The P-51 Mustang was the first fighter aircraft invented in the US to fly across Europe after the collapse of the French Republic. Here are the five interesting facts about WWII’s strongest fighter plane: 1. This legendary warplane fought and downed every kind of German aircraft It took down every kind of German war plane, […] More
In April 1932 Mitsubishi was awarded a contract to develop a heavy bomber based on Germany’s Junkers K 37 and was given details on what to make. Here are some interesting facts about the failed cloned bomber of the Japanese: 1. Heavy bomber Ki-1 made its first flight in 1932 It was larger than the […] More
The likes of the Spitfires, Mosquitos, and Hurricanes always get mentioned when the topic of British WWII planes is brought up. One plane, the Bristol Type 156 Beaufighter, is sometimes omitted from these conversations. Here are five reasons why you shouldn’t forget about this multi-role aircraft. Produced 70 Aces Yes, you read that right. The […] More
1. Battle of Midway The Dauntless played its most important role during the Battle of Midway. Four SBD squadrons engaged Japanese aircraft carriers and efficiently took care of them in just six minutes. They sank or fatally damaged three carriers: the Akagi, Kaga, and Soryu. After the initial attack, they finished off two more Japanese […] More
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
Everyone knows the late Queen Elizabeth II. However, not many people know that she actually had a combat-deployed B-17 bomber that the US Army Air Force honored her with. Played a Key Role In 1936, then Princess Elizabeth became first in line to the throne. Being a key figure in the royal family, she played […] More
Operation Revival was a US air transport operation to bring back US and British POWs from war. But to complete the mission, hundreds of B-17s needed to be stripped down to become lighter, thus fitting in more people. Free But Stranded Former POWs from the Stalag Luft I were technically free men when the Germans […] More
The B-2 Spirit Bomber made its first flight in 1989 and, since then, played a key role in the war efforts of the US. It also had undergone major upgrades over the years. Furthermore, the B-2 featured observable stealth technology tailored to penetrate dense anti-aircraft defenses. 1. Due to the aircraft’s size and regular maintenance […] More
The future of aviation and war, in general, will increasingly rely on unmanned vehicles. This reduces casualties, increases precision, and longer mission times. 1. The General Atomics MQ-1 Predator was one of the first successfully remotely piloted reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft in the world Previously, reconnaissance attack and defense required one or more pilots to […] 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
