Shipbucket

Looks great!! but... I´m not sure about boats & rafts following exactly the hull cammo lines. IMHO I would paint them plain, or with their own disruptive scheme, as they are replaceable units... Just my opinion...

Rafts were often painted to match the camouflage scheme - something I noticed on quite a few period photos. There were also instances where they didn't match, so it's basically up to the author to decide how tyrannical he wants his petty officers to be when enforcing camouflage painting by the crews.

January 1944:

The Texas Air Force, like most air forces at this time, have determined that dive bombing attacks against land targets is of limited effectiveness. The risk to the crew often does not justify the effects on a potential target. The Air Staff directs a shift away from dive bombing tactics against land targets and a focus on low level bombing, rocket attacks and strafing.

These decisions are made in preparation for the Allied invasion of France later in the year. The venerable Dauntless divebombers are worn out after two years of employment in North Africa, Italy and Sicily, where battle damage thinned their numbers and aircrew losses are increasing due to better Axis air defense measures.

The 18th Attack Group receives new aircraft to start the new year. The A-1As are replaced with American made Bell P-63A Kingcobras.



Though originally designed as a fighter, the US declined to employ it in combat since other types were better suited for it. But the Kingcobra found a home with the Soviet Air Force, and when Texas Air Force pilots tested it, they liked its performance and noted its potential to be a potent air attack platform. It could keep pace with most enemy planes at low or medium altitudes, a marked change from the dive bombers. Dauntless pilots checked out on the type and most of their backseat gunners transferred home for commissions and flight training.

Of the P-63A deriviatives, the Texan favorites were the P-63A-6 and P-63A-10, which could carry two 500lb bombs or six air-to-ground rockets respectively. The 37mm cannon was loved for its ability to play havoc with armored targets. Some types were delivered with the .50 cal machine guns in the nose; others were not.

Nice looking Kingcobra, Redhorse, they were a great ground attack aircraft.

Nice!

Ship modifications and refits, 1944:



BB-1 Austin received updates to her air search radar, trading in the older, heaver CXAM for a smaller, lighter SC set - even though the type was not typically fitted to the larger capital ships. Her Air Force scout/observations planes wear the long-range camouflage pattern for sea service - insignia blue uppers, medium gray sides and light gray undersides. But she is largely unchanged. More comprehensive anti-aircraft modifications will be made in late 1944 to prepare her for service in the Pacific.



The Rio Grandes also received updated air search radar sets and a new camouflage scheme.



Ralls class destroyers were also fitted with SC air search radar sets.

Refits and modifications will become more extensive for all ships slated to serve in the Pacific in 1945.

Good looking drawings Redhorse. They look the part.

Awesome!

Nice work on those refits!

May 1944:

North American P-51D Mustangs are fielded to squadrons in Europe. The Texas Air Force's 279th Fighter Squadron is the first to receive them, replacing their heavily used P-47Cs:



The long range color scheme was applied, but camouflage will become less important to high-altitude fighters and escorts later in the year.