Welcome to the Fighting Bulldogs Aircraft section.  On squad nights, we will usually stick to what the squadron flew during the war.  However, you might just find us in anything!  Here are the Warbirds we fly in the WWII Arena of Warbirds. Our XO dagman has supplied us with some basic info on each of the birds.

F4F-3 F4F-4 FM-2 Wildcat

F4F and FM2 Wildcat:
Armament: 4X .50cal M2 F4F-3 and FM2
6X .50cal M2 F4F-4
Entered WB2 service Date: F4F-3 and -4 mid '41
FM2 late '43


    The Wildcats dive well and turn great. The FM2 is my favorite variant. The warbird Wildcat can take a beating. Be aware that the Wildcat is slow in level flight and it's climb rate isn't great because of its speed. I don't have to mention the six view. Flying in teams is recommended with this bird or else it is a win or die scenario when in battle alone. Running is not an option.

F6F Hellcat

F6F-5 Hellcat:
Armament: 6X .50cal M2
Entered WB2 service Date: Early '43(3 model)


   The Hellcat is a great all around plane; fairly quick, dives and turns well. Good guns and boy, can this thing carry some Ordinance! I would fly this plane all the time if it were not for an elevator and rear stab that pop off with a ping or two. Think IEN might need to look at that.  The six view is the same as the F4F. Have friends check six for you.  The Hellcat is a great bird when flying in teams.

F4U-1D Corsair

F4U-1D Corsair
Armament: 6X .50cal M2
Entered WB2 service Date: early '43

    Speed Groove. Speed is your salvation!" 270mph-400mph performance is good. But why bother wasting E on a turn. Go ahead, Extend for another fast pass. Its climb rate is good. It dives well with trim use. The six view is better than the Hellcat but not by much. The front gun sight is great for deflection shooting. No loosing the Bandit under the nose. Stall properties are wicked. This Bird is a handful. Definitely a Veteran WarBirders plane. In the hands of a skilled Corsair pilot, a 190 is a welcome sight unless seriously disadvantaged. When delivering Ordinance, this plane is the ticket. Use gears for dive brakes and "Boom!!!"

This Corsair is my favorite ride in the game.

F4U-4 Corsair

F4U-4 Corsair
Armament 6X .50cal M2
Entered WB2 service Date: mid 45

        See F4U -1D. Controllable speed goes up to 450mph and with trim use, 500mph is not totally unreasonable. Level speed is faster as well. Overall, turning ability is less than the F4u-1d though. For some strange reason IEN has modeled this bird to where the engine is very fragile. Don't play in the Ack or try a HO. The engine will fail. Otherwise, this plane is full of testosterone.

SBD-5 Dauntless

SBD-5 Dauntless
Armament: 1X .30cal M2 in nose
2X .50cal M2 rear gunner
Entered WB2 service Date: Early '41

    The Best American Dive Bomber in the Game. (It's the only one...) The SBD-5 doesn't carry much in the way of ordinance but delivers it's single 1000lbs bomb with pinpoint accuracy. It is the perfect "Kill that Radar on the first pass" plane. It will take a fair amount of damage but you really need little friends when in Hot areas.

TBF-1C Avenger

TBF-1C Avenger
Armament: 1X .50cal M2 in nose
2X .50cal M2 rear Turret gunner
1X .30cal M2 rear tunnel gun
Entered WB2 service Date Early '41

    The largest single engine plane of the war sure does act like it. Slow and cumbersome, it climbs like a rock. But this plane is tough and can carry a torpedo or 2X1000lbs bombs or 4X500lbs bombs plus rockets. For serious early war Marine buffing, this is it.  With a few good Avenger pilots, a couple of light escorts, and a little luck, there will be bases closing at the hands of VMF-223.