Aces = High Experience Most of the ace pilots in WWII share one thing in common – a very high experience level. A lot of these men were either already pilots or had flying experience before joining the military. In addition, most of the US ace pilots had foreign training before entering the war. Some […] More
1. A Short Triumph The Defiant had a short, successful stint after its introduction. Luftwaffe pilots mistook the Defiant for the Hawker Hurricane and approached the former, thinking it had the same weakness. Weeks after, the Luftwaffe figured out the Defiant’s flaw. If they approached it in front, its turret would be ineffective and unusable. […] More
Strategic Location Ramree Island is located 70 miles south of Akyab and was deemed to be highly valuable due to its strategic location. The island could support air bases near enough for planes to fly over to the mainland. It was previously held by the British Army, but the Japanese took over the island in […] More
Early Life Born in Portland, Maine, Mildred Sisk studied Dramatic Arts at Ohio Wesleyan University but never got her degree. In 1911, she changed her last name to Gillars after her mother remarried. As an aspiring actress, she moved to Greenwich Village, New York, to pursue acting lessons and played parts in stock theater productions. […] More
1. Designed For Carrier Use Vought engineers developed the A-7 mainly for carrier deployment. Because of this requirement, they had to install tail hooks, enforce the airframe, and make the wings foldable for easier storage. 2. No Variable-Incidence Scheme The Vought F-8 Crusader highly influenced its design. But unlike the Crusader, the Corsair II had […] More
A Rare Crash On September 14, 2021, a B-2 Spirit crashed on Whiteman Air Force Base. The plane was seen on the side of the runway with one of its wings digging into the ground. Initial Investigations The Air Force Global Strike Command put out a statement regarding the crash. According to preliminary investigations, the […] More
1. Perfect Night Fighter Mervyn Shipard, a Beaufighter ace pilot, said it was the perfect aircraft for night missions. It had ten guns – four 20mm Hispano Mk 2 cannons and six 0.303-in Browning machine guns. The pilot had full vision of his surroundings and could stay in the air for 5 to 6 hours […] More
1. Founded The Scott Newman Center Newman had a son in 1950 from his first marriage with Jackie White. After the death of his 28-year-old son, Scott, he created the Scott Newman Center. The foundation was dedicated to preventing drug and substance abuse through the use of education. 2. Pursued Race Car Driving To prepare […] More
1. Impressive Longevity 25 years after the war, the A-26 Invader was still in active service. It flew for 21 nations around the world and was one of the longest-serving planes introduced in World War 2. The Invader’s success leads back to its multirole capabilities that enabled it to carve out a place in any […] More
1. Highest Number of Kills It had the highest total number of victories compared to any other US fighter. This shouldn’t be confused with the highest kill ratio which belongs to the Brewster Buffalo. Regardless, the Airacobra was a highly successful dogfighter in the hands of the Soviet Union. 2. Engine Was Behind The Cockpit […] More
1. Had Fowler Flaps When pilots were to deploy the Ki-43’s elongated flaps at high velocity, the Hayabusa’s nose would pitch up with little effect on its drag. The plane’s well-documented proficiency in turning was possible by doing this, resulting in its turning angle shrinking dramatically when deployed. 2. Entered The War Without Armor The […] More
1. Designed As An Interceptor A Defiant’s mission was simply to be an interceptor. They were to fly underneath or beside the Luftwaffe and focus fire on one plane, bringing it down, and changing their focus on another. To do this, the plane had to be fitted with four .303-in Browning machine guns on the […] More
