Materiel losses during World War 2 were massive. According to one source, Germany produced a staggering 119,907 aircraft of all types and most were destroyed or damaged during the war. The United States lost 52,951 of their 95,000 aircraft in operations over Europe and the Pacific. The Soviet Uni...

This is the story of SBD Dauntless Dive Bomber Gunner Dick Miralles and his incredible trip to fly again in his plane at the Commemorative Air Force Airbase Georgia.

Many years ago, the US Military had plans for a F-22 upgrade. This would have been a strike fighter, with an emphasis on bombing. Details surrounding the project remain a mystery, with some suggesting that the project was never really cancelled, but rather postponed for possible future implementa...

It is the morning of January 16th 1991. Within the next 24 hours, coalition forces will undertake a precision aerial campaign against Iraqi forces, in what will be known as Operation Desert Storm. Desert Storm will see almost 4000 aircraft mobilized by both sides, with coalition forces taking par...

Wings for this Man is a propaganda film produced in 1945 by the U.S. Army Air Forces First Motion Picture Unit about the Tuskegee Airmen, the first unit of African-American pilots in the US military formed during World War II.

Over the years the C-130 Hercules has been the subject of many experiments. From landing on aircraft carriers to retrieving falling film cannisters from spy satellites. However, one of the more prominent experiments was around a rocket powered concept, which was to be used in a hostage rescue ope...

The Henry Ford’s master presenter, Ray Pisani, shares the history of the Wright brothers' journey to build the world's first controlled, powered aircraft.

Teddy Roosevelt was the first president to fly in a plane and FDR would receive the first presidential airliner in 1933. In this program, we will explore the history of the Air Force One aircraft.

Supermarine's Spitfire is undoubtedly one of the iconic fighters of WWII, and continues to garner support from warbird enthusiasts worldwide. 22 distinct major versions of the Spitfire were developed to meet the operational demands of the war. Australia's involvement with the Spitfire began in th...

On the 5th of August 1964, the US Navy begins operations of a new aircraft over Vietnam. This new multirole aircraft - the F4 Phantom - will come to define Vietnam War era jet combat, but during these early missions the aircraft was still a work in progress. Today we look at the story of the firs...

During the Vietnam War, pilots would square off using many new technologies. For the first time, air-to-air missiles would be used, allowing for longer range combat and more intense dogfights.

Within the span of 120 years, military aviation has evolved from a niche experimental weapon, an important observation tool, to now a fundamental battlefield element. The history is well documented. One of the lesser discussed topics within this evolution is that of aircraft camouflage. Let’s tak...

This is the story of James Francis Edwards, the Canadian RAF Ace that flew the P-40 Kittyhawk in North Africa during World War II.

In this series Nose Art Stories (Episode 1), we will be looking at some of the best aircraft nose art from World War II and telling their incredible stories. In this first episode, we will cover "The Blond Angel", "Little Lady", "Big Dick", "In the Mood", and "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby".

This award winning documentary short is based on the award winning book SHOT DOWN: The true story of pilot Howard Snyder and the crew of the B-17 Susan Ruth written by Steve Snyder. After being shot down by German fighters over occupied Belgium on February 8, 1944, Steve's father Howard was missi...

The Battle of Milne Bay (from August 25 through to September 7, 1942), was the defense of the eastern New Guinea by Australian and US forces against a Japanese invasion. It would become the first time that Japanese forces had been defeated on land, shattering the myth at the time of Japanese invi...

Detailed accounts using archival footage in remembering the B-17 and it's role in World War 2.

The story of a Flying Fortress is a 1944 documentary film which provides an account of the final mission of the crew of the Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. In May 1943 it became the third U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe, but the first to return ...

Based on the 77 Squadron Association book "Swift to Destroy: An Illustrated History of 77 Squadron RAAF 1942-2012. This video features interviews from the Australians At War Film Archive.

This is the story of Henry E. Erwin, an American airmen on board a B-29 Superfortress when a phosphorous bomb detonated inside the aircraft. He would be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor when he would save his entire crew from certain death.

Captain Wendell Oliver Pruitt was a pioneering pilot of the 15th Air Force and a Tuskegee Airman from St. Louis. His story begins with humble beginnings and a desire to fly. A Sumner High graduate who grew up in the Ville neighborhood, Pruitt was well liked and well educated. His quiet demeanor g...

The F-14 Tomcat is remembered for it's important Navy role during the 1980s and 1990s. However, few people are aware of the brief role it played in the Vietnam War. We look at Operation Frequent Wind, in which the F-14 served.