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The United States had resolutely attempted to distance itself from the ever increasingly desperate war in Europe. Whilst fully supporting the British war effort at every turn, it was not until the fateful day of 7 December 1941 that the USA was forced into the Second World War following the infamous Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Once embroiled, America resolved itself to turn its full industrial might against its foes, and it was the Americans who struck the first major blow against the Japanese at the Battle of Midway. Aided by British, Commonwealth and Indian Forces, it was the Americans however who were to bear the full brunt of the war in the Pacific.
Slowly but surely the United States began to turn back the forces of Imperial Japan. The island hopping campaigns brought glory to the US Navy and Marine Corps, whilst US submarines torpedoed every Japanese ship in sight, virtually cutting off supplies to the homeland. In the air the Americans were gaining total air superiority and used this to devastating effect against enemy held islands and shipping. The quality of the aircraft had also changed - the legendary Japanese Zero, which had caused so much damage in 1941, was now up against the very best of American aircraft design. The little F4F Wildcat fighters had been replaced by the F6F Hellcat and the F4U Corsair, but it was the mighty P-38 Lightning that Japanese pilots feared. Flown by the top US Aces of the War, the twinengine Lightning cut a swathe through the remaining Japanese airpower.
One of the most successful of the P-38 equipped units was the 475th Fighter Group, 'Satan’s Angels " and it is the P-38s of this famous unit that Nicolas Trudgian has portrayed in his tribute to the American Air Forces who fought in the Pacific Theater. It is March 1945 and the P-38s of the 475th FG are involved in a huge dogfight with Japanese Zeros over the coast of Indo-China. Flying "Pee Wee V" is Lt Ken Hart of the 431 st Fighter Squadron, who has fatally damaged a Zero in a blistering head on encounter. The second P-38, "Vickie" belongs to Captain John 'Rabbit' Pietz, who would end the War an Ace with six victories.
A wonderful and panoramic tribute to the pilots who made victory possible in the Pacific.
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