#303 Squadron

[victusinveritas]

A map made for Polish pilots with Polish pronunciation of towns in Eastern England. (I don't know the date of this map, so the WWII and air war tags might not be appropriate.)

[carbone14]

Le pilote de chasse tchécoslovaque Josef František du 303 Squadron RAF posant devant son Hurricane – Bataille d'Angleterre – Septembre 1940

Josef František est un pilote tchécoslovaque qui a combattu dans les armées de l'air polonaises, françaises et anglaises. Il est le pilote non anglais de la RAF ayant obtenu le plus grand nombre de victoires pendant la bataille d'Angleterre (17 victoires en septembre) avant de se crasher le 8 octobre 1940.

[seemoreandmore]

 303rd "Tadeusz Kościuszko Warsaw" Fighter Squadron / 1941

[the-history-chap]

Pretending you are ramming >>> actually ramming

Source: Arkady Fiedler: "Squadron 303", chapter V: "All bullets spent"

[usaac-official]

Ground crew of No. 178 Squadron RAF use a crane to load aerial mines onto a B-24 Liberator B Mk. III at Celone, Italy. The Liberator B Mk. III was roughly equivalent to the B-24D in US service, with a quad .303 turret in the tail similar to the Halifax

[usafphantom2]

Today is Battle of Britain Day. 145 Polish fighter pilots flew for the @RoyalAirForce in the #BattleOfBritain. No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron, credited with 126 kills, was the highest-scoring fighter squadron of the Battle. Winston Churchill said: "Never was so much owed by so many to so few".

@BritishPoles via X

[thescarletnargacuga]

AVIATION ENTHUSIAST

A TIME CAPSULE AU SHOWTIME ONESHOT

Caine geeks over airplanes, Pomni finds it informative and adorable

AU credit @mangotangerinepastry @the-amazing-digital-time-capsule

WARNING: none

~~~

In the late evening hours, long after the guests had gone for the day, Caine sat at the grand piano backstage. The large wooden cover for the keys was down, as he wasn't planning on playing it tonight. Instead, multiple model WW1 era airplanes sat the length of the piano like it was a runway. Small jars of paint and tiny brushes sat on a messy rag draped over the closed top of the piano.

Caine dipped one of his fine bristled brushes into the red paint to work on the detail of the biplane he held delicately in his hand. Light splotches of paint stained his gloves. He hummed to himself as he worked.

"Keep the home fires burning...while your hearts are yearning..." He finished the fine detail on his freshly painted plane and carefully set it down to let it dry. "Though your lads are far away...they dream of home..." He cleaned off his brush and grabbed a plane that was barren of any paint. With a new, larger brush, he started applying the base coat. "There's a silver lining... through the dark cloud shining..." He was so focused on his work, he didn't see Pomni out of the corner of his eye. "Turn the dark could inside out, till the boys coooome hoooome."

Pomni quietly approached and sat on the piano bench next to Caine. Caine paused what he was doing for half a second, impressed he didn't hear her get close until she was sitting down. "What are you doing up so late?" He asked without looking up.

"I don't really know. Just one of those nights." Pomni sighed, overlooking the display of model aircraft. "You made these?"

"Yep. Built and painted every one of them. Please don't touch, they're delicate."

Pomni put her outstretched hand in her lap bashfully. "I wasn't gonna-"

Caine sent her a strong side eye.

"I wasn't." Pomni reaffirmed with a defiant pout.

Caine didn't fight the small smile her adorable reaction gave him, and went back to focusing on painting the model in his hand.

Pomni kept her hands firmly in her lap as she took close looks at the impressively detailed airplanes. "What's this one?" She pointed to a sleek, steel grey sesquiplane.

Caine only glanced briefly to see which one she was referring to. "The Nieuport 17. One of the most agile planes of its time. It could outmaneuver the German eindeckers with a climbing speed of over 113 mph."

"Wow, very impressive." Pomni smirked at his info dumping. "What about this one?" She pointed to a bright blue plane with three sets of wings stacked on top of each other.

Caine looked away from his work a bit longer this time. "Uh, that is a Sopwith Triplane. Also known as Tripes, only 160 were ever made and exclusively for the British Royal Navy. Don't let their weird design fool you, they were exceptionally maneuverable and packed serious heat with a Vickers .303 machine gun mounted behind the propeller."

"Cool. Oh! What about this one? I really like the paint job." Pomni excitedly pointed to a grey-green biplane with a black lightning-shaped arrow painted on the sides.

Caine set down his paintbrush to pick up the chosen plane. "One of my personal favorites, the Albatross D.VA. They were the first fighters powered by 160-hp Mercedes in-line engines which gave them the power to carry two 7.92mm synchronized machine guns. These proved superior to all other Western Front one-gun fighters. They were sent first to specialized squadrons of one-seat scout fighters that were established to achieve local battlefield air superiority. A real shame these marvels of engineering were mainly used by the Germans."

Pomni smiled at how relaxed and open Caine seemed to be while talking about the airplanes in his collection. She wasn't looking at the Ringmaster. She was looking at a man passionate about a hobby. He made these little models feel like real replicas of epic aerial combatants.

Caine noticed how Pomni was looking at him and stopped talking. "Uh- not that, uh, any of this is particularly relevant. Heh." He nervously looked away and set the Albatross down. "Never mind my rambling."

"I don't mind. This is fascinating stuff. I never knew you knew so much about early 1900s aerospace technology, and...I like hearing you talk." Pomni admitted, fiddling with her thumbs.

Caine could swear his heart skipped a beat. "You...do?"

Pomni blushed and quickly pointed to the unfinished plane in Caine's hand. "What'sthatone?" She said so quickly, she was nearly incomprehensible.

"Oh-" Caine cleared his throat, feeling a little warm under the collar. "This is a Fokker."

Pomni did a mental double take. "A what now?"

"I swear, that's its real name. There were quite a few different types of Fokkers, actually. The V38, the E.V. and D.V. series, the eindeckers, and the drideckers. Just to name a few." Caine held up the unfinished model. "This one is an original model Fokker."

"Sounds like the first world war was full of Fokkers." Pomni said with a crooked smile.

Caine saw the joke coming a mile away, but it was still funny. He chuckled, "That it was, my dear. That it was."

[veryplanethinking]

303 Polish Squadron

[captain-price-unofficially]

Pilot Officer Józef Stasik of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron playing with Misia, the dog-mascot of the Squadron, on the wing of his Spitfire at RAF Northolt, 10 April 1942.

[bratshaws]

through the hourglass 312. brb x oc

a/n: bada bing bada boomccc(comments and reblogs are super welcome and encouraged!)

pairing: plus size!oc x rooster

warnings: none uwu

goodness gracious (pls read this one to know more what this fic is about!!)

chapter

1/

/267/268/269/270/271/272/273/274/275/276/277/278/279/280/281/282/283/284/285/286/287/288/289/290/291/292/293/294/295/296/297/298/299/300/301

/302/303/304/305/306/307/308/309/310/311

(pls let me know if you want to be added to the taglist! )

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-

How was he going to do this? Should he talk to Cyclone? No he needed proof or else the vice-admiral would toss this away.He sat alone in his bunk, towel on his shoulders since he just left the shower, allowing the solitude to reach his thoughts.

He needed a plan—something concrete to address the growing tension within the squadron. The encounter with Mark had left Rooster with a gnawing sense of unease, and the need for proof became more apparent. Without tangible evidence, any accusation against Mark might be dismissed, and Rooster couldn't afford to let the internal discord persist.

He opened a drawer beside his bunk, retrieving a small notebook and a pen. As he flipped through the pages, he paused at an empty one. Rooster began jotting down his observations, creating a timeline of the incidents involving Mark.

His mind traced back to the encounters in the locker room, the condescending remarks, and the private conversations. Rooster scrutinized each detail, searching for a way to connect him to the breach.

Fuck he was nervous.

He never dealt with stuff like this before. Annoying pilots? Sure. Possible threat that could ruin a lot of lives? Never.

Rooster continued to document his observations, creating a meticulous record of each incident. His thoughts drifted to the cryptic conversation Mark had with McAllister. It was a potential lead, a thread to pull, but Rooster needed to approach it cautiously. He considered talking to McAllister directly, seeking more information without revealing the gravity of the situation.

But he also wanted to make sure McAllister wouldn’t be harmed if he did talk…he rubs his chin, still thinking about what he should do. How do you prove that a pilot, a Lieutenant just like he was, was involved in such a thing?

Rooster's fingers drummed on the notebook as he mulled over his options. The weight of responsibility bore down on him, and he couldn't afford to make a misstep. 

He decided to start with McAllister, someone he trusted and who had inadvertently given him a glimpse into the mysterious conversations. Rooster closed the notebook with a snap, tucking it away, and made his way to find McAllister.

The squadron's common area was relatively empty as most pilots were still wrapping up post-mission tasks. Rooster spotted McAllister reviewing some mission data on one of the computer terminals. Approaching quietly, Rooster cleared his throat to get McAllister's attention.

"McAllister, can I have a word?" Rooster asked, keeping his tone low-key to avoid unnecessary attention.

McAllister turned toward him, after jumping in surprise a hint of surprise in his eyes. "Sure, sir. What's up?"

“Not here, follow me.”Rooster motioned toward a quieter corner of the room, away from prying ears. Once they were a bit secluded, Rooster leaned in, his expression serious. "You mentioned Mark and the breach,what did you get?"

McAllister's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of nervousness crossing his features. He hesitated before responding, "Well, sir, recruit Haltzman and I were talking after the mission, and he seemed... agitated. He mentioned something about the breach, but he didn't go into specifics. I asked him why and…he said that Mark was bothering him about it."

Rooster's brows furrowed as he absorbed the information. "Did Haltzman mention anything else?" Rooster asked, his voice low and focused.

McAllister shifted uncomfortably, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. "He said Mark was pressuring him to share information about the breach. Haltzman seemed spooked, sir, like he didn't want to get involved. At all."

Rooster processed the revelation, his mind racing with the need to connect the dots. "Did he say how Mark approached him? Any specifics about their conversations?"

McAllister nodded, recalling the details. "Haltzman mentioned that Mark cornered him in the locker room after the mission. He wanted to know if Haltzman had overheard anything about the breach, and when Haltzman didn't give him any answers, Mark got... intense."

“Did he hurt him?"

McAllister shook his head. "No, sir. He just scared him. But he didn't want to say too much. I didn't push him, didn't want to make things worse for him."

"You did the right thing, McAllister. It's crucial to handle this delicately. We need to gather more information before taking any action."

Fuck.

McAllister glanced around, ensuring their conversation remained private. "Sir, I don't want to sound paranoid, but do you think Mark might be involved in the breach somehow?"

FUCK

Rooster sighed, rubbing his eyelids. "I don't know, McAllister. But we can't ignore anything. We need to find out more, discreetly, without tipping our hand."

"I'll keep my ears open, sir. If I hear anything else, I'll let you know," McAllister assured.

"Good. Stay vigilant, McAllister. We can't afford to underestimate the gravity of this situation," Rooster emphasized. "And for now, let's keep this between us. We don't want to create unnecessary panic until we have more concrete information."

McAllister nodded in agreement. "Understood, sir. I'll be careful."

As Rooster walked away from the conversation, his mind raced with thoughts and strategies. The need for evidence became even more crucial, and Rooster realized he had to tread carefully to avoid any potential backlash.

He noticed the Daggers sitting together and he beelined over to his friends, leaning down to the table and muttering a ‘a word?’.  Payback and Jake shared a look before standing up, then Phoenix tried to be as subtle as she could, busying herself with her watch while Bob followed behind them, adjusting his glasses.

Rooster led the Daggers to a quieter corner of the hangar, away from the prying eyes and ears of the squadron. He leaned in, his voice low but firm. "Alright, listen up. I need your observations, discreetly. Something's off with Mark, and it might be connected to the breach."

The Daggers exchanged glances, their expressions shifting from casual to alert. Payback, the intuitive one, spoke first. "What happened, Rooster?"

“Too much.”

Rooster quickly briefed them on McAllister's encounter with Haltzman, emphasizing Mark's suspicious behavior and the potential connection to the breach. If they were surprised…they didn’t show it.

Phoenix crossed her arms, snorting. "I knew it."

“You did?”

“Well…I had a feeling.”

Rooster raised an eyebrow at Phoenix. "You had a feeling? Care to share?"

Phoenix leaned against a nearby crate, her expression thoughtful. "Mark's been acting strange for a while now. I thought it was just the stress of the missions, but if there's something more..." she says, “Besides we wouldn’t do that shit.”

Jake chimed in, his voice low and serious. "...what should we do then?”

Bob adjusted his glasses, a glint of determination in his eyes. "I'll discreetly check the network logs, see if there's any unusual activity that might be linked to Mark. If he's involved in the breach, there could be a digital trail."

Payback crossed his arms, his expression grim. "I'll talk to the recruits, see if anyone else has had strange encounters with Mark. We need to gather as much information as possible."

Rooster nodded, appreciating the initiative of his team. "Be discreet, and don't escalate the situation. We need to find out what's going on without causing a panic. Jake and Nix, what will the two of you do?"

Jake glanced at Phoenix before turning his attention back to Rooster. "I'll keep an eye on Mark during the next mission. See if there's anything unusual in his behavior or actions. If he's involved in something shady, I might be able to pick up on it."

Rooster nodded in approval. "Good plan, Jake. Just stay subtle and don't provoke anything. We need evidence, not confrontation."

Phoenix, her arms still crossed, chimed in. "I'll help Bob." and that was it, “What about you,Rooster?”

Rooster sighed, running his hands through his hair. "I'll talk to Vice-Admiral Simpson. Inform him about the situation without revealing our suspicions. We need his backing if we're going to investigate this properly."

The Daggers dispersed, each embarking on their assigned tasks  and Rooster? Rooster made his way to Vice-Admiral Simpson's office, and he had to elaborate on a few things.

-

Beatrice could feel the earth sticking to her gloves as she dug into her garden, digging enough to create a little hole in her front yard so she can plant the newest addition to her plant family: begonias!

It was one of Shells’ gifts…as in the plant she got thinking she’d care for but didn’t, so she gave it to Bea. Shells was still in her house, being a great babysitter for the babies and the dogs by napping on the couch with the twins on her chest and Nicole on her stomach all the while being surrounded by Jack and Eleanor.

Meanwhile, Jolene was lying next to Beatrice’s feet outside, keeping her company.

The sun bathed the garden in a warm afternoon glow as Beatrice continued planting the begonias. She carefully placed each seedling into the soil, patting it gently to secure their place. The occasional chirping of birds, and the distant sound of laughter from down her street made this a perfect day.

Truly.

Rooster was safe while deployed, the kids were safe, she was safe…

Nothing could ruin her day.

“Hello Beatrice.”

Miranda.

Beatrice’s back straightened up like a rod as she kept her eyes forward, clenching the hand trowel tight and not turning around to greet the woman but muttering a “Hello,Miranda.”

Miranda's voice held a peculiar mix of sweetness and a subtle undercurrent that hinted at something unsettling. Beatrice's pulse quickened, but she maintained her composure, focusing on the begonias before her.

"What a lovely garden you have," Miranda commented, her footsteps approaching.

"Thank you," Beatrice replied, her tone polite but distant. She continued to work on the begonias, avoiding direct eye contact.

Miranda, undeterred by Beatrice's reserved demeanor, circled around to face her. Dressed in a flowing, elegant dress that seemed almost out of place for a casual neighborhood encounter, Miranda observed Beatrice with a piercing gaze.

"Begonias,hm?" 

"Yes, begonias," Beatrice replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She could sense Miranda's eyes on her, probing and searching for who knew what. "They're lovely plants."

Miranda smiled, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Lovely indeed. Such delicate flowers, yet resilient. A fitting choice."

Beatrice continued her work, planting the last begonia with a deliberate focus. She saw Jolene move forward and place herself between the two women, with her back against Beatrice’s, keeping her eyes on Miranda.

"How’s Rooster doing in his mission?" Miranda said, her voice carrying a note of feigned concern. "Good?"

“Yep. How’s Mark? Good?”

“Oh, I don’t have to worry about Mark.” Miranda tilted her head, her gaze unwavering. "He’s an amazing pilot,after all."

Beatrice suppressed a sigh, her patience wearing thin. "That's good to hear. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some gardening to finish."

Miranda stepped closer, seemingly unfazed by Beatrice's attempt to create distance. "You know, Beatrice, I've always found gardening to be such a therapeutic activity. A way to nurture and tend to something, watching it grow and flourish."

Beatrice shot her a sidelong glance, her tone cautious. "It is. It helps clear the mind."

Miranda's eyes narrowed, the facade of friendliness slipping for a moment. "Clearing the mind can be a double-edged sword, Beatrice. Sometimes, it's better to confront the things we'd rather avoid."

Beatrice tightened her grip on the hand trowel, her patience fraying. "I'm not avoiding anything, Miranda. Now, please, I'd like to be alone."

Miranda's smile returned, as if she hadn't just veered into unsettling territory. "Of course, dear. I won't keep you. Just remember, should you ever need someone to talk to, I'm here. We're neighbors, after all."

Beatrice licked her lips, then tilted her head “...you know Miranda.” she looks up at the woman, Jolene’s head turning to look at Beatrice, “...Rooster is a great pilot too.”

Miranda's expression remained calm, but there was a subtle tension in her posture. "Of course, Beatrice. Rooster is indeed skilled. But sometimes, skill alone isn't enough to navigate the challenges life throws at us."

Beatrice shot her a quizzical look, her suspicions growing. "What challenges are you talking about, Miranda? "

“Well I–’

“Do you know our challenges Miranda?” Bea stood up, placing a hand on Jolene’s head when the pittie tried to move forward “Do you know what me and Rooster went through before?”

Miranda's facade faltered, a flicker of discomfort crossing her features. Beatrice's direct question seemed to catch her off guard, and for a moment, the poised demeanor cracked.

"Beatrice, we all have our struggles," Miranda replied, her voice attempting to regain its previous composure. "I meant no offense. I only offered an ear should you ever need to share your burdens."

Beatrice crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing as she studied Miranda."I appreciate the offer, Miranda, yet again" Beatrice said, her tone measured. "But I don’t understand what you want here, you think I’m not aware? Do you think I’m dumb?"

Miranda's composed facade wavered further, and a subtle bead of sweat formed on her forehead. Beatrice's direct confrontation seemed to have rattled her, and she took a step back, her eyes momentarily avoiding Beatrice's probing gaze.

"Beatrice, you misunderstand me," Miranda said, her voice a touch strained. "I never implied—"

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, unyielding. "Then what did you imply, Miranda? You come into my garden, talking about challenges, offering an ear. What's your game?"

Miranda took a steadying breath, attempting to regain control of the conversation. "There's no game, Beatrice. I'm merely expressing neighborly concern. We're part of the same community, after all."

‘Are we?”

It was like a vocal slap against Miranda who just stared flabbergasted. “It’s the…fourth time you say stuff like that, and honestly, I don’t buy it. I don’t like how you think I should flaunt Rooster’s abilities against Mark, I know that’s your plan.”

"Beatrice, I assure you, there's no ulterior motive. I'm here as a concerned neighbor," Miranda stammered, her eyes darting around as if searching for an escape route.

"Concerned neighbor, my foot. I–” she pauses, “...I love Rooster. I love him. And he’s not a trophy I toss around…he’s my husband, he’s the one man I’d break bones for…his happiness and wellbeing are what matter to me…so if you are here trying to…I dunno, be weird, you should go.”

Miranda's attempts at maintaining composure fell apart like a house of cards in a gust of wind. Beatrice's raw honesty, fueled by her love for Rooster, had dismantled any facade Miranda had tried to construct. The air between them crackled with tension, and Miranda, for the second time, seemed genuinely unnerved.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Beatrice. I'm not here to—"

"Don’t lie to me," Beatrice cut in, her eyes unyielding. "I can see through the act. Whatever game you're playing, it won’t work. Rooster and I have been through enough. We don't need someone stirring up trouble."

Miranda's eyes darted around again, searching for a way to salvage the situation. The serene facade she usually wore had crumbled, revealing a woman who was uncomfortably out of her depth.

Beatrice took a step closer, her gaze unwavering. "I love my husband, Miranda. He means the world to me. I won't let anyone jeopardize our peace."

Miranda swallowed hard, a nervous tic playing on her features. "Beatrice, you're misunderstanding. I have no intention of causing any trouble. I—"

"Save it," Beatrice interrupted, her tone firm. "I don't know what your game is, but I won't entertain it." Beatrice turned away, focusing her attention back on the begonias. Jolene, sensing the tension, remained vigilant by Beatrice's side, her eyes never leaving Miranda.

Miranda, flustered and off-kilter, struggled to regain control of the narrative. "Beatrice, I assure you, there's no ill will. I'm only here to—"

"You've said enough," Beatrice replied, her voice unwavering. "I think it's best if you leave now."

Miranda hesitated, her eyes flickering with a mix of frustration and anxiety. "I—"

"Now," Beatrice reiterated, her gaze piercing.

Miranda, realizing the futility of the situation, nodded reluctantly. She turned on her heel and made a hasty exit from Beatrice's yard, leaving behind a trail of unresolved tension. Beatrice watched her go, shoulders finally relaxing as she just allowed herself to drop on the soft dirt…and groan out.

She’ll have to talk to Rooster.

[wingsofhistory]

Introduction: Feliks 'Thistle' Kowalczyk

Flying Officer Feliks Kowalczyk (Pronounced Kowal-chick) is the main character of Wings of History. Hailing from the Eastern Polish town of Lublin, Kowalczyk is the stuntmaster of his squadron, the fabled No. 303 Squadron.

Born to an upper class family in Lublin, Russian Empire, Feliks lived a life of luxury and travel, fueling his dreams to see the world. He started his aviation career at the ripe age of 18, after enrolling at the Polish Air Force University with hopes to become an officer. In 1938, he graduated and fully commissioned into the military as a bomber pilot.

In 1939, Polish sovereignty was infringed on as the German military marched their way onto their soil. Being deployed almost immediately, the Polish Air Force could not withstand the technologically advanced Luftwaffe, and soon succumbed to the invading military power. In turn, Kowalczyk was forced to run if he didn't want to face arrest, heading north towards Lithuania.

Kowalczyk arrived in the United Kingdom after fist fighting his way through Eastern Europe by boat. His immediate response to his exile was to continue fighting, whether that be on his own terms or with a foreign military. He attempted to enlist in the RAF, but was turned down. He attempted a second time, after agreements were made between the Polish government in exile and the British government to allow Polish militarymen to fight alongside British troops. He was posted to Squadron 303, one of the first Polish fighter squadrons to grace the British skies. A real stuntmaster, Kowalczyk loves to grace the skies with his adventurous talents, though one day that may lead him to trouble...

[victusinveritas]

An air-gunner of No. 264 Squadron RAF about to enter the gun-turret of his Boulton Paul Defiant Mark I at at Kirton-in-Lindsey, Lincolnshire. He is wearing the GQ Parasuit, supplied exclusively to Defiant gunners, which incorporates a parachute harness and life-saving jacket within a smock overall. Four .303 Browning machine-guns are mounted in the Boulton Paul power-operated turret.

👇🏻 https://www.jetsprops.com/fighters/british-turret-fighters-boulton-paul-defiant-and-blackburn-roc.html

[pinturas-sgm-aviacion]

1945 02 Rover Patrol - Richard Taylor

After D-Day in June 1944, and the capture of Germany's U-Boat bases in northern France, Hitler ordered his remaining fleet, and particularly his submarines, to bases in Norway. Occupied by the Germans since 1940, the Norwegian fjords, with their narrow inlets and steep mountainous backdrops, offered unique protection; however submarines departing and returning to Norway from their oceanic operations immediately attracted the attention of RAF Coastal Command. Operating from two airfields in northern Scotland were the Banff and Dallachy Strike Wings, their sole purpose was to attack all German shipping along the Norwegian coast, and they fought a bitter and dangerous campaign against Hitler's once mighty submarine fleet. Heavily defended by shore batteries, Flak ships with terrible firepower, and marauding Luftwaffe fighters, the Mosquitos and Beaufighters of Coastal Command came under intense fire during almost every sortie they flew. Powered by two big Merlin engines, fastest of these fighter-bombers was the sleek, all-wood highly manoeuvrable two-seat Mosquito. Armed with four 20mm cannon, four .303 Browning machine guns, and with eight 251b solid armour-piercing rockets, this graceful strike aircraft packed a lethal punch. Typically, sorties began in the dark, with pilots flying loose formation at 50 feet across the North Sea, to arrive over the target area at first light. Then, the ever-present barrage of defensive gunfire as pilots hurtled past sheer cliff faces, twisted and turned through narrow sounds, and dived in pursuit of their prey. Suddenly, from the quiet peace of early dawn, the still air was shattered by the roar of Merlins, rockets, gunfire, and explosions, resounding off mountain sides in a deafening cacophony of battle. And within minutes they were gone, leaving a trail of smoke, twisted metal, and another nail in the coffin of the Third Reich. Richard Taylor's painting presents a fine study of a lone Mosquito FB MkVI of 143 Squadron, part of a larger formation of the Banff Strike Wing, high over the Norwegian fjords on an armed rover patrol to seek out enemy surface shipping and submarines, in February 1945. The beauty of the early morning sun, glinting on the snow-covered mountain-tops, contrasts with the menacing job in hand. Bravery, inordinate flying skills, and determination were a prerequisite for the crews of Coastal Strike Command.

[spotsupstuff]

"these crazy bastards look like main characters of a film, where's their movie gods dammit. i'd actually sit down n watch the hell outta that"

agreed, unfortunately the air war over europe tends to get overshadowed by the carrier battles of the pacific.

but fun trivia: there was also a famous polish exile squadron, squaron 303

bummer, but also not all that surprising. planes always give off such "end all" vibes

n eh, cool enough i suppose- nothin against 'em polish peeps, but poland is like the one american-approved slav country. nasty stuff. makes it very easy for 'em to pop up here n there unlike any of the other central europe slavs, so their presence doesn't really impress me, not even in this situation. good for them, good for them, need Some kind of wins in That war of all

good man! such an aggressively local name too, dear gods gjsdlmclsdk

[the-history-chap]

Prze mrok i gęste mgły/ W obronie obcych wysp

Interesting video on that topic

[damianwho]

Episode Arc (and Clumping) Guide for Star Wars: Rebels + Dark Disciple Audiobook Chapter/Episode Correlation

Because I could never find an "arc" guide online for Rebels, and as my favorite Star Wars podcast is transitioning into their Rebels era, I decided to clean up and post this list I made that tries to sort/clump episodes together based on shared plotlines, characters, or as failsafe, movieish-sized chunks. The point is to make a sort of manageable, weekly checklist for rewatches.

I'm also including my personal assessment of which of the unmade episode titles for the Asajj Ventress and Quinlan Vos arcs correlate to which chapters of the Dark Disciple audiobook, so you can listen to them in "episode" chunks over the next couple weeks before it is covered on AMCA.

Star Wars: Rebels

Season 1

[101, 102] - Spark of Rebellion  

103, 104, 105 - Droids in Distress, Fighter Fright, Rise of the Old Masters  

106, 107 - Breaking Ranks and Out of Darkness  

[108, 109] - Tseebo Arc  

110, 111, 112 - Path of the Jedi, Idiot's Array, and Vision of Hope  

[113, 114, 115] - Tarkin Arc(in)  

Season 2

[201, 202] - Siege of Lothal  

[203, 204], 205 - Clone Arc + Always Two There Are  

[Garel Arc] [206, 207, 208] - Brothers of the Broken Horn, Wings of the Master, and Blood Sisters  

215, 216, 217 - The Call, Homecoming, and The Honorable Ones  

[Garel Arc] [209, 210, 211] - Stealth Strike, The Future of the Force, and Legacy

212, 213, 214 -  A Princess on Lothal, Protector of the Concord Dawn, and Legends of the Lasat  

218, [219, 220]  - Shroud of Darkness + Chopper Arc  

[221, 220] - Twilight of the Apprentice  

Season 3

[301, 302] - Steps Into Shadow  

303, 304 - The Holocrons of Fate, The Antilles Extraction  

305, 306 - Hera's Heroes, The Last Battle  

307, 308, 309 - Imperial Supercommandos, Iron Squadron, The Wynkahthu Job

310, 311 - An Inside Man, Visions and Voices  

[312, 313] - Ghosts of Geonosis  

314, [315, 316] - Warhead + [Darksaber Arc]  

317, 318, 319 - Through Imperial Eyes, Secret Cargo, Double Agent Droid  

320, [321, 322] - Twin Suns + Zero Hour  

Season 4

[401, 402] - Heroes of Mandalore  

[403, 404] - In the Name of the Rebellion  

[405, 406, 407, 408] - Prototype Arc  

[Lothal] [409, 410, 411] - Rebellion Arc  

[Lothal] [412, 413, 414] - Loth-wolf Arc  

[415, 416] - Family Reunion - and Farewell  

Dark Disciple

Ch. 1-7 (Episode 1) - Lethal Alliance  

Ch. 8-12 (Episode 2) - The Mission  

Ch. 13-17 (Episode 3) - Dark Disciple  

Ch. 18-21 (Episode 4) - Conspirators  

Ch. 22-25 (Episode 5) - Saving Vos, Part 1  

Ch. 26-30 (Episode 6) - Saving Vos Part 2  

Ch. 31-36 (Episode 7) - Traitors  

Ch. 37-42 (Episode 8) - The Path  

The only place I could find online that has attempted to make a similar chapter-episode breakdown was the Clone Wars wikia, which has no source for the information, and in my opinion, cannot be correct to the actual produced chapters of the audiobook. At the very least, Dark Disciples and Conspirators were switched from their original script order just based on the actual content of the audiobook chapters.