
May 1943, central Germany, Desau airfield. Inside a hanger designed to contain engine explosions, Hans Verer Lecher walked toward a modified Messi 110 fighter. The…

It’s a.m. March 22nd, 1945. George Patton is standing on the east bank of the Rine River. He shouldn’t be here. Nobody should be here.…

March 15th, 1943, 20,000 ft above Germany, Captain James McKenna from Ohio watched the Messormidt 109 pull into a vertical climb. Its pilot probably laughing…

September 18th, 1943. Solomon Islands. The Marine pilot from Ohio watched the Japanese Zero pull into a vertical climb and knew he was dead. His…

14 German fighters closing fast, a formation of bombers bleeding fuel and fire, and one pilot who ignored every rule in the manual and told…

At on March 1st, 1943, Major Ed Lner stood on the rain soaked coral runway at Port Moresby, watching his B25 Mitchell bomber crews prepare…

May 28th, 1940. Reich Air Ministry, Berlin. Reich Marshal Herman Guring set down the intelligence report with undisguised contempt. The document detailed President Roosevelt’s request…

It made 127 kills without ever being seen. In 1940, Allied commanders were helpless against night raids, desperate for a machine that could see through…

At 2340 on December 29th, 1944, Major Carol C. Smith crouched in the cramped cockpit of his P61 Black Widow at Meuire Field, Muro, watching…

Nine German fighters circle below him. His engine is already coughing. His wingmen are scattered or dead. Standard doctrine says, “Climb, regroup, retreat.” Instead, he…





