Boom

Thoroughly enjoyed my years flying on Hyperlobby. It was the place to be. The single stop shop concept.

Good to see such interest in the SBD. It was the decisive combat aircraft of 1942. As was the F6F in 1943/4, an the B-29 in 1945. A man who knows the SBD well is author, pilot and historian Barrett Tillman. His father and he were involved in restoring an A-24, the army version of the SBD. His first book was on the SBD. Barrett also wrote a fictional book on the SBD, titled Dauntless. It's set in the period just after Coral Sea to the end of October '42, covering Midway and Guadalcanal. It is an excellent read, providing realistic details of flying the Dauntless, and life on board a CV. The lead character is a neophyte pilot, grappling with all the intricacies of naval life. The support characters ring true, many based on the actual men involved in that period, of whom Barrett knew most. Highly recommended.

Really interesting video on how the Japanese adapted tactics to combat the B-29. Note: it is based on US combat reports.

Great video. Well layed out, shows systematic approach which should ensure success. But for me the Key mention was Guadalcanal. Fantastic news.

That is a monster weapon. Would tear an aircraft to pieces.

Yeah sure do. But I preferred the Two Ronnies. :)

According to a post-war study by "The Joint Army-Navy Assessment Committee" of 1947, the Japanese lost 688 naval vessels and 2,346 merchant ships during the Pacific War. Of that number the Unites States armed forces accounted for 611 naval vessels and 2,117 merchant ships. The balance being shared by British, Australian, Dutch and NZ forces. The attached chart provides a breakdown of those losses by cause i.e. sub, surface ship, aircraft (USAAF, USN, USMC), mines etc. By far the most potent weapon was the Submarine, accounting for over 1,314 vessels. Aircraft however were not far behind, with a total of 929 vessels. Interestingly aircraft accounted for 242 naval vessels (tonnage 786,803), as opposed to 201 by submarine (tonnage 540,192). Of those 242 naval vessels the USAAF sank 70, the USN/USMC sank 172. So lots of scope for those of us keen to get down and dirty at sea level with strike aircraft. Especially when adding on the 240 merchant vessels sunk by the USAAF and 447 merchant ships sunk by the USN/USMC aircraft. Losses 3.rtf

One of my all time favourites. Stellar cast, hysterical national sterotypes and the arch villian played by Terry Thomas as Sir Percy Ware-Armitage. A nice play on words, as Ware-Armitage was a company that made urinals and toilets. And my favourite line? When Emilio Ponticelli reneged on a promise to stop flying. Wife: But Emilio, you promised! Emilio: It's postponed. And the aeroplanes! Twenty (20) were built for the movie, seven (7) of which could actually fly. Wonderful to see them in the air. The Santos-Dumont Demoiselle actually needed a specific pilot for it, as weight and space was critical. In the end they found a ex-wartime Air Transport Auxillary pilot by the name of Joan Hughes, who was small enough (51kg) and skilled enough to fly it. The British really did produce many classic movies in the 60's.

Great movie, and marvellous flying.

Really like those period photo's around rabaul. Brings home just how primitive and basic the Theatre was.

And the final two. A real contrast.

There isn't much out there on the Tenth AF. This one is a reasonably good starter. It'll do until I get a copy of Edward M. Young's far more comprehensive "The Tenth Air Force in World War II: Strategy, Command, and Operations 1942-1945.

I'd always thought that the Mosquito performed badly in Burma due to the wood frame suffering badly due to the humidity. Mosquito Intruder proves that a fallacy. It's an excellent read, although please note that Burma only features in the second half of the book, from April '44 onwards. The first is half is taken up with Intruder operations over Europe (a good read in itself). I've included the Images Of War book as it's photo's provide excellent summation of the really poor conditions for any air force operating over Burma.

Two books that well illustrate the transformation Allied fighter aircraft underwent, and their application in Theatre.

Two good books on 'Hump' flying. One first hand, the other broader in subject. Easily the most inhospitable environment that anyone could fly over, including New Guinea.