Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb trop

Posted on December 30, 2020 by atcDave

Malta

An epic 29 month siege of the strategic island of Malta was a central part of the Mediterranean Campaign.

Like the Battle of Britain, the Spitfire became the Allies’ iconic image of that fight.

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Posted in Britain, Fighter | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Boeing-Stearman PT-17 Kaydet

Posted on December 21, 2020 by atcDave

Among the important, War winning hardware we rarely consider are the all important trainers.

So let’s take a look at a well known Primary Trainer.

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Posted in Trainer, USA | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Petlyakov Pe-2

Posted on December 14, 2020 by atcDave

We’ve already talked about how the great bulk of Soviet air power was destroyed in vast quantities at the start of the War in the East.

But of course there’s far more to the story than that. Let’s take a look at the modern face of Soviet air power in the later part of the War.

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Posted in Bomber - Tactical, Soviet Union | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

Posted on December 9, 2020 by atcDave

Republic’s big fighter is best known for its epic battles over Germany, and later for its role as a close support heavy weight.

Yet it also played a role in the Pacific War. Let’s take a look.

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Posted in Uncategorized | 8 Comments

Beechcraft YC-43 Staggerwing

Posted on December 7, 2020 by atcDave

In 1932 Beechcraft introduced a new high performance, luxury executive aircraft. The Model 17 Staggerwing quickly became a pilot favorite. It was fast, powerful and modern.

As War clouds gathered the type was pressed into military service from Spain to China to England. Let’s take a look.

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Posted in Liason, USA | Tagged , , | 16 Comments

Kawasaki Ki-100

Posted on November 13, 2020 by atcDave

This late War Japanese Army fighter was almost certainly the most important Japanese aircraft to never get an Allied code name.

Let’s take a look at a seriously good airplane that seems to have escaped the notice of Allied intelligence.

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Posted in Fighter, Japan | Tagged , , | 22 Comments

Messerschmitt Bf 108B-1 Taifun

Posted on November 9, 2020 by atcDave

Every nation had light civil aircraft that were used for light duty currier and transport work.

Let’s look at one in the bloodline of a famous warrior.

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Posted in Germany, Liason | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Douglass C-47 Skytrain

Posted on November 4, 2020 by atcDave

Perhaps the most important type that didn’t carry guns or bombs.

Let’s take a look at a truly key aircraft.

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Posted in transport, USA | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat

Posted on October 29, 2020 by atcDave

Joe Foss

The Guadalcanal Campaign was the first extended campaign of the Pacific War that clearly ended in an Allied victory.

It also saw dozens of aces made, let’s take a look at one of the most notable.

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Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Elco 80′ Patrol Torpedo Boat

Posted on October 27, 2020 by atcDave

An important weapon that is the very definition of a low value asset, the PT boat manages to be one of the better known weapons of the Second World War.

Let’s take a look at, what will probably be, the only true naval combatant that will ever appear at this site.

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Posted in Miscellaneous, USA | Tagged , , | 14 Comments