The Nakajima Ki-84 “Hayate” was a single-seat fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force during World War II. Nicknamed “Frank” by the Allies, the Ki-84 had excellent performance and high maneuverability, and was considered to be the best Japanese fighter to see large scale operations during World War II. It was able to…
The Spitfire Mk.IX was designed and developed to compete with the Focke Wulf FW-190 which in some regards could out-perform and out-climb previous Spitfire versions. The Mark IX was based on the Mark V airframe with the addition of the new generation of Merlin engines allowed this aircraft to duel with the deadly German enemy….
The Gloster Gladiator Mk.I was a British-built biplane fighter, used by the RAF and the Royal Navy (as the Sea Gladiator variant). It fought against stronger foes during the early days of the WW2, but it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat. The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the WW2 with a…
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II. The P-51s were used by the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany. The RAF’s 2 TAF and the USAAF’s Ninth Air Force used them as fighter-bombers, roles in which the Mustang…
The Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” is a four-engine heavy bomber aircraft developed in the 1930s for the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). The B-17 was primarily employed in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of World War II against German industrial and military targets. From its introduction in 1938, the B-17 Flying Fortress evolved…
The Reggiane Re.2001 Falco II was an Italian fighter aircraft. With its flexible design, it proved to be able to undertake a number of roles, from convoy escort to night fighter. Thanks to its maneuverability, it could dogfight with more powerful opponents like the British Supermarine Spitfire. Designed to be used with the popular air…
The Kawasaki Ki-61 Hien (“flying swallow”) was a Japanese World War II fighter aircraft. Over 2.500 Ki-61s were produced, first seeing action around New Guinea in 1943, and continuing to fly combat missions throughout the war. From 1944, Ki-61 were also employed effectively in aerial ramming attacks against B-29 Superfortresses. Designed to be used with…
The Gloster Gladiator Mk.I was a British-built biplane fighter, used by the RAF and the Royal Navy (as the Sea Gladiator variant). It fought against stronger foes during the early days of the WW2, but it acquitted itself reasonably well in combat. The Gladiator saw action in almost all theatres during the WW2 with a…
The Messerschmitt Bf.110 was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II and served with success in the early campaigns, the Polish, Norwegian and Battle of France. Later in the war, it was developed into a formidable night fighter, becoming the major night-fighting aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Great Aces…
The Fiat CR.42 Falco was a single-seat sesquiplane fighter which served primarily in Italy’s Regia Aeronautica before and during World War II. The aircraft entered service in smaller numbers with the air forces of Belgium, Sweden and Hungary. The Fiat CR.42 was the last of the Fiat biplane fighters to enter front line service as…
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II. The P-51s were used by the USAAF’s Eighth Air Force to escort bombers in raids over Germany. The RAF’s 2 TAF and the USAAF’s Ninth Air Force used them as fighter-bombers, roles in which the Mustang…
The Messerschmitt Bf.110 was a twin-engine heavy fighter in the service of the Luftwaffe during World War II and served with success in the early campaigns, the Polish, Norwegian and Battle of France. Later in the war, it was developed into a formidable night fighter, becoming the major night-fighting aircraft of the Luftwaffe. Great Aces…
The Spitfire Mk.IX was designed and developed to compete with the Focke Wulf FW-190 which in some regards could out-perform and out-climb previous Spitfire versions. The Mark IX was based on the Mark V airframe with the addition of the new generation of Merlin engines allowed this aircraft to duel with the deadly German enemy….
In the summer and fall of 1940, after the fall of France, the German Luftwaffe faced the Royal Air Force in the first major military campaign fought entirely in the air — the Battle of Britain. This was the prelude to the invasion Hitler planned for the British Islands — Operation Sealion. An ultimate German…
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the US Navy’s main carrier-borne scout plane and dive–bomber, and was a good match in combat against the faster, but lightly armored Japanese fighters. Able to carry a substantial bomb load, the Dauntless proved to be very effective in sinking Japanese ships, and it earned glory during the famous Battle…
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was the US Navy’s main carrier-borne scout plane and dive–bomber, and was a good match in combat against the faster, but lightly armored Japanese fighters. Able to carry a substantial bomb load, the Dauntless proved to be very effective in sinking Japanese ships, and it earned glory during the famous Battle…