Category Archives: Fighter

Lockheed P-38F Lightning

Lockheed’s big Lightning first came to prominence late in the North Africa campaign. Let’s look at a primary operator of the type.

Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Messerschmitt Bf 109E-7 trop

Werner Shroer One of the more successful fighter pilots against the Western Allies. Let’s take a look at Werner Shroer who rose from enlisted ranks to high Luftwaffe Command during the War years.

Posted in Fighter, Germany | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

Kawasaki Ki-45 Nick

This twin was Japan’s attempt at a twin engine “heavy fighter”. Serving from 1942 to the end of the War, the Ki-45 can be regarded a reasonable entry to the genre.

Posted in Fighter, Japan | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

North American P-51D Mustang

The 356th Fighter Group was among the lesser known, but more colorfully marked units of the 8th Air Force.

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

Supermarine Spitfire Mk Vb trop

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.

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

Republic P-47D Thunderbolt

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.

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

Kawasaki Ki-100

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.

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

Grumman F4F-4 Wildcat

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.

Posted in Fighter, USA | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Focke-Wulf Fw 190F-8

One of the more important German types in service to the last day of the War. Let’s take a look at a close support version of the famous fighter.

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

Bell P-39L Airacobra

The P-39 tends not to get a lot of attention in histories of the Second World War. But I think I’ve found the least documented unit with a long combat history! Let’s take a look.

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