The Franco-Thai War
Since the Japanese had largely completed the blockade of major Chinese ports, most supplies destined for the Kuomintang forces were brought into China on the Burma Road. This link allowed Chiang Kai-Shek to import quantities […]
Month: August 2015
Morane-Saulnier MS.406
The Armée de l’Air issued a requirement in 1934 for a new modern fighter, a monoplane to replace the biplanes then in service. The Moraine-Saulnier company responded with a design that was designated the MS.405, […]
German Raiders in the Indian Ocean
German merchant raiders were even more active in the Indian Ocean than they were in the Pacific. The first Kriegsmarine surface vessels to reach the Indian Ocean was the pocket battleship Admiral Graf Spee, which […]
Supermarine Walrus
The Supermarine Walrus was a single engine amphibious reconnaissance seaplane designed by RJ Mitchell, of Spitfire fame. It was originally designed for the Royal Australian Navy and designated the Seagull V, although it had little […]
German Raiders in the Pacific
Although the war in China had been raging since 1937, it wasn’t until 1939 that Europe likewise followed Asia into a general war. The two conflicts would remain largely separate endeavours until the Japanese attack […]
Heinkel He114
The Heinkel He114 was designed as a warship based reconnaissance and artillery spotting aircraft, which was intended to replace the company’s previous He60 aircraft that was standard in the Kriegsmarine at the time. Although the […]
Identification of the Japanese Fighters 96 and 97
USAAF Training film on identification of the Japanese Fighters 96 (Mitsubishi A5M Claude Type 96) and 97 (Nakajima Ki-27 Type 97). Notable for inaccurately claiming that both are the same aircraft, and that it is […]
Arado Ar196
The He114 was regarded as a failed design, due to its poor sea handling capability and that fact that its performance was not much better than previous types. Several firms were invited to put forward […]
Chungking Bombed Again – Fights On
Newsreel footage of the bombing of Chungking, showing the damage done to the city, the underground tunnels dug by the population, and General and Madame Chiang Kai-Shek inspecting the city.