Sundance | 23 Apr 2016 5:15 p.m. PST |
So since WWII what are some minor wars that had interesting air battles? I've delved into the 1948 Israeli War of Independence, and the Football War. Anything air vs. air going on in Africa since then? |
Bashytubits | 23 Apr 2016 5:22 p.m. PST |
Not in Africa, but the India Pakistan Wars in 1965 and 1972 have some interesting matchups. |
Doms Decals | 23 Apr 2016 5:50 p.m. PST |
Ethiopia – Eritrea 1998 is interesting, and if you don't mind swapping continents, I have a soft spot for Alto Cenepa. |
TNE2300 | 23 Apr 2016 5:57 p.m. PST |
honduras vs el salvador – 1969 last piston engine dogfight link |
Sundance | 23 Apr 2016 6:07 p.m. PST |
TNE, that's the Football War. I'll have to look into the Ethiopia-Eritrea matchup. I've explored India-Pakistan a little. Have to look at it a little more in depth. |
79thPA | 23 Apr 2016 6:21 p.m. PST |
Maybe not 3rd rate, but Russia shot down a couple of Swedish aircraft in the 1950s; you could turn that into a what-if air war. You can also look at the Second Taiwan Strait Crisis. |
BrianW | 23 Apr 2016 8:37 p.m. PST |
I'll second Indian Pakistan War of 1965. Very interesting aircraft going against each other. There is a scenario/campaign book for Check Your 6, Jet Age that covers this conflict. BWW |
Mardaddy | 23 Apr 2016 8:48 p.m. PST |
Why stop at the 1948 War for Independence? Not so much the Seven-Day War, as the Israeli's completely dominated the fight, but the Yom Kippur War had a couple of dogfights and a bombing run by Shyhawks and Phantoms into Damascus (which due to Syrian paranoia caused by the Seven-Day War was the most densely air-defended area in the world at that time including Vietnam.) |
MacrossMartin | 23 Apr 2016 9:02 p.m. PST |
The Ogaden War '78-79. Ethiopia and Somalia. F5's and Sabres vs MiG 17's and 21's, AND you get to switch sides! |
Sudwind | 23 Apr 2016 11:15 p.m. PST |
Libya vs Egypt is interesting. |
IainAF | 23 Apr 2016 11:26 p.m. PST |
How about Turkey vs Greece/Cyprus in '74. Gives you a chance to use Super Sabres – what's not to like about that! |
BrianW | 23 Apr 2016 11:51 p.m. PST |
IainAF, Ooh, Super Sabres outside of early Vietnam? Tell me more, please! BWW |
IainAF | 24 Apr 2016 2:20 a.m. PST |
Have a look at this page Brian – link There was only one fight I think between Greek and Turkish planes but lots of what-if potential – they both had F-102's at the time too. |
boggler | 24 Apr 2016 3:00 a.m. PST |
Alto Cenepa War Peru v Ecuador link Lots of cool planes and choppers. |
Sundance | 24 Apr 2016 4:53 a.m. PST |
Mardaddy, I don't consider the major Arab-Israeli Wars 3rd rate, and I'm already gaming them. What I'm looking for are the odd little border scraps and such that saw some interesting action, like the Football War. |
Mako11 | 24 Apr 2016 9:45 a.m. PST |
There are rumors of Swedish jets getting maneuver kills on Soviet fighters during the Cold War. I think it was Drakens vs. Mig-21s over the Baltic, flying in tight furballs, low over the sea, proving the superiority of the Swedish aircraft's bent wing design. The Soviet jet(s) reportedly ended up in the Baltic Sea. Could have been other aircraft too, though, I suppose, since those Viggens look to be quite maneuverable at low speeds and altitudes too. I've tried doing a little searching on the internet, but haven't run across any more details, other than the article I read years ago. The Soviets did shoot down a couple of Swedish recon aircraft over the Baltic, during the early Cold War. |
Chris Wimbrow | 24 Apr 2016 3:33 p.m. PST |
I don't know how much air-to-air went on, but North and South Yemen had dustups in the 70s. (I know, not exactly Africa.) IIRC there was a scenario in SPI's Air War: Modern Tactical Air Combat that would pit modern (for the time) USA vs. USSR designs. |
Chris Wimbrow | 24 Apr 2016 3:45 p.m. PST |
I have an even more vague memory of some training competitions in which F-5s from Chile outperformed the USN's F-14s. You could certainly invent anything similar in a world without real tensions. |
Sundance | 25 Apr 2016 6:30 a.m. PST |
Thanks for all the input, guys. You've given me some great ideas. I didn't mean to sound harsh to those who suggested ideas I'm already working on. I was just looking for more unusual matchups. Thanks again. |
Cicero | 25 Apr 2016 5:52 p.m. PST |
Sino-Soviet border conflict. Mostly ground conflict, but with a bit of imagination! Korea? The North used An-2s to smuggle agents into the south. |
EnclavedMicrostate | 26 Apr 2016 6:36 a.m. PST |
3rd rate air war, you say? 74s meet Aeronef? |