In the brutal air war in Europe in WWII, a famous German ace died in a bold and unforgettable death after saying an absolutely iconic, and haunting final words. Beginnings When the war began in 1939, the young Heinrich Ehrler was serving anti-aircraft artillery for Germany. But shortly after, he joined the Luftwaffe fought against […] More
This is an amazing story of how the leader of the squadrons of the 355th fighter group, Major Bert Marshall, was rescued by a fellow pilot after being shot down by German flak. Tables Turn In this P51 named Jane 4, Marshall was an ace and worked his way up to the commanding officer of […] More
Do you know that there’s a Soviet aircraft that actually couldn’t attack? The Soviet-made Ilyushin Il-40 is a post-World War II-around attack plane that has a unique double-barrel look. What’s also unique about it is that it couldn’t use the weaponry it had. An Aircraft Desperately Needed The story of this double-barrel shotgun with wings […] More
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra is an American fighter aircraft that was based on its predecessor, the Bell P-39 Airacobra. However, weeks before its completion, North American introduced its newest P-51 Mustang variation, with a Rolls Royce Merlin engine inside its hull. Still, the Kingcobra’s influence is far from over. Let’s walk you through the most […] More
The Grumman S-2 Tracker was the very first plane that was specifically designed for anti-submarine warfare. Although it had a relatively conventional design, it was armed with impressive firepower, entering service with the US Navy in the early 1950s. Two for One The aircraft was developed in 1952, replacing the hunter/killer aircraft in anti-submarine warfare […] More
As a naval reconnaissance plane, the Arado is often overshadowed by more aggressive planes that fought numerous aerial battles during WWII. However, it still fulfilled an important role, even coming to be known as the “eyes of the Kriegsmarine.” Design Origins The Ar 196 was designed to replace the now obsolete Ar 95. With a […] More
Although the Soviets wanted a plane with an ever greater performance during the Cold War, they also developed the “Su-25”, known to NATO as the “Frogfoot.” Here are the five things that you need to know about this iconic plane: 1. Unlike the other jets in the era that are supersonic, this aircraft was subsonic […] More
The Hawker Hart is considered one of the most successful Hawker aircraft during the interwar years. It is a British two-seater biplane light bomber that served the Royal Air Force (RAF.) Here are ten interesting things that you need to know about this legendary plane: 1. It was the outcome of specification 12-26, issued back […] More
Manufactured by the de Havilland Aircraft Company in the UK, the aircraft was a light bomber used by the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was considered the fastest aircraft in the world during that time and was helpful to the British War. It eventually earned the nickname The Wooden Wonder due to […] More
Triple Ace Pilot Col. Clarence “Bud” Anderson flew the P-51 Mustang Crow while he was assigned to the 357th Fighter Group “Yoxford Boys,” 8th Air Force. Bud eventually became the top ace of the 363rd Fight Squadron with 16 1/4 victories. In 2017, Bud was awarded Air Force Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the EAA […] More
Joe Peterburs is a retired Air Force Colonel, and a veteran of WWII, Korea, and Vietnam. He was trained on P-40s, and was part of the 20th Fighter Group, 55th Fighter Squadron, flying P-51s, escorting B-17s, and defending against German fighter attacks. He was able to fly 49 missions, and approximately 269 combat hours. Twist […] More
Since he was a young boy, Allan Scott dreamed of flying- he wanted to become a pilot. When the war hit years later in 1939, he saw it as a fulfillment of his childhood dream. Although his application was initially rejected, it didn’t deter him. He was eventually chosen to become a fighter pilot, and […] More
