Hobby Master Archive

In July 1941 Robert Tharp Smith (nickname Tadpole) resigned his USAAF commission to fly with the AVG (American Volunteer Group) known as the Flying Tigers. The Flying Tigers were divided into three squadrons with Smith’s 3rd Squadron named “Hell’s Angels”. R.T. Smith’s first victory came on December 23, 1941 flying P-40B #77 (AVG referred to the aircraft as P-40B). In 1942 Smith received P-40B #47 from the 2nd Squadron and by June 1942 had scored 8.7 victories. The AVG is credited with 299 air victories and 153 destroyed on the ground.