World War II

How the Speed Spitfire’s Racing Merlin led to the development of the Merlin III powered by 100-octane fuel, the engine fitted to Spitfires and Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain – The Aviation Geek Club

The Merlin version which was being developed that would have taken advantage of 100-octane fuel was the Merlin III, which would be fitted to most Spitfires and Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain. Conceived to capture the world speed record just before the outbreak of World War II, the “Speed Spitfire” originated from a standard …

How the Speed Spitfire’s Racing Merlin led to the development of the Merlin III powered by 100-octane fuel, the engine fitted to Spitfires and Hurricanes during the Battle of Britain – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

‘Masters of the Air,’ the New Apple TV+ Series About ‘Mighty Eighth’ Air Force in WWII, to premiere globally Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 – The Aviation Geek Club

‘Masters of the Air’ is a salute to the brave men of the 8th Air Force, who, through their courage and brotherhood, helped defeat Nazi Germany in World War II. On Oct. 5, 2023 Apple TV+ unveiled the first images from its upcoming World War II drama, “Masters of the Air,” and announced that the …

‘Masters of the Air,’ the New Apple TV+ Series About ‘Mighty Eighth’ Air Force in WWII, to premiere globally Friday, Jan. 26, 2024 – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The story of Walter Beckham, the P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and Eighth Air Force’s Leading Ace shot down while pioneering Airfield Strafing Tactics against Luftwaffe Aircraft – The Aviation Geek Club

The fighter groups – especially the P-47 Thunderbolt-equipped units – took the war to the enemy by “beating them up on the ground on the way home.” Advertise In his “New Year’s Message,” USAAF commanding general Henry “Hap” Arnold ordered Eighth AF to “Destroy the Enemy Air Force wherever you find them, in the air, …

The story of Walter Beckham, the P-47 Thunderbolt pilot and Eighth Air Force’s Leading Ace shot down while pioneering Airfield Strafing Tactics against Luftwaffe Aircraft – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The day Luftwaffe Bf 109s attacked USAAF P-38s escorting 72 B-25s and failed to shoot down a single bomber thanks to the determined defense mounted by the Lightning pilots – The Aviation Geek Club

On Sep 2, 1943 the 82nd FG (95th, 96th and 97th FSs) P-38 Lightnings suffered their heaviest losses of the war in an intense combat with Bf 109s from IV./JG 3, II. and III./JG 53 and I./JG 77. Advertise USAAF fighter pilots experienced a baptism of fire when flying the technically advanced P-38 Lightning over …

The day Luftwaffe Bf 109s attacked USAAF P-38s escorting 72 B-25s and failed to shoot down a single bomber thanks to the determined defense mounted by the Lightning pilots – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

“The Flying Fortress looked like a roof collapsing upon me:” the Zero pilot that during an attack on a B-17 got scared by the bomber size and erroneously collided with it – The Aviation Geek Club

Zero-sen pilots were particularly vexed by the four-engined Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber. In fact the B-17 would prove hard to bring down. Advertise The Allies’ main opponent in the Pacific air war, the Zero-sen is the most famous symbol of Japanese air power during World War II. The fighter first flew in April 1939, …

“The Flying Fortress looked like a roof collapsing upon me:” the Zero pilot that during an attack on a B-17 got scared by the bomber size and erroneously collided with it – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

USAF accepts first Boeing T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer – The Aviation Geek Club

The US Air Force (USAF) accepted the first of five T-7A Red Hawk aircraft from Boeing on Sep. 14, 2023. The US Air Force (USAF) accepted the first of five T-7A Red Hawk aircraft from Boeing on Sep. 14, 2023. The five Engineering, Manufacturing and Development (EMD) aircraft will quickly begin testing and join the …

USAF accepts first Boeing T-7 Red Hawk advanced trainer – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The story of the P-47 that safely RTB after it had a wing sheared off against a chimney on a strafing run and its tail damaged by Spitfires that mistook it for a German fighter – The Aviation Geek Club

Lt. Raymundo da Costa Canário, Brazilian Air Force P-47 pilot, was able to RTB after the right wing of his Thunderbolt was completely sheared off against a chimney on a strafing run. Affectionately nicknamed “Jug,” the P-47 was one of the most famous US Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighter planes of World War II. Although …

The story of the P-47 that safely RTB after it had a wing sheared off against a chimney on a strafing run and its tail damaged by Spitfires that mistook it for a German fighter – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The story of Alan E. Magee, the B-17 belly gunner who survived a 20,000-foot fall without parachute from his damaged Flying Fortress – The Aviation Geek Club

Only three crew members of B-17F Flying Fortress “Snap! Crackle! Pop!” managed to bail out, one without a parachute. That was Alan E. Magee, who fell 20,000 feet, crashed through the glass and fell onto the steel girders of the St Nazaire train station. SSgt Alan E. Magee, belly gunner of the B-17F Flying Fortress …

The story of Alan E. Magee, the B-17 belly gunner who survived a 20,000-foot fall without parachute from his damaged Flying Fortress – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The story of Jefferson DeBlanc, the USMC F4F pilot that with his Wildcat low on fuel escorted SBDs and TBFs and shot down 5 Japanese aircraft before bailing out of his stricken F4F – The Aviation Geek Club

An “ace in a day” feat that earned 2Lt Jefferson DeBlanc, a USMC F4F Wildcat pilot from VMF-112, the Medal of Honor. Advertise The US Navy and US Marine Corps (USMC) went to war in December 1941 with the tubby Wildcat, the first of Grumman’s famed ‘cats’, as its principal carrier fighter. Ruggedly built and …

The story of Jefferson DeBlanc, the USMC F4F pilot that with his Wildcat low on fuel escorted SBDs and TBFs and shot down 5 Japanese aircraft before bailing out of his stricken F4F – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

The story of the Japanese Naval Aviator who became the only Axis Pilot to bomb US Mainland during World War II – The Aviation Geek Club

Nobuo Fujita was a Japanese naval aviator who flew a seaplane from a submarine and dropped incendiary bombs on the forest near Brookings, Oregon, on Sep. 9 and Sep. 29, 1942 conducting the so-called Lookout Air Raids. Nobuo Fujita was a Japanese naval aviator who flew a seaplane from a submarine and dropped incendiary bombs …

The story of the Japanese Naval Aviator who became the only Axis Pilot to bomb US Mainland during World War II – The Aviation Geek Club Read More »

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