by Richard Dunn | Apr 23, 2025 | Allied Forces
With January 1944’s campaign in full swing, P‑38J and H Lightnings—freed from their early teething troubles—joined Corsairs, Hellcats, and Kittyhawks in high‑altitude escorts and fighter sweeps from Bougainville to Rabaul’s Gazelle Peninsula. Yet raw speed and...
by Richard Dunn | Mar 27, 2025 | Japanese
On February 5, 1942, a routine Japanese administrative order was issued: “13 Experimental large model Flying Boat is adopted and designated Type 2 large Flying Boat, model 11.” Administrative Ordnance Order (Naireihei) No. 8-42. The Shi 13 experimental aircraft was...
by Richard Dunn | Mar 12, 2025 | Allied Forces
The XB-17 holds a significant place in aviation history, representing a turning point in military procurement and the evolution of strategic bombing. Its development was shaped by a complex web of government contracts, Army Air Corps policies, and the challenges of...
by Richard Dunn | Feb 20, 2025 | Uncategorized
Many publications use Allied code names for Japanese twin-engine aircraft in ways that suggest that Allied pilots as well as the author knew what the aircraft was and correctly identified it. Authors have used code names for time periods when the code name had not...
by Richard Dunn | Jan 21, 2025 | Allied Forces
The superlatives about the Grumman Hellcat abound. The F6F was credited with over 5,000 victories in air combat. It was said to dominate the Japanese navy’s Zero fighter a key opponent. Some of its claims for success are amazing. The Hellcat “arrived in the Pacific...
