The Battle of the Coral Sea was the first naval battle in history fought between fleets that never sighted each other. Waves of carrier based bombers exchanged salvos instead of the ship’s guns.
After the jump, a look at the main US weapon from this early carrier battle. Continue reading
Before World War II the concept of the “heavy fighter” was popular with many air forces. But wartime experience mostly discredited the idea. Yet the German Dornier Company felt they could still do something with the type.
After the jump, a look at a very promising and high risk design. Continue reading
The 1930s not only were a time of rapid development for aircraft, but automotive technology also progressed.
After the jump, a look at a wartime automotive classic. Continue reading
No doubt this would count as a minor type. But that doesn’t mean unimportant! This small fighter would be used by Sweden and The United States, and is an early step in the lineage of one of the truly important types of the war.
After the jump, the Seversky J9. Continue reading
One of the cutting edge aircraft of the late 1930s, The Hawker Hurricane was the first British monoplane with semi-monocoque construction (All the structural strength was carried internally. That means no external bracing wires.), retractable landing gear and fully enclosed cockpit.
After the jump, we’ll discuss this key British fighter from the very start of World War II. Continue reading
This will be the first in a recurring series of posts on how aircraft naming/designating systems worked in different countries. I thought I would start with Japan as the title I’ve chosen for this series has a particular meaning for Japanese aircraft of World War II.
“Zero” may be the best known name representing Japanese military aviation. But any reading on the subject will quickly expose one to names like “Betty”, “Oscar” or “Kate”. Just what were Japanese aircraft actually called?
After the jump, what I hope will be a fun little essay. Continue reading
The Grumman Hellcat was the most successful Naval fighter of World War II. This really isn’t even close.
Yet ironically it seems to be less well known than other late war US types. So let’s take a look at an outstanding aircraft. Continue reading
The Japanese Army “Oscar” is far less known than the Navy’s Zero. Yet it has many similarities, and also served from the start to the end of the Pacific War.
So let’s take a look at an important, but less well known type. Continue reading
The Tiger tank is so synonymous with German armor that many seem to think every German Tank was one. Yet it was actually a very specialized heavy unit, that made an impression way beyond the 1300 units built.
So let’s look at an impressive German tank. Continue reading
Another of the best known aircraft of World War II, the Corsair was a powerful and effective fighter, used mostly by the US Marine Corps.
So let’s take a look at this American Fighter. Continue reading
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