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 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 | 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...
by Richard Dunn | Dec 18, 2024 | Allied Forces
Next up in the How Great series is the P-38. “P-38 Lightning Might Have Been the Best Fighter of World War II” and “P-38 Lightning WWII’s twin engine wonder” or even “Unsung Hero of WW II” read headlines of articles on my computer homepage. Whatever deficiencies might...
by Richard Dunn | Nov 27, 2024 | Allied Forces
Survived the Hankow raid 8/24/43 The B-24 Liberator in China played a pivotal role in shaping the air campaigns of World War II, particularly during the summer of 1943. As one of the most versatile and far-reaching bombers in the Allied arsenal, the B-24 conducted...
by Richard Dunn | Oct 22, 2024 | Allied Forces
Continuing the story of the Spitfire in the Asia-Pacific, this article reviews the Spitfire in combat with Japanese army Type 1 fighters over India and Burma in late 1943 and early 1944. During most of 1943 the Royal Air Force contested air superiority along the India...
