SCALE MODELER APR 78 MIG-23 FLOGGER F-14 TOMCAT F2A VMF ALOUETTE III WW1 TAUBE Do-217K-1

SOVIET AIR FORCE SWING WING MIKOYAN MIG-23 FLOGGER

GRUMMAN F-14 TOMCAT US NAVY VF FIGHTER FLEET AIR DEFENSE

WW2 BREWSTER F2A BUFFALO VMF-221 USMC MIDWAY 1942 - On June 4, 1942, during the Battle of Midway, the pilots of VMF-221 were alerted to intercept the incoming formation of Japanese bombers and the 36 escorting Zero fighters that were headed towards the island. Parks led his squadron against the inbound Japanese armada, which combined air groups from Akagi, Kaga, Hiryu, and Soryu. In the lead were the level bombers, a "vee of vees" made up of Nakajima B5N "Kates", followed by the dive bomber formation of Aichi D3A "Vals" at a slightly higher altitude. The fighter escort was "stepped-up" behind the dive bombers, this disposition gave the pilots of VMF-221 a clear shot at the bombers for the first few passes. Once the Zeros were able to engage the Marine fighters, the tables were effectively turned.  When the smoke of the battle cleared, fourteen of the squadron's aviators, including Parks, had been killed in action; four more had been wounded. Only two of VMF-221's remaining 13 aircraft were serviceable, effectively eliminating the squadron as a viable combat unit. Four of the squadron's ordnancemen were also killed when a Japanese bomb stuck the ammunition area near the airstrip at Midway.

RMAF ROYAL MALAYSIAN AIR FORCE ALOUETTE III HELICOPTER

WW1 GERMAN RUMPLER TAUBE (DOVE) FIGHTER - Poor rudder and lateral control made the Taube difficult and slow to turn. The aeroplane proved to be a very easy target for the faster and more agile Allied Scouts of the early part of World War I, and just six months into the war, the Taube had been removed from front line service to be used to train new pilots. Many future German aces would learn to fly in a Rumpler Taube.