Introduction

World War II raged across the globe on virtually every continent, across the seven seas and in the air.

For the 9-part 1997 documentary Warbirds of World War II look here.

Outline

The Dakota transport plane was an integral part of the air war against the Germany and the Axis powers in World War II.

This military variant of the DC-3 could carry 6,000 pounds of cargo or 28 fully outfitted paratroopers and even act as a flying medical bay.

10,693 saw service during the war and General Eisenhower, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, said ‘It is one of the four most important weapons of World War II (in Europe)”.

The others were the P-51, the Sherman Tank and the Higgins Boat (landing craft).

In the Pacific the P-38 was the US Army Air Corps fighter credited with destroying the most Japanese planes (by the USAAC).

The US Navy air wings decimated the Japanese naval air arm at Midway and again in the Marianas bringing the Japanese home islands into range of the B-29 Superfortress, the planes that dropped the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki on 06 and 09 August 1945.

On 12 August the Japanese Emperor decided to surrender.

Warbirds of World War II Series

You can find a full index of Warbirds of World War II (2008) here.

Production & Filming Details

• Production: Valorous TV.
• Distributor(s): Valorous TV.
• Release Date: 2008.
• Running Time: 10 x 60 minutes (600 minutes total running time).
• Country: US.
• Language: English.