World War II
The European and Pacific Theatre

Aircraft were a major part of the Allies attack on Nazi Germany. Airplanes were aggressive and effective bombing specific strategic targets and large areas. 

Aircraft were also an incredible support to ground troops. Aircraft crews had about a 50% surival rate while the infantry had a 99% rate.  

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The men flying these aircraft were heroes, some flying 100 missions. A tour of duty was 25 and most left after completion.

One of the most respected heroes was "Rosie" Rosenthal, who flew 52 missions in the "Bloody" 100th Bomb Group. He flew the B-17 which was slow, unheated, unpressurized and difficult to operate, but it was the best out there. 12,000 were built in WWII and fewer than a dozen still fly. 

  In the beginning of WWII the Nazis launched the Blitzkrieg (lightning war). They used HE-111 medium bombers, BF-109 fighters, and the JU-87 "Shtuka" dive bomber. These were the main German types of aircraft at the time.

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The British Spitfire was thought to be the most famous aircraft of the battle but people thought the battle was won by it and a few lucky British airmen but it was also the Hawker Hurricane a very infamous aircraft. With the help of RADAR (radio detection and ranging) the British won the battle. At the famous Battle of Britain the Luftwaffe (German air force) were defeated because the Luftwaffe was a tactical air force which means that they worked with the army (army co-operation) and were not suited for long distance raids on London. One reason was that the Messerschmitt ME-109 escort had a range only to London and back to their bases in France. The only aircraft that had the range to escort was the ME-110 which was almost like a bomber because it had very poor maneuverability (ability to turn). Which made it a "sitting duck" it means an easy to shoot down.   

The Japanese had a deadly but lightly armoured aircraft compared to the American aircraft it is the Mitsubishi Zero.

Later the Japanese used them as Kamakazies or Divine Wind (planes packed with explosives and crashed in to American ships).

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The Japanese Imperial Navy also employed the Kate high-level bombers. During the attack on Pearl Harbour modified their torpedos for shallow water.

During the battle of Guadacanal (a small island near Australia), the Japanese used the Oscar fighter against the American F4F Wildcats. The Oscar is similar to the Mitsubishi Zero.

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