The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - WWII aircraft armament machine guns and cannon

105kw · April 7, 2025, 08:57 AM

The Japanese were in China from, I think 1937 on.
Both the Imperial Army and Navy used it as a testing ground.
They fought the Russians on the border too.
The Flying Tigers did not go into combat until just before Christmas 1941.
So yes the Japanese did have very experienced aircrew going into WW2, just like the Germans did with the Spanish Civil War.

April 7, 2025, 08:57 AM	#164
105kw Senior Member Join Date: June 30, 2017 Location: Columbia Basin Washington Posts: 513	The Japanese were in China from, I think 1937 on. Both the Imperial Army and Navy used it as a testing ground. They fought the Russians on the border too. The Flying Tigers did not go into combat until just before Christmas 1941. So yes the Japanese did have very experienced aircrew going into WW2, just like the Germans did with the Spanish Civil War.