can find about last combat for particular aircraft.

F4U Corsair - 1969 "Soccer War" (This was also the last combat period piston engined fighters.)

P-51 Mustang - 1964 Dominican Air Force during Operation Power Pack. (The P-51 was used by the Dominican Airforce until the 1984.)

P-47 was used by the Peruvian Air Force until 1966, but I am not sure about combat.

Spitfire - 1948 Arab Israeli War and Malayan Emergency (however the Spit served until the 1960s)

Bf 109 - 1948 Arab Israeli War (however were used in Spain until the 1960s.)

Colin1 · 10-25-2009, 06:53 AM

P-63s fought for the French in Indo-China in the early 50s.
These were eventually replaced with another WWII veteran, the F6F as well as its sister, the F8F.

Tzaw1 · 10-25-2009, 07:23 AM

Suez Crisis 1956. A plenty of piston engined fighters. Israeli Mustangs, French Corsairs and so on...

FLYBOYJ · 10-25-2009, 08:36 AM

The Dominican AF flew P-51s in the 1980s and I'm sure did some COIN work with them.

syscom3 · 10-25-2009, 10:05 AM

The F8F Bearcat flew throughout the 1950's with the Royal Thai AF, French AF (in Vietnam) and then South Vietnamese AF. I believe the Bearcat was still doing fighter-bomber sorties as late as 1964.

The A-26 Invader (postwar the B-26) soldiered on for quite some time. 1969 was the last mission in SE Asia. Nigeria used them in 1967 in one of their civil wars. Portugal in 1965 in Angola. They also saw action in 1961 at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba.

Indonesia B26 info from wiki; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-26_Invader
In 1958, the CIA started Operation Haik in Indonesia, concerned about the Sukarno regime's communist leanings. At least a dozen B-26 Invaders were committed in support of rebel forces. On 18 May 1958, American contract pilot Allen Pope's B-26 was initially hit by anti-aircraft ground fire and then brought down by a P-51 Mustang flown by Capt. Ignatius Dewanto (the only known air-to-air kill in the history of the Indonesian Air Force). The capture and trial of Lieutenant Pope brought a quick end to Operation Haik, but the capabilities of the Invader were not lost on the Indonesian government. In 1959, the government purchased six aircraft at Davis-Monthan AFB and these were ferried to Indonesia in full military markings during mid-1960. These aircraft would have a long career and were utilized in a number of actions against rebels in various areas. The last operational flights of the three survivors was in 1976 supporting the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. In 1977, the last two flyers were retired.

Thorlifter · 10-25-2009, 11:28 AM

Cool information. I had heard/read most of this before but I didn't know the Spitfire served that late. Interesting.....

vikingBerserker · 10-25-2009, 02:54 PM

P-80's were used in South American at least until the mid 70's

If we can include the trainer version (which flew after WW2), Bolivia I believe is still using their T-33's

mhuxt · 10-26-2009, 08:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tzaw1

Suez Crisis 1956. A plenty of piston engined fighters. Israeli Mustangs, French Corsairs and so on...

Add the Mosquito to that list.

renrich · 10-26-2009, 12:34 PM

In the book by Barrett Tillman about the Corsair, he says nine Corsairs were still operational in 1978 in Honduras but I don't know of any combat at that date.

racerguy00 · 10-26-2009, 04:33 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'm thinking of doing a model of a Corsair or Mustang, with a paint scheme consistant with with one used during their last known operational sortie. This gives me a good starting point for some further research.

10-25-2009, 02:00 AM	#1
racerguy00 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NW PA Posts: 42	Last combat mission for WW2 era fighters? I was just wondering if anybody knows when the last combat or even non-combat operational miliary mission by a WW2 era fighter was flown? I know the Central American "Soccer War" was in 1969. And I know about some non-fighter aircraft like the Dakota "Puff the Magic Dragon" gunship in Vietnam. (My dad was a witness to it's effectiveness from a safe distance). What about any Soviet bloc planes in 3rd world airforces? It would seem like it would be possible for a plane like that to at least serve as a trainer in some out of the way part of the world later than 1969. Sorry if this has been covered before.

10-25-2009, 06:16 AM	#2
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 34,079	Here is what I can find about last combat for particular aircraft. F4U Corsair - 1969 "Soccer War" (This was also the last combat period piston engined fighters.) P-51 Mustang - 1964 Dominican Air Force during Operation Power Pack. (The P-51 was used by the Dominican Airforce until the 1984.) P-47 was used by the Peruvian Air Force until 1966, but I am not sure about combat. Spitfire - 1948 Arab Israeli War and Malayan Emergency (however the Spit served until the 1960s) Bf 109 - 1948 Arab Israeli War (however were used in Spain until the 1960s.) __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"

10-25-2009, 07:23 AM	#4
Tzaw1 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Warszawa Posts: 234	Suez Crisis 1956. A plenty of piston engined fighters. Israeli Mustangs, French Corsairs and so on... __________________ 'How much is two plus two?' 'Seven,' replies the machine.

10-25-2009, 08:36 AM	#5
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,874	The Dominican AF flew P-51s in the 1980s and I'm sure did some COIN work with them. __________________ > I Support Doug Gillis <

10-25-2009, 10:05 AM	#6
syscom3 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA Posts: 10,812	The F8F Bearcat flew throughout the 1950's with the Royal Thai AF, French AF (in Vietnam) and then South Vietnamese AF. I believe the Bearcat was still doing fighter-bomber sorties as late as 1964. The A-26 Invader (postwar the B-26) soldiered on for quite some time. 1969 was the last mission in SE Asia. Nigeria used them in 1967 in one of their civil wars. Portugal in 1965 in Angola. They also saw action in 1961 at the Bay of Pigs in Cuba. Indonesia B26 info from wiki; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A-26_Invader In 1958, the CIA started Operation Haik in Indonesia, concerned about the Sukarno regime's communist leanings. At least a dozen B-26 Invaders were committed in support of rebel forces. On 18 May 1958, American contract pilot Allen Pope's B-26 was initially hit by anti-aircraft ground fire and then brought down by a P-51 Mustang flown by Capt. Ignatius Dewanto (the only known air-to-air kill in the history of the Indonesian Air Force). The capture and trial of Lieutenant Pope brought a quick end to Operation Haik, but the capabilities of the Invader were not lost on the Indonesian government. In 1959, the government purchased six aircraft at Davis-Monthan AFB and these were ferried to Indonesia in full military markings during mid-1960. These aircraft would have a long career and were utilized in a number of actions against rebels in various areas. The last operational flights of the three survivors was in 1976 supporting the Indonesian invasion of East Timor. In 1977, the last two flyers were retired. __________________ "Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?" Last edited by syscom3; 10-25-2009 at 03:23 PM.

10-25-2009, 06:53 AM	#3
Colin1 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 2,446	P-63s fought for the French in Indo-China in the early 50s. These were eventually replaced with another WWII veteran, the F6F as well as its sister, the F8F.

10-25-2009, 11:28 AM	#7
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,729	Cool information. I had heard/read most of this before but I didn't know the Spitfire served that late. Interesting..... __________________

10-25-2009, 02:54 PM	#8
vikingBerserker Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: South Carolina Posts: 6,208	P-80's were used in South American at least until the mid 70's If we can include the trainer version (which flew after WW2), Bolivia I believe is still using their T-33's __________________ Take arrows in your forehead, but never in your back. - Samurai maxim

10-26-2009, 12:34 PM	#10
renrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado Posts: 3,525	In the book by Barrett Tillman about the Corsair, he says nine Corsairs were still operational in 1978 in Honduras but I don't know of any combat at that date.

10-26-2009, 04:33 PM	#11
racerguy00 Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: NW PA Posts: 42	Thanks for all the info. I'm thinking of doing a model of a Corsair or Mustang, with a paint scheme consistant with with one used during their last known operational sortie. This gives me a good starting point for some further research.

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