Air Warfare
ROMANIAN AIR SERVICE WWII Part II
A far more apparent, if distant, threat had suggested itself on May 8, 1943, when the Anglo-Americans conquered North Africa, thereby putting the Balkans within striking range of enemy bombers. Less than a month later, the Corpul1 Aerian Roman was officially activated during an impressive and popularly acclaimed parade of its crews through Kirovograd before Marshal Antonescu. The first day…
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Spitfire in Rhodesia
The re-established South Rhodesian Air Force received a complement of 22 Spitfire Mk 22 fighters. These were delivered from the UK between March and December 1951, and two new Squadrons (No.1 & No. 2) were formed to operate these aircraft. The Spitfire served in first-line duties for only three years,…
Civil Air Transport (CAT)
Civil Air Transport: Asiaâs Airline of Distinction. Presented by SFO Museum General Claire Lee Chennault did not fade away after WWII. He divorced Nell Thompson in 1946 and in late 1947 married Anna Chen, a young Chinese journalist. He became an outspoken critic and opponent of Communism in the Far…
Aerial Warfare and the Spanish Civil War
In the years between the world wars, governments and military leaders theorized about the future of aerial warfare. But during this almost two-decade period, there was only one major military conflictâthe Spanish Civil War. Although only a few countries officially participated, they found it invaluable preparation for World War II.…
RAAF/RAF Spitfires in the Far East I
Spitfire vs Zero No. 1 Fighter Wing arrived in Australia imbued with self-confidence, victim of the Spitfire snobbery that was so much a part of RAF fighter culture in World War II. RAF fighter pilots in the ETO derided the USAAFâs P-47 Thunderbolt, belittling the huge American fighter with the…
RAAF/RAF Spitfires in the Far East II
http://www.richard-seaman.com Early in 1943, three Spitfire Mk VC squadrons, Nos 607, 615 and 136, were based around Darwin, Australia, to counter Japanese air raids. In combat, the Spitfire was faster than the Zero but was at a disadvantage in a dogfight. Further quantities of Spitfire could not be spared for…
RAAF/RAF Spitfires in the Far East Part III
The Supermarine Spitfire is one of the most famous fighter aircraft of the Second World War. It has the distinction of being the only fighter produced prior to 1939 that was manufactured right through the war, and into the years beyond. Ultimately, 20,351 Spitfires, in 40 major variants, were rolled…