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Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber under fire near Truk Lagoon, February 1944. Photographed by Lt. Cdr. William Janeshek from...
10/08/2025

Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber under fire near Truk Lagoon, February 1944. Photographed by Lt. Cdr. William Janeshek from a U.S. Navy PB4Y Liberator during Operation Hailstone (17–18 February 1944), the massive U.S. carrier and bomber assault that shattered Japan’s key forward base in the Caroline Islands.

Bullet splashes walk across the sea as the Betty, trailing smoke from its starboard engine, makes a desperate low-level run. Moments later it struck the water and exploded. The G4M had earned fame early in the war—sinking Prince of Wales and Repulse in December 1941—but its lack of armor and self-sealing fuel tanks gave it the grim reputation of a “flying cigar.” By 1944, in the skies over Truk, it was hopelessly outclassed.

Operation Hailstone cost Japan over 250 aircraft and more than 40 ships, neutralizing Truk and marking a decisive shift in the Pacific War.

Crew of a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber pause for a meal before a raid on Port Moresby, New Guinea, in 1942. On the left...
10/08/2025

Crew of a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber pause for a meal before a raid on Port Moresby, New Guinea, in 1942. On the left sits a junior observer, beside him likely one of the gunners, and on the right, the senior observer and bomber commander.

The G4M “Betty” was the Imperial Japanese Navy’s standard long-range bomber, prized for its speed and ability to reach distant targets. From Rabaul and other island bases, Bettys launched deep strikes across northern Australia, the Solomon Islands, and New Guinea. In the first half of 1942, Port Moresby became a prime target — its airfields and harbor were the key to controlling the approaches to Australia.

Japan’s plan to seize Port Moresby culminated in the Battle of the Coral Sea (May 1942), the first carrier-versus-carrier battle in history. Although the invasion was turned back at sea, bomber raids like this one continued throughout the New Guinea campaign. The Betty could deliver heavy blows, but its lack of armor and self-sealing tanks made it fatally vulnerable in combat, earning it the grim reputation of a “flying lighter.”

This rare photo shows the human side of Japan’s air war — young crews steeling themselves before missions that often ended in heavy losses.

Wreckage of Mitsubishi G4M1 “Betty” No. 336, 705th Kokutai, New Georgia, 1943.The shattered remains of this bomber lie a...
10/08/2025

Wreckage of Mitsubishi G4M1 “Betty” No. 336, 705th Kokutai, New Georgia, 1943.

The shattered remains of this bomber lie amid the jungles of the central Solomons — a silent witness to the brutal New Georgia campaign. Beginning in June 1943, U.S. forces launched Operation Toenails, aimed at seizing New Georgia and the vital Japanese airfield at Munda Point. The battle quickly bogged down in swamps, dense jungle, and determined Japanese resistance.

Over two months of bitter fighting, American troops endured ambushes, disease, and heavy casualties as they pushed toward Munda. Naval and air battles raged offshore and overhead, as Japan tried desperately to reinforce its garrisons with “Tokyo Express” runs and long-range bombers like the Betty. By August 1943, the Allies finally secured the island, gaining another critical stepping stone in the Solomons campaign.

This wreck tells not just the story of a single bomber’s loss, but of a costly struggle in the slow, grinding advance toward Rabaul.

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat night fighters of VMFN-541 “One O’Clock Jump” at Peleliu Island, 1944.VMFN-541 was the first U.S....
10/08/2025

Grumman F6F-5N Hellcat night fighters of VMFN-541 “One O’Clock Jump” at Peleliu Island, 1944.

VMFN-541 was the first U.S. Marine Corps night fighter squadron, equipped with the radar-equipped F6F-5N Hellcat. Arriving in the Pacific in late 1944, the unit operated from Peleliu during the bitter campaign for the Palau Islands. Their mission was to intercept Japanese night raiders, protect forward bases, and provide around-the-clock coverage where conventional daylight fighter squadrons could not.

The Hellcat itself was the backbone of U.S. naval airpower, claiming more than 5,000 aerial victories during World War II. In its -5N variant, it carried the AN/APS-6 radar in a starboard wing pod, giving pilots the ability to hunt in darkness — a critical capability as Japan increasingly turned to night attacks late in the war.

An armorer of the 332nd Fighter Group — part of the Tuskegee Airmen — checks the .50 caliber ammunition belts of a P-51 ...
10/08/2025

An armorer of the 332nd Fighter Group — part of the Tuskegee Airmen — checks the .50 caliber ammunition belts of a P-51 Mustang before a mission from Italy, 1944. Every round mattered; a single jammed gun could leave a pilot defenseless once over enemy territory.

Flying with the 15th Air Force, the 332nd’s Mustangs escorted bombers on long-range strikes against oil refineries, rail yards, and factories in Austria, Hungary, Romania, and Germany.

The Tuskegee story is often told through its pilots, but behind every mission stood dedicated African American ground crews — armorers, mechanics, and crew chiefs whose skill kept the squadron flying. Their contribution was every bit as vital as the men in the cockpits.

Lt. Ralph “Kidd” Hofer with his German Shepherd, Duke. A pilot of the 4th Fighter Group, Hofer was as famous for his fla...
10/07/2025

Lt. Ralph “Kidd” Hofer with his German Shepherd, Duke. A pilot of the 4th Fighter Group, Hofer was as famous for his flamboyant style as for his combat record. He often flew in a football jersey, with a long scarf trailing behind, and sometimes went bareheaded in the cockpit — a symbol of his disregard for both regulations and danger.

Known for singing over the radio and charging into dogfights with fearless abandon, he was described as reckless, impulsive, and undisciplined — yet also charismatic and fiercely effective. In just a year in combat, Hofer scored 15 aerial victories and 14 aircraft destroyed on the ground, making him one of the leading American fighter pilots in Europe.

On 2 July 1944, during a mission to Budapest, Hofer strayed far off course — nearly 500 km away at Mostar Süd airfield in Yugoslavia. While strafing, his P-51 “Salem Representative” was struck by anti-aircraft fire and crashed. He was only 22 years old.

Ralph “Kidd” Hofer remains remembered as a daredevil ace — fearless, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

Vought FG-1D Corsair “Miss Lace” (No. 600) of VMF-122 “Candystripers”, flown by 1Lt Donald R. Wilson, Peleliu, 1945.Oper...
10/07/2025

Vought FG-1D Corsair “Miss Lace” (No. 600) of VMF-122 “Candystripers”, flown by 1Lt Donald R. Wilson, Peleliu, 1945.

Operating from Peleliu’s coral airstrips, VMF-122 — nicknamed the “Candystripers” for the red-and-white stripes on their aircraft — flew daily fighter-bomber missions against Japanese positions in the Palau Islands during the closing months of the Pacific War. Wilson’s Corsair carried nose art inspired by the comic strip character Miss Lace, a touch of levity amid the grind of combat.

In July 1945, while striking targets near Koror, Babelthuap, Wilson’s Corsair was hit by Japanese anti-aircraft fire. He crash-landed just offshore and was rescued from the water, surviving an ordeal that underscored the danger Marine aviators faced even in the final year of the war.

USMC Grumman TBF Avenger crew of MAG-23 prepare to board their aircraft at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, late 1943.By th...
10/07/2025

USMC Grumman TBF Avenger crew of MAG-23 prepare to board their aircraft at Henderson Field, Guadalcanal, late 1943.

By this stage of the Solomon Islands campaign, Guadalcanal had shifted from a desperate battleground to a forward operating base for the U.S. advance. From Henderson Field, Marine Aircraft Group 23 flew Grumman TBF Avengers on patrol, strike, and anti-shipping missions across the central Solomons, supporting operations against New Georgia, Bougainville, and the Japanese fortress at Rabaul.

The Avenger, a rugged torpedo and bomber aircraft, carried bombs, torpedoes, and depth charges, giving Marine and Navy crews the reach to strike shipping lanes and fortified positions. Avengers from Guadalcanal were part of the relentless air campaign that neutralized Rabaul by late 1943, eliminating Japan’s most important base in the South Pacific.

Crews like these — pilots, radiomen, and gunners — carried the fight northward, step by step, as the Allies pushed through the Solomons toward Japan’s inner defenses.

Donald M. McPherson, America’s last living World War II fighter ace, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, at age 1...
10/07/2025

Donald M. McPherson, America’s last living World War II fighter ace, passed away peacefully on August 14, 2025, at age 103. A decorated Navy pilot aboard the USS Essex, he earned ace status with five aerial victories during the Pacific campaign and was honored with the Congressional Gold Medal and three Distinguished Flying Crosses. His passing not only closes the chapter on the nation’s fighter aces of World War II, but also marks the fading of the Greatest Generation—men and women whose courage, sacrifice, and character defined an era.

Rest easy, hero. Thank you for your service.

18th Fighter Squadron P-40 Warhawks being refueled in the Aleutian Islands, 1943. Harsh winds, fog, and freezing tempera...
10/07/2025

18th Fighter Squadron P-40 Warhawks being refueled in the Aleutian Islands, 1943. Harsh winds, fog, and freezing temperatures made the Aleutians one of the most unforgiving fronts of World War II. Often called the “Forgotten Battle”, the campaign was overshadowed by events in Europe and the Pacific, yet it was vital to securing America’s northern defenses.

The 18th Fighter Squadron played a critical role—flying patrols, intercepting Japanese aircraft, and supporting operations to retake Attu and Kiska. Their P-40s stood as the first line of defense in the remote skies of Alaska, proving that courage and endurance mattered as much as firepower.

The squadron endures today, now flying the F-35 Lightning II out of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska—carrying forward a legacy born in those icy Aleutian skies.

Colonel Walker “Bud” Mahurin in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt, 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, 1943. Mahurin wa...
10/07/2025

Colonel Walker “Bud” Mahurin in the cockpit of his P-47 Thunderbolt, 56th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, 1943. Mahurin was the first American double ace in the European Theater, credited with 20.75 victories in Europe flying the P-47. He later added 1 victory in the Pacific flying the P-51 Mustang, and during the Korean War, scored 3.5 MiG-15 victories in the F-86 Sabre before being shot down and held as a POW for 16 months. With a total of 24.25 confirmed victories, Mahurin remains the only U.S. ace to achieve victories in Europe, the Pacific, and Korea — a story of resilience, courage, and survival across three wars.

Brigadier General James H. Howard with his North American P-51B-5 Mustang, 43-6315 “Ding Hao!”, 354th Fighter Group, 9th...
10/07/2025

Brigadier General James H. Howard with his North American P-51B-5 Mustang, 43-6315 “Ding Hao!”, 354th Fighter Group, 9th Air Force.

Howard was already a seasoned combat veteran, with 6 aerial victories as a Flying Tiger in China before joining the USAAF. On January 11, 1944, while escorting B-17 bombers over Oschersleben, Germany, he spotted Luftwaffe fighters swarming the formation. Alone, he dived in.

For nearly 30 minutes, Howard fought wave after wave of German aircraft. He shot down at least three, damaged several more, and repeatedly broke off only to climb back into the fight—protecting the bombers until the sky was clear. The B-17 crews watching from above were stunned, convinced that a whole squadron of Mustangs had come to their rescue—only later realizing it was a single pilot.

For this extraordinary act of valor, Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor—the only fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations to receive it. By the war’s end, he was credited with 12 aerial victories in total—6 in China with the AVG, and 6 in Europe flying the P-51 Mustang. His Mustang’s name, “Ding Hao!” (Chinese for “very good”), was a tribute to his time with the Flying Tigers.

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