TALONS OVER CORDOBA REPORT
August 8-24 1940
Attracting over 330,000 visitors during the fortnight of flying the ninth ‘Talons over Cordoba Contest’ has been another big success with a record breaking crowd. This year Talons was again held at the Cordoba Air Base to limit disruption at the airport. Most of the resident unit, Aerea Regimenta No1, has moved to Mercedes Air Base but two squadrons of I-02 Pulqui fighters remained. Once again this international event is a chance for the best pilots in the world to show off their skills allied with the best fighters available and it is now the world’s foremost fighter exhibition. Air forces from across the world fly and compete to be the best while showing off their latest fighters and comparing them against the best available elsewhere.
The exhibition display area once again attracted many companies eager to make sales. FMA (Fabrica Militar de Aviones) had a large exhibition in one of the hangars with four prototype I-02 fighters which flew demonstrations most days, a sole I.Ae6T trainer was in attendance along with the prototype I.Ae 22 advanced trainer and a production four-engined FMA I.Ae 7 airliner in Aeravias Argentinas S.A. colours that made several flypasts during the event. The small FMA I.Ae 8 light aircraft and the new I.Ae.20 El Boyero (The Herdsman) two-seat light cabin aircraft were also on display. FMA also had a mock-up of their new 450hp El Gaucho 9-cylinder radial on display. Tucan brought their T-18B NB-2 private-venture dive-bomber and flew it on the third day of the event
ENAER, the Chilean constructor brought a production Alicanto naval bomber and to mark licence construction by Fanaero for Brazil an upgraded Coati was also on display and flown during the event. For a possible Argentine order Constellacion showed off their new Twin Condor, a Serie-300 modified as the Serie-400 testbed, with FMA radials. It was eagerly looked over by many Argentine pilots and officers in the display tent.
From France Hanriot displayed their new H.250 high speed bomber, Latecoere had a scale mock-up of their new Late.631 flying boat. The same firm also shared a stand with Breguet who showed off their respective torpedo-bomber and dive-bomber designs of the Epaulard carrier-based bomber. Bloch was showing off one of the three test aircraft MB.1050 Milan carrier-based fighters. A type that no doubt will attend Talons in the future. From Italy Caproni displayed their new 2005 Sagittario fighter and the 1001 Astore fighter-bomber. Nordmark had single examples of the Saab F-21 Mk 1 and Orkan Mk 4 fighters on display and the new VL Puuska light fighter was flown. From America Grumman displayed a F4F carrier-fighter and the new Avenger torpedo-bomber, Curtiss showed off their P-40 and P-42 series, Boeing had a static B-17F and few airliner cabin mock-ups, Douglas an A-20 light bomber, DC-3 and DC-4 airliners. The German exhibitors included Dornier with a Do-215 and a Do-217, Focke-Wulf with two Fw-190s and an Fw-205 Condor, Heinkel displayed a He-100 B-6 as used by Turkey and Junkers flew their Ju-88 bomber. They also brought along a scale model of the aborted dive-bomber design now undergoing development in Argentina by FMA. From Britain Supermarine were displaying a brand-new Spitfire Mk IV and flew two Mk IIIs. Hawker flew a display Typhoon and Tornado and had a scale model of the new Tempest as on show as well. Boulton Paul were advertising their new P.94 export fighter and flew the prototype in Greek markings on one side and Irish on the other. They also had a full-scale mock-up of a fighter “designed by Martin-Baker” in their tent, presumed to be the M.B.5. Fairey brought a Firefly carrier fighter and made several excellent flying displays with it. From Atlantis both Spartan and Accrisius brought a dozen aircraft between them. The South African team also brought along a F-6F two-seat fighter trainer for joy rides for the public and potential customers.
As usual the best fighter pilots in the Fuerza Aerea Argentina made a spectacular aerial aerobatic display every day of the contest in their blue and white FMA I-02 Pulqui fighters. Japan sent a display team only this year. The Navy sending the 11. Air Demonstration Squadron "Blue Impulse" (a.k.a. "The Air Demonstration Squadron Formerly Known As Manzo's Flying Circus"). The squadron currently flies 6 A7K1 fighters with a new colour scheme. The pilots were; #1 Leader: Captain Fuchida Mitsuo, #2 Left Wing: Lieutenant Sakai Saburou, #3 Right Wing: Lieutenant Nishizawa Hiroyoshi, #5 Slot: Lieutenant Sasai Junichi, #6 Lead Solo: Captain Genda Minoru and #7 Opposing Solo: Lieutenant Iwamoto Tetsuzou.
All contesting pilots have been assigned numbers in the order of application and nationality has not been a factor in the order given.
No 1 Major de Aero Antonio Valdez, commander of Squadron 1/2 of the 1st Grupo of Aerea Regimenta No1 based at Cordoba [two confirmed kills in the South American War], he is flying his personal silver FMA I-02 Pulqui C/N1044 with a blue tail for the second time at Talons.
No 2 Major de Aero Carlos Claudio, commander of Squadron 2/2 of the 2nd Grupo Aerea Regimenta No 2 based at Bahia Blanca debuts at Talons is flying his personal silver FMA I-02 Pulqui C/N 1106 with a red cowling and tail.
No 3 Flt. Lt. Bob Stanford Tuck is a newcomer to Talons and he is flying a standard production Hawker Tornado F.Mk.I MN231 powered by a 1,980hp RR Vulture II 24-cylinder engine.
No 4 Squadron Leader Douglas Bader returns to Talons this year and he is flying Hawker Typhoon F.Mk.I WG891 powered by a 2,180hp Napier Sabre II 24-cylinder H-24 engine.
No5 Porucik (Senior Lieutenant) Lidiya Ivanova returns to Talons yet again to represent Bulgaria, this year she is flying a new aircraft a Fairey Firefly Mk I.
No 6 Comandante de Escuadrón (Lieutenant Commander) Baltasar Arismendi makes a debut representing Chile and he is flying an American-built Naval Aircraft Factory ZF1N airship-carried lightweight fighter
No 7 Teniente Colonel Horatio Bereguer, the commanding officer of the 2nd Fighter Regiment, his also making a debut for Chile and is flying his personal F2E fighter, an ENAER-built I-02.
No 8 Edmond Marin La Meslee is representing France for the first time; he joined the Armee de l'Aire in 1931 and graduated officer candidate school in 1937. He now leads the first escadrille of Groupe de Chasse I/5. He is flying an Arsenal VG.39bis.
No 9 Marcel Haegelen is also a newcomer to Talons for France, he served in the Great War as a SPAD pilot, and accrued 21 kills; since the end of the war, he has been employed as a test-pilot for Hanriot, and a reserve officer in the Armee de l'Aire. He is flying an all-white standard Arsenal VG.39bis fighter.
No 10 Oberleutnant Heinrich Bär is a newcomer to represent Germany from Jagdgeschwader 51, flying a Focke Wulf Fw-190A powered by a BMW 801 radial engine.
No 11 Feldwebel Anton Hafner is also a newcomer and is from Jagdgeschwader 51 and is flying an identical Focke Wulf Fw-190A.
No 12 Capitão Nero Moura, who flew at Talons 34 and last year, took part in the Bolivian War with two kills and another nine during the SA War and the Brazilian Civil War. He will be again flying the EMBRAER EMB-39.
No 13 Lieutenenat Guilherme Marx-Niemier, currently serving in 1 Grupo aboard the Chilean carrier Mapuche is representing Brazil again flying Brazil's carrier fighter, the Sienar V-31.
No 14 Horia Agarici is a newcomer to Talons and is representing Romania flying a standard production IAR-81 in a camouflage scheme.
No 15 Constantin Cantacuzino is another newcomer and is the second Romanian pilot and is also flying an IAR-81.
No 16 Captain Kamol Arthit is representing Thailand for the first time at Talons and the Navy pilot is flying an Italian Re-2001 fighter.
No 17 RCNAS Cmdr. Reginald Antilles of the 65th Fighter Group returns this year to represent Canada and he is flying a production Burnelli Aviation CF-38b twin-engined fighter similar to last year’s but with upgraded 2,000hp Orenda Oneida II V-12 engines in standard RCNAS Livery.
No 18 RCNAS Cmdr Mark Stele of the 181st Fighter Group returns to represent Canada for the fifth time and is flying the forty-sixth production Avro Canada CF-12 Viper fighter powered by a 1,750hp Orenda Oneida III V-12 in a pusher configuration, an unusual type that crashed last year. The CF-12 is painted in standard 181st Fighter group Livery (including red striping) and named "Doom On You."
No 19 Captain Andreas Schrieber returns this year to represent Denmark and is flying a white production DAF(s)4v3 Falcon III twin-boom swept-wing fighter powered by a 1,850hp Hispano-Suiza V-12 engine
No 20 Lt. Bo Qvist also returns for Denmark and is also flying a red production DAF(s)4v3 Falcon III fighter
No 21 Capt. José María Bravo Fernandez-Hermosa, senior instructor at the Ejército del Aire's Advanced Air Combat School returns this year flying a red Focke Wulf Fw-190 A-1 fighter powered by a BMW-801 radial engine
No 22 Capt. Fernando Sanchez-Arjona Courtoy, senior test pilot at the Ejército del Aire's flight testing squadron returns this year for Iberia flying a black Focke Wulf Fw-190 A-1 fighter
No 23 Tenente Salvi, currently a member of the Bergamini Air Combat School, is again representing Italy and is flying a Fiat G.55 Centauro Serie I fighter but this year painted in a dull green-grey scheme.
No 24 Tenente D'Aguilero, makes a debut for Italy and is also flying a Fiat G.55 Centauro Serie I fighter painted in a dull grey-green scheme.
No 25 Episminagos (Squadron Leader) Ionnis Leventis represents Greece for the first time for Greece’s second Talons showing. Leventis is leader of 4 Sqn based in Tanagra and is flying a Boulton Paul P.94 powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin V-12 engine.
No 26 Group Commander Klaas Mathusen, DSO, NB, PG and two time recipient of the Combat Medal who achieved confirmed victory in 20 air-to-air battles and last year’s Gold Eagle Winged Trophy Winner will use his personal JFM F-6H Swallow named "Bad Temper II". Although he is eager to repeat his stunning success at the Grand Dual, he will also act as a lurker for the RSAF to see and learn as much about foreign tactic developments as can be drawn from such an event. developing combat doctrines for the Fighter Command. is flying the F-6H
No 27 Flt. Captain Alberto Vargas, a native Grand Uruguayan who fought in the South American War of 1935-36 (four kills is flying a FD-5 Wasp II twin-engined fighter) represents SAE for the first time and is flying a Foller FD-5 Mk II Wasp called "Sleepy-Time Gal", the fighter is painted in dark blue and black with a nice lady in a transparent negligee under yellow stars and moon at her nose.
No 28 Colonel Fabris "Jester" Lavidicus, the commander of the Atlantean Air Force adversary training squadron, returns again to represent Atlantis and this year he is again flying the forty-eighth production Spartan SP-35 "Viper" in an all-over red scheme.
No 29 Lt. Colonel Tyrus "Bulldog" Hadrian again returns to Talons, this year he is flying the thirty-third production Spartan Sp-40 “Spirit” fighter, a Spartan-built I-02 Pulqui painted black overall.
No 30 Yarbay (Lieutenant Colonel, squadron commander) Sabiha Gökçen returns to Talons representing Turkey and is flying the fifteenth Heinkel He-100 B-6 fighter to be delivered to Turkey painted in a fetching red and black scheme.
No 31 Vecihi Hürku also returns again representing Turkey and is flying the twenty-fourth Heinkel He-100 B-6 fighter to be delivered to Turkey in natural metal finish.
No 32 Major Henry Pillichody, representing Colombia again this year, is flying a brand-new production Spartan Sp-35 Viper pained in the national colours
No 33 Teniente Delfín Torres Duran also returns to represent Colombia this year and is flying his usual black Ripon-Bloch RB.132 "Renegade II" fighter
No 34 Captain Kenan Sunay also returns to Talons after a break to represent Byzantium flying a new Spartan Sp-40 “Spirit” fighter, a Spartan-built I-02 Pulqui painted purple and red
No 35 Captain Leigh Wade returns to represent the Unites States flying Lockheed P-38 Lightning in normal olive drab and grey camouflage
No 36 Group Captain Otto Larsen returns to Talons from his desk job to represent Nordmark yet again and is flying his favourite mount, a SAAB F-21 Mk 1 pusher-engined fighter.
No 37 Lieutenant Ilmari Juutilainen, a young and promising pilot makes his second appearance at Talons for Nordmark flying a camouflaged SAAB Orkan Mk 4 fighter.
No 38 Commander Nikolajas Balodis, the commander of the First Tactical Air Squadron, is representing Latvia for the first time flying a LKOD-Aero Sieremdres built by Aero in Czechoslovakia.
No 39 Lt. Liu Chui-Kang returns for China this year flying a red E.W.I.L. (Eastern Wind industries Ltd.) EW 205C fighter
No 40 Lt. Zhu Jia-Xun also returns this year for China flying a licence built Focke-Wulf Fw-187 fighter painted black all-over with yellow stars
No 41 RA Singh debuts for India this year flying the tenth production Syen III (Falcon) fighter with a 1,400hp IA 500 V-12 engine
No 42 Captain Subroko Mujerkee is representing India again for their fourth attendance at Talons. He was commissioned in the BVS (Imperial Indian Air Corps) in 1932 and is a veteran of the Asir, Afghan Border Conflict and the Baluchistan Operation with two confirmed combat kills during his career. He is flying a standard Imperial Aeronautics Garu (Eagle) twin-engined fighter
No 43 Rear Admiral Carlos Castillo Breton, in a surprising move, is representing Mexico this year at Talons as the Armada de Mexico makes a debut showing and he is a highly experienced pilot and is the head of the naval aviation school. He is flying a brand-new all-black C-2 Centellas (Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden) fighter
No 44 First Lieutenant Joachim Edid is the second Armada de Mexico and is a young and fiery pilot who has come to Talons to win. He is also flying an all-black C-2 Centellas (Mitsubishi J2M2 Raiden) fighter
No 45 Captain Robert (Bobby) Gibbes returns yet again for Australia and is flying the fortieth production Fokker America/ Australian Aviation AA-13 Mustang I
No 46 Captain Roberts also returns to represent Australia and is flying the fourteenth production Gloster S.44 Reaper twin-engined fighter powered by two 1,185hp Rolls-Royce Merlin V V-12 engines
No 47 Capitan Maurice Huber returns to represent Switzerland yet again flying a production EKW D-3801 with a 1,050hp Hispano-Suiza 12Y51 engine and painted in a fetching red and white scheme Swiss flag scheme
No 48 Kapitán Karel Kuttelwascher is representing Czechoslovakia for the second time this year flying the ninth production an all-blue Fokker-Avia B-139 fighter powered by a new 1,450hp Minerva-Avia 105 V-12 inline engine. This is the latest fighter of the Czech Air Force and is a modified B-137 design fitted with the new engine and some modest aerodynamic improvements.
GROUPS
The groups are divided between single-engined and twin-engined fighters. Group 8 is solely for twin-engined fighters. This year all the groups are arranged according to engine horsepower to make the events closer and to give the lower-end fighters a chance to shine.
Group 1 Numbers 4, 5, 3, 18, 19, 43 (Bader, Ivanova, Tuck, Schrieber, Qvist, Breton)
Group 2 Numbers 44, 23, 24, 18, 10, 11 (Edid, Salvi, D'Aguilero, Stele, Bär,
Hafner)
Group 3 Numbers 20, 21, 28, 37, 8, 39 (Fernandez-Hermosa, Courtoy, "Jester" Lavidicus, Juutilainen, La Meslee, Chui-Kang)
Group 4 Numbers 32, 9, 36, 48, 26, 12 (Pillichody, Haegelen, Larsen, Kuttelwascher, Mathusen, Moura)
Group 5 Numbers 14, 15, 41, 30, 31, 1 (Agarici, Cantacuzino, Singh, Gökçen, Hürku, Valdez)
Group 6 Numbers 2, 7, 29, 34, 25, 33 (Claudio, Bereguer, "Bulldog" Hadrian, Sunay, Leventis, Duran)
Group 7 Numbers 2, 13, 45, 6, 47, 16, 38 (Marx-Niemier, Gibbes, Arismendi, Huber, Arthit, Balodis)
Group 8 Numbers 17, 27, 35, 40, 42, 46 (Antilles, Vargas, Wade, Jia-Xun, Mujerkee, Peters)