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Operation Torch (8–16 November 1942) was the Anglo–American invasion of French North Africa during the Second World War. It was aimed at reducing pressure on Allied forces in Egypt, and enabling an invasion of Southern Europe. It also provided the ‘second front’ which the Soviet Union had been requesting since it was invaded by the Germans in 1941. The region was dominated by the Vichy French, officially in collaboration with Germany, but with mixed loyalties, and reports indicated that they might support the Allied initiative. The American General Dwight D. Eisenhower, commanding the operation, planned a three-pronged attack, aimed at Casablanca (Western), Oran (Center) and Algiers (Eastern), in advance of a rapid move on Tunis.
Operation Chastise was an attack on German dams carried out on 16–17 May 1943 by Royal Air Force No. 617 Squadron, later called the Dam Busters, using a purpose-built "bouncing bomb" developed by Barnes Wallis.
F/L James Nicolson was the only Fighter Command pilot to receive the Victoria Cross during World War II. On 16 August 1940, his aircraft was hit by enemy cannon fire and began to burn. As Nicolson was about to bail out, he realized his opponent had overshot him. He climbed back in the burning cockpit and shot him down, receiving grievous burn injuries in... F/L James Nicolson was the only...
The successful Operation Taxable was designed to create the illusion that a large invasion force was headed for the beaches of the Seine Maritime, thus distracting German forces from the actual landing in Normandy. Heavy bombers were required to fly a very precise pattern at low altitude near the French coast, dropping chaff at regular intervals to... The successful Operation Taxable was...
The successful Operation Taxable was designed to create the illusion that a large invasion force was headed for the beaches of the Seine Maritime, thus distracting German forces from the actual landing in Normandy. Heavy bombers were required to fly a very precise pattern at low altitude near the French coast, dropping chaff at regular intervals to... The successful Operation Taxable was...
Walter Cook was the first 56th FG pilot to score an aerial victory and later became an ace with 6 kills to his credit. Walter Cook was the first 56th FG...
S/L Michael Robinson DFC became an ace during the Battle of Britain. He was killed in action on 10 April 1942, with the rank of Wing Commander and 16 confirmed aerial victories. S/L Michael Robinson DFC became an...
F/L Geoffrey "Sammy" Allard was credited with 19 aerial victories, 5 shared victories and two probables, all achieved during the Battle of France and the first weeks of the Battle of Britain. F/L Geoffrey "Sammy" Allard was...
Luftwaffe ace Rudi Linz (14 February 1917 – 9 February 1945) was credited with 70 enemy aircraft shot down. He was shot down and killed during the "Black Friday" aerial battle over Norway on 9 February 1945 and was posthulously awarded the The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Luftwaffe ace Rudi Linz (14 February...
F/L Arthur Clowes was credited with 11 aerial victories in 1939 and 1940, and was awarded the DFC and DFM for his actions. F/L Arthur Clowes was credited with...
Hours after the Allied invasion in Normandy, on June 6, 1944, a Mustang Mk III (FZ190) of 19 Squadron of the Royal Air Force has landed at B-12, a British Advanced Landing Ground, for repairs. Hours after the Allied invasion in...
American ace David Lee “Tex” Hill returns to the American Volunteer Group headquarters in Kunming, China with his Curtiss H81-A2 “Tomahawk”. American ace David Lee “Tex” Hill...
At the controls of his Yakolev Yak-3 bearing the colours of the Normandie-Niémen fighter group, Roland de la Poype obtains his fifteenth aerial victory by downing a Focke-Wulf W 190 on 23 October 1944. It was the group's 182nd aerial victory on the Eastern Front. At the controls of his Yakolev Yak-3...
A Morane-Saulnier MS.315 in flight, bearing the Escadrille Régionale de Chasse 571's emblem. It is escorted by a Dewoitine D.510 fighter. The unit's emblem was a black pennant with an Algerian pirate's head. A Morane-Saulnier MS.315 in flight,...