April 3rd Wildcat
Thunder in the Aleutians
From the 12th of April to the 30th of April 1943, the United States forces in the Aleutian island chain attacked the Japanese that were occupying the islands of Kiska and Attu. P-40's, P-38's, B-25's and B-24's all participated in the attacks. The Japanese hastily defended the islands they had taken. In this snapshot, we will re-create an attack by the American forces on Japanese bases and ports on the island of Kiska.
April 10th Molsman
Milk run
Summer 1943, the United States Eighth Army Air Force is gaining confidence. Its complement is now up to 13 Heavy Bomber Groups and 3 Fighter Groups. Its commander, General Ira Eaker, is beginning to weld it into a fighting force capable of wresting control of the airspace over occupied Europe. Today, the assigned target is a factory in Northern France at Lille, making aircraft parts for Messerschmidts. An easy mission...But the pilots of the Jagdflieger are equally determined to send these upstart Yankees home with their tails between their legs...
April 17th Wildcat
Doolittle's First Command
The 15th Air Force was established on November 1st, 1943. Its first base of operations was Tunis, Tunisia (later moved to Southern Italy) and its first commander was Jimmy Doolittle, the famous leader of the "Doolittle Raid" on Japan. The 15th was comprised of 21 Bombardment Groups, 15 of which were B-24 Liberators. The other 6 were B-17 Flying Fortress'. It also contained 7 Fighter Groups, one of which being the famous 1st Fighter Group (1st Pursuit Group in WW1). Three of the groups (1st, 14th, and 82nd FG's) flew P-38's. The other 4 (325th, 31st, 52nd, 332nd FG's) flew P-51's. In this snapshot, we will re-create a 15th Air Force Raid on Italian Factories.
April 24th Molsman
Party Crashers
On returning from a bomber escort mission the Thunderbolts of the 56th Fighter Group drop down to the deck and strafe rows of parked aircraft at Gutersloh airfield. Weak anti-aircraft fire is powerless to bring down any of the attackers, and one after another the gun pits fall silent.
Having landed his force at Halesworth, Hub Zemke, the 56th CO, hastily arranges for a repeat performance to destroy the remaining targets.
A few hours later the Wolfpack return laden with bombs, now accompanied by their "neighbours" of the 353rd FG. The Jugs bomb and strafe in squadron order, with the 353rd FG watching over the proceedings. As the 56th climb back to altitude to watch over the 353rd, the better part of II./JG 2 appear on the scene to wreck the party.
