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The son of an Austrian count and diplomat and British baron's daughter, Count Manfred Beckett Czernin joined the Royal Air Force in 1935. After participating in the Battle of France, he became an ace during the Battle of Britain. Flying a Hurricane on 25 August 1940, he engaged a group of Messerschmitt Bf 110 head on and shot down three of them in less... The son of an Austrian count and...
On 7 October 1940, Battle of Britain Hurricane ace Ken Mackenzie damaged a Messerschmitt Bf 109 and ran out of ammunition. Fearing the enemy pilot would make it back to base, Mackenzie rammed him with his satboard wing, sending it down into the sea. Mackenzie was credited with 11.5 aerial victories before he was shot down and captured in September 1941. On 7 October 1940, Battle of Britain...
Douglas Bader was one of the Royal Air Force's best-known aces in World War II. Having lost both his legs in a flying accident prior to the war, he managed to return to flying status and was credited with 20 aerial victories, four shared victories, six probables, one shared probable and 11 enemy aircraft damaged before he was shot down and captured in... Douglas Bader was one of the Royal...
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...
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...
The DH.88 Comet "Black Magic" was entered in the London-to-Melbourne McRobertson race by Jim and Amy Mollison in 1934. After leading the race initially, the couple was forced to abandon due to mechanical problems. The DH.88 Comet "Black Magic" was...
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...
Operation Chastise took place during the night of 16-17 May 1943 and was meant to destroy dams in the industrial Rühr region. Bouncing bombs designed by Barnes Wallis were dropped by specially-modified Lancasters led by Guy Gibson, and succeeded in breaching two of the three dams. Gibson was awarded the Victoria Cross for his part in the raid. Operation Chastise took place during...