Seversky P-35

History

Introduced in 1937, the burly Seversky P-35 pursuit aircraft became the first modern single-seat fighter for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAC), featuring an enclosed cockpit, all-metal construction and retractable landing gear. His arrival was a highly publicized event in the U.S., describing the genre as a fighter jet that would give U.S. military air superiority over any enemy at the time.

In reality, however, the genre was limited by its capabilities and machine gun armament - key limitations that were honestly (and brutally) revealed in the early battles of World War II (1939-1945).

The design of the P-35 is attributed to the Russian Alexander P. Seversky. Born of wealth, Seversky joined the Russian Air Force during the First World War (1914-1918). On his first mission, his two-seater plane was shot down by ground fire. In the ensuing crash landing, an unexploded bomb exploded, killing his teammate, and Seversky lost his leg in the process.

Undeterred after recovering from a near-death experience, Seversky was allowed to use a prosthetic limb and regain command of the plane such was his stubborn determination. Because of his role in the conflict, he became the top trump card for the Russians and was subsequently sent by the government to the United States to help secure excess war supplies. His future changed when the communist revolution engulfed his homeland and plunged the empire into full-scale civil war. Seversky then decided that his wealth would be better off as a U.S. citizen. After establishing high-level relationships during his stay, he joined forces with General Billy Mitchell, who had worked for both Army and Navy authorities, to adopt a more modern theory of air superiority.

Seversky's circle of friends soon expanded, and he himself was promoted to major in the Army Air Corps Reserve in 1926.

When Seversky struck a deal with Imperial Japan to buy 20 SEV-2PA-83 fighter jets, Seversky damaged his company's reputation with the US government (and the public). Japan was at war with China at the time, and the plane was relegated to a reconnaissance mission because they lacked the capabilities of existing Japanese models.

After learning of the deal, U.S. government authorities pressured USAAC to limit future P-35 orders and instead focus on procuring the original flying runner-up, the Curtiss 75. In view of the bankruptcy of the Seversky company Seversky himself restructured and reorganized - the result was "Republic Airlines".

First Army units received P-35s in May 1937. In practice, its handling characteristics proved quite dangerous, prone to slipping and stalling when pushed, so modifications to the wing were ordered. However, these changes never fully resolved the problems that plagued the design during its short career.

By the time it rolled out, the little machine had fallen behind too, becoming a dated mount before it fired angrily. USAAC also procured the Curtiss 75 as the P-36 Eagle, which appeared in large numbers starting in 1938, with several units actually using both types. 215 P-36s were procured for the local army, of which more than 900 were for export.

By comparison, only 196 P-35s were built - including all available export numbers. Export customers (in addition to Sweden and Japan) include Colombia, Ecuador, the Philippines and the Soviet Union.

In general, P-35 pilots don't hold a grudge against their little P-35, even though the plane isn't particularly popular overall. A testament to its limitations as a combat ride, this aircraft is nothing more than a traveling artist from a bygone era of aviation. It lacks performance against competing typesespecially new-generation Japanese fightersand its hybrid machine-gun armament is ineffective against those fighter or bomber opponents.

In the early days of the war, the P-35 lacked key qualities needed to last long in conflict - the upcoming rival Curtiss P-40 Warhawk barely maintained a more memorable presence.

To make matters worse, the P-35As sent to the Philippines by the Swedish Knights did not perform well against Japanese fighters with similar mission ranges and capabilities. In addition, the planes are equipped with assembly instructions and flight manuals, as well as instrument panels finished in original Swedish with symbols. A total of 48 P-35As made up the Philippine fortifications, and by the time the Japanese invaded, the P-35s were severely insufficient and largely obsolete as a massive combat machine in WWII.

The P-35 was eventually rescued, if possible, by the aforementioned P-40 Warhawks along the border.

P-35s were used to transport evacuated army personnel to a safe location outside Japanese lines of defense when their combat capability was over. The plane has a roomy overhead compartment on the fuselage, which helps carry several people into the air.

State P-35s are relegated to training units, mechanical schools, or scrap yards. These "J9" aircraft, which could be delivered to customer Sweden, were not used in anger during the global conflict, as the country maintained its strict neutrality throughout the war.

However, these men served very long in the host country - the last of them were not discharged until September 1952.

Specification

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