Midway Dive Bomber Pilot Turns 100

The men (and women) of the Greatest Generation are leaving us, and before too much longer, none will remain. That’s why men such as Norman Kleiss should be celebrated for as long as we have them among us. A Douglas SBD Dauntless dive bomber pilot in the U.S. Navy, he is the last of his […]

Support the Office of Strategic Services Congressional Gold Medal Act

Urge your United States House of Representative to honor our World War II heroes of the OSS by passing a resolution to all the granting of the Congressional Gold Medal to veterans of the Office of Strategic Services, forerunners of the Central Intelligence Agency. On Nov. 4, 2015 Senators Roy Blunt [R-MO] and Mark Warner […]

Rare video footage of Australian WW2 Commandos

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElEMTTxzYtA The Australian Story episode Into the Lion’s Den showcases some rare, colour footage of Special Operations Australia commandos training in secret during World War II. Shot in the remote bush of Fraser Island in Queensland, well away from the public gaze, it is a glimpse into the world of espionage and the art of […]

The “Big Beautiful Doll” Story

As previously  reported, on February 5th 2016 P-51D Mustang N351BD crashed in Arizona with the tragic loss of both souls on board. This particular aircraft was painted as “Big Beautiful Doll.” It the name used by Colonel John D. Landers on his aircraft during World War 2. I thought that it would be a fitting tribute […]

WASPs: Betrayed by the Department of Defense?

Editor’s Note: This is another issue near to our hearts, FighterSweep Fans. Every one of our sisters flying in the Army and Air Force can trace their service heritage back to this exceptional group of women. Brigadier General Dawn Dunlop, the first woman to fly the F-22 Raptor, and our good friend Colonel Nicole Malachowski, were […]

Pilot Shoots Down A Japanese Zero With A Pistol?

Editor’s Note: What an amazing story. My grandfather flew B-24s (among other things) during World War II, and I have to believe he would have thought of the same thing. In any case, we can all certainly agree this weeks I-Am-A-Total-Badass-Award goes to Owen J. Bagget: the man who downed a Japanese Zero with a […]

The US Eagle Squadrons Of WWII

On the 18th of August this year, a formation of 18 Spitfire and 6 Hurricane vintage fighter aircraft flew over South Eastern England to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. This battle is without a doubt one of the defining moments of World War II, widely reported on and documented over the […]

From The Cockpit: 92-Year-Old Flies Spitfire Again

For myself, when I am ninety-two years old, I honestly hope I still have the mental acuity and kinesthetic awareness to be able to fly an airplane. I look to greats like Bob Hoover and Chuck Yeager as inspiration, as I’ve had the honor and privilege of seeing them both fly. Now, I can add […]