Historical (as possible) campaign for the 44th Squadron, 18th Fighter Group in the South and Central Pacific from Pearl Harbor to the dropping of the atomic bomb.

This is a 61 mission offline campaign beginning on December 7, 1941 and ending on August 7, 1945. Effort was put into making this campaign as historically accurate as possible. The 44th “Vampire” Squadron was the best fighter squadron in the 13th Air Force. Fly along with brave and skilled pilots such as Robert “Westy” Westbrook and Cotsworth B. Head as they battle the IJN and later the IJA in the Solomons, Philippines, Borneo, and many other islands in Central and South Pacific.

Mission difficulty varies from very easy to extremely difficult. Some of the air battles involve over 120 planes and, in some cases, the player must evaluate whether to complete the mission or head for home to live another day.

Every mission involves contact with the enemy. There are no training missions. Front markers determine whether you are rescued my friendly forces, or suffer at the hands of the Japanese.

Mission briefings and cut scenes provide the player with a feel for the progression of the war in the Pacific in addition to explaining what happened in the mission historically.

This campaign makes extensive use of the beautiful Solomon Island map included in the 4.10 patch.

This has campaign began as an attempt to create more missions for the P38, but after 5 years ended up being a labor of great affection for the soldiers on both sides who endured hellish living conditions and gave their all for their respective countries. Also, I have a personal connection to the Cactus Air Force since my father arrived on Guadalcanal the same month as the 44th and his duty was to load bombs, guns, and ammunition on planes from several squadrons including those of the VMF214 (“Black Sheep”) squadron during his time on Guadalcanal, New Georgia, Vella La Vella, and Bougainville.