MilAvHistory

Early Access: Inside the B-29 and A-10

The title says it all really - in the next two early access videos I am taking you on a full tour of the B-29 Superfortress and A-10A Thunderbolt II. These episodes were filmed at the New England Air Museum - a great place to visit and highly recommended!

B-29 Superfortress: https://youtu.be/rZ-IxWazeKw

A-10 Thunderbolt II: https://youtu.be/pdDKeW_Q...

Early Access: The Secret Sauce of the Luftwaffe

The word "Fliegerkorps" has popped up plenty of times in my Luftwaffe at War series? But what is a Fliegerkorps and why is it so important? Join me as I delve deep into the operational mechanics of the Luftwaffe to explain how it could air power at the centre of gravity.

Early Access x3 + Discounts!

I have a new book out and to celebrate the occasion, here are three new videos and a massive discount!

Videos:

In the above video I deep dive into Germany's early thinking of dive-bombing (before it went nuts...in a way, it made sense given resource restrictions but that is a video for another time). In the video I explain why the Junkers Ju 87 was built in the first place. While most will know the role played by Ernst Udet, I explain that other reasons were just ...

Early Access: Inside the Bf 109 G-6/G-12 (Buchon Conversion)

Join me as I jump into a very special aircraft - a two-seater Bf 109 G-12. Though this is a Buchon (Spanish Bf 109) conversion, the G-12 did exist in order to help train 109 pilots at the end of the war. It's amazing that one still exists!

Early Access: Why Luftwaffe Strategic Bombers Never Happened

Why did Germany and the Luftwaffe not have long-range strategic bombers? As a follow on from the previous video on Japanese strategic bombers, in this episode I chat about doctrine, industrial capacity, resources, manpower and more - it turns out, the Germans made a conscious and calculated gamble.

Early Access: Luftwaffe Fighters and Strategic Bombers

What are the reasons why the Germans built fighter aircraft? The reason will, to paraphrase internet clickbait, "surprise you" - it has very little to do with defence against bombers!

Part 2 in the Axis Strategic Bomber mini-series will also be released soon.

Early Access: Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers

Another episode with Justin Pyke on the Japanese Air Services of WW2. This is Part 1 in a two-part series on Axis Strategic Bombers (and why they basically didn't' use them). The second video will be on the Germans and I will likely finish the edit by early next week for all of you!

Early Access and Holiday

A quick reminder that you have a video in early access since last week! Stahlfaust asked me about the tactical and operational difference in Luftwaffe Close Air Support and Bomber operations. My short answer is above.

Also, this August I have taken things a bit slower and am about to go on my first holiday since a while. Videos will resume second half of September. Have a good one and talk to you soon!

Early Access: Hs 123 and CAS vs Bombers

Two new videos for all of you! The first one, linked above, is about the Henschel Hs 123 - an outdated biplane that the Germans used as a Close Air Support aircraft. Or did they? I talk about that and the many misunderstandings/out of context myths surrounding this plane.

The second video is my first answer to the supporter Q&A. Stahlfaust asked me about the tactical and operational difference in Close Air Support and Bomber planes for the Luftwaffe.
Watch it here: 2025-08-20 21:36:51 +0000 UTC View Post

Early Access: The "Doomed" French Air Force in 1940

Today I am looking at a subject I should have made a video ages ago, the French Air Force of 1940. It's a good annex to the last video about the Luftwaffe during Case Yellow. In this video I discuss the doctrine of the Air Force, the priorities of French Politics and (lacking) Army-Air Corporation. Let me know what you want to know about the French in the future!

Early Access: Luftwaffe and the Battle of France 1940

The Battle of France 1940. What most expected at the time to be a long, drawn out campaign, was over in a mere few weeks. In today's video, I take the Battle of Sedan and the Race to the Channel as a case study to explore how the Luftwaffe concentrated its efforts in support of the Heer.

Early Access - THE LUFTWAFFE AT WAR Series

I am really happy to share with you my new standalone series: The Luftwaffe At War. In this series, I delve deep into the Luftwaffe, talking about strategy, doctrine, production, operations, war crimes, tactics and technology. The aim is to build up a video portfolio for you to choose from, where in each video I can build on previous work and let you discover all the details, nuances and intricacies with me. Four videos are already finished and you can watch them here:

Early Access - Pearl Harbor: A Third Wave To Destroy Oil Tanks?

Did Japan blunder at Pearl Harbor by not sending a Third Wave and destroying American Oil reserves? Joining me is historian and Pacific War expert Jonathan Parshall and we discuss why things are different than often seen, how war movies can shape perceptions of a battle far more than they should and how Japan fought their campaigns.

Video: The Vietnam War's GREATEST Air Rivalry

I was invited by the Imperial War Museum to talk about the duel between MiG-21s and F-4 Phantom IIs over Vietnam. The video is out and linked above - enjoy!

New Videos in Early Access

I'll be taking a week of holiday to meet up with family but before doing so, I wanted to make sure that you have something to watch in the meantime. Thus, three new videos are now in early access - two of which are on my second channel. I also added a new Inside The Cockpit episode on the F-4 Phantom II. Two other videos remain in early access for you before I publish them later this month and next!


Airpower 21 Channel

• The Prototype Eurofighter For Next-Ge...
  2025-05-08 16:00:13 +0000 UTC View Post

Reminder: Early Access Videos

As I am working on the next projects (incl. all your great Q&A questions!), here is a reminder of all the early access videos already out. Perhaps you haven't seen all of them yet?

Luftwaffe during WW2

• Trainstopping: The Battle of Luftwaffe vs Polish Trains https://youtu.be/p_w_VtvUwlU

• A Bridge Too Hard? Why Ju 87 Couldn't Destroy (Some) Bridges 2025-04-29 16:01:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Summary of your Q&A entries

A little while ago I asked you to submit questions on the Luftwaffe 1935-1940. The questions are great and I am now closing the entries for now, as I started to go through them to answer them in videos, either as the main topic or as a sidebar.

Here is a summary of the questions I am working on:

• Meh/Jose: Spanish Civil War influences

• Stahlfaust: Schlacht- vs Kampfgeschwader of the Lw (I will tackle this in the 1935-1940 timeframe) <...

  2025-04-21 15:00:10 +0000 UTC View Post

Early Access: 5 New Videos

Five videos are in early access for you as a channel supporter! Included are two Inside The Cockpit episodes and three new episodes on WW2 aviation. The later include a detailed one hour breakdown of the development of armor and protected fuel tanks from 1914 - 1941, as well as a video on Luftwaffe operations against Polish rail (turns out, stopping trains is hard) and some really interesting learnings about attacking bridges with dive-bombers (which should be "easy" but isn't).

A big ...

Submit Your Questions

I am collecting questions that can be answered in video format to the following topic:

• Luftwaffe 1935-1940

If you have burning questions, please submit them here. It's a good chance to open up the discussion on certain topics, looking forward to it.

EA: 4 New Inside The Cockpit's

Four new Inside The Cockpits are out in early access for you. Well, three if we don't count the Bf 109 I released a few days ago in a separate post. If you have seen that one already, then that should set your appetite for these iconic birds whoever:

• Bf-109 G: https://youtu.be/lK4DLmRhd_8

• F4U-4 Corsair: https://youtu.be/e2D9PSw5G9E<...

  2025-03-28 18:36:01 +0000 UTC View Post

EA: A Short Discussion on Japanese Airpower During World War 2

Recently I published four opening episodes with Justin Pyke on WW2 Japanese Airpower. As we are gearing up for the next batch, we realised that putting our initial episodes into one makes a lot of sense. Not only did it allow us to adding new information but it is also a convenient episode to listen Ito and bookmark - rather than four episodes individually.

More coming soon! Thank you for supporting me over Patreon!

EA: Inside the Messerschmitt Bf 109

It's time for the Inside the Cockpit episode on the Messerschmitt Bf 109! Need I say more? Well, there is much to say but it is all in the video. Check out the Bf 109 G with me at the Messerschmitt Museum in Manching, Germany.

Thank you for supporting the channel and ITC - this series is 100% sponsored by you, the community.

Chris

EA: Spitfire vs Bf 109 - A Detailed Cockpit Comparison

In this video, I am pitting the Spitfire's cockpit against the Bf 109's. Yes, many things have been said but I think that many comparisons only focused on one thing: the space for the pilot to move and especially keep an eye on that dreaded six o'clock position.

In my comparison , I jump inside a Spitfire and Bf 109 to talk about:

• Visibility

• Ease of Use and Ergonomics

• Instrumentation

This gives a more well rounded appraisal of...

EA: Inside the A400M: The Ultimate Military Transport Aircraft?

Join me as I tour the Airbus A400M Atlas of the Royal Air Force on my second chance: Airpower 21st Century. Discover the power of the engines, the modularity of the cargo bay, the toilet for long flights, and the digital cockpit - all in one episode!

EA: Japanese Torpedo Bomber Tactics

How did the Japanese Torpedo Bombers attack Allied ships? Let's have a detailed look together with our friends at Task Force Admiral.

As an annex to our four-part Japanese airpower series (more coming!), in this video I put the lens squarely on the aircraft, weapons and tactics. In the first video I already talked about dive-bombers, so with this second episode on torpedo bombers you get the full picture of the Japanese Carrier striking force of the early Pacific War period:

• ...
  2025-03-12 16:00:17 +0000 UTC View Post

The Insane Capabilities for Future Combat Helicopters | NATO NGRC

Not too long ago, NATO launched a new project to develop the helicopter of the future. It comes with really impressive, borderline ludicrous requirements, in order to really push for the "next big milestone". In this video I will provide insights on these and also show you a really impressive flight demonstration of one of the three main contenders - the X-2 concept of Sikorsky!

Big thank you to all of you who have supported me to get to the point where I can get such access, it contin...

What I Learned Being a FIGHTER PILOT for One Hour

Exactly one year ago, I flew on the Gripen fighter jet! To reflect and celebrate this anniversary, here is my take on what it was like, how it was different to what I expected, and the many questions I have now.

With this video, I am also launching my 2nd Channel. With Military Aviation History returning to the historic roots and focusing on WW2 and Cold War analysis, my new channel AIRPOWER 21st CENTURY w...

Early Access: Final Episode in Japanese Airpower Aeries (EP 4/4)

It’s been a fantastic run so far in what is now likely our “primer” for a larger series in the Pacific Theatre during WW. Although you will likehave tuned in weeks ago when this was released on early access, if you haven’t yet make sure to join Justin Pyke and me as we expand the scope on this episode to chat about Japanese airpower.

Please post any comments, feedback or questions on the videos or directly here on Patreon. Justin and I answered a great number of them in the comm...

Early Access: 2 Episodes on Japanese Tactics

Edit: Corrected links

How did the Japanese Dive and Torpedo Bombers attack Allied ships? That is what I will answer in two videos going into early access for you today!

As an annex to our four-part Japanese airpower series (see below), this is a practical take on the aircraft, weapons and tactics. You can watch the first video on dive-bombers and then jump straight into the second on torpedo bombers with the following links:

• Dive-Bombers: 2025-02-06 13:54:11 +0000 UTC View Post

Early Access: 3rd Episode Japanese Airpower (Four Part Series)

Following up from the previous two episodes, join Justin Pyke and me as we put the two previous episodes on fighters and bombers together and talk about Japanese air tactics in their entirety.

All episodes are already in early access, including the fourth episode.

Please post any comments, feedback or questions on the videos or directly here on Patreon. Justin and I have already answered a great number of them in the comments and marked down additional topics for videos.

H...