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Pilots,
After last week's Battle of Kursk, the next chronological step in the Axis powers’ eventual downfall in WWII were the Allied landings in Sicily. "Operation Husky" became the world’s largest amphibious military operation, in terms of the number of landing zones and number of divisions that made it ashore on its first day. It even beats D-Day in this regard! It saw the first U.S. troops fight on European soil and paved the way for the collapse of fascist control in Italy. Enjoy this special with our usual great discounts and bonuses as well as a captivating history flashback below!
| "Operation Husky" Weekend | ||
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| In-game Offers | Special Missions | History Flashback |
| All offers and missions will be available from Friday 11 July at 08:00 until Monday 14 July at 07:30 CEST (UTC+2). | ||
Double Crew XP
Pilots helped with the eventual liberating of Sicily and they will help you fly to victory as well!
50% more credits for each battle on the following aircraft:
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Messerschmitt Bf 110 E |
50% discount and 50% more credits earned in each battle on the following aircraft:
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Curtiss P-40 Warhawk |
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Lockheed P-38F Lightning |
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Bristol Beaufighter |
Buy the participating aircraft for less, then start earning more as you use them in battle!
30% discount on the following planes:
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Supermarine Spitfire V |
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De Havilland 98 Mosquito |
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North American P-51A Mustang |
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Supermarine Spitfire IX |
There's nothing better than a little summertime backyard plane sale, don't you think?
20% more credits earned in each battle on the following aircraft:
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Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 |
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De Havilland 98 Mosquito |
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North American P-51A Mustang |
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Supermarine Spitfire V |
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Messerschmitt Bf 109 F Friedrich |
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Messerschmitt Bf 109 G Gustav |
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Supermarine Spitfire IX |
Fly any of these aircraft this weekend and earn extra coin for your dedication to history!
Three exciting, new missions will help you grind faster this weekend! The more you complete them, the more XP you earn!
| Mission 1: Axis Forces on Defence | |
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| Goal | Destroy at least 3 enemy aircraft in one battle flying the required aircraft. The battle counts only if you are one of the top 10 experience earners on your team. |
| Reward | 30% more XP for the battle |
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| Mission 2: The Brits Fight Back | |
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| Goal | Destroy at least 3 enemy aircraft in one battle flying the required aircraft. The battle counts only if you are one of the top 10 experience earners on your team. |
| Reward | 30% more XP for the battle |
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| Mission 3: Americans in Italy | |
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| Goal | Destroy at least 3 enemy aircraft in one battle flying the required aircraft. The battle counts only if you are one of the top 10 experience earners on your team. |
| Reward | 30% more XP for the battle |
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After their victory in Tunisia, which had freed North Africa from Axis control, the next logical step for the Allies was to cross the Mediterranean and invade Europe from the South through more loosely protected Italy. In early July 1943, Sicily was guarded by 200,000 Italian and 32,000 German troops with an additional 30,000 Luftwaffe ground staff. Axis command had fortified port cities and woven a tight net of very effective Anti-Aircraft artillery across the whole island.
The invasion began with preparatory bombings from the air on airfields and other strategic targets of Sardinia, Sicily and some of the coastal cities on the southern Italian peninsula. Bombing such a large area would make the Axis powers unsure of the exact landing location of the Allied land forces, which prevented them from moving reserve aircraft to Sicily. Between May and the invasion, Allied pilots flew a combined 42,228 sorties and destroyed 323 German and 105 Italian aircraft. The large-scale bombardment continued until, on 10 July, only two airfields on Sicily remained serviceable. The Allies had forced over half the Axis planes to leave the island.
The invasion itself began on the night of 09/10 July with airborne landings of British and U.S. paratroopers behind the enemy lines. At the same time, the amphibious landings commenced, with ships bringing in infantry, tanks and artillery across 170km of Sicily's eastern and southern beaches. The prior bombings of the previous weeks had greatly weakened Axis air capabilities, which is why there was no major air engagement throughout the immediate landings. However, the Luftwaffe, mostly consisting of Junkers Ju 87 Stukas and supporting Bf 109 Messerschmitts, did manage to sink some Allied warships, hospital ships, landing craft and transport vessels over the following days.
In the weeks to come, the Allies consistently worked their way inland, bringing the fight to the German and Italian troops, who fought doggedly but ultimately had to concede defeat and withdraw from the island on 18 August 1943. The Allied invasion of Sicily brought the war to Italy’s doorstep. The Allied bombings had taken their toll on the Italian people and the worsening living conditions fuelled the people's discontent with their leadership. When the Allies did finally overtake Sicily, the majority of the local population welcomed them as liberators.
Why not take a flight on 'Harbor' to recreate the landings in-game, pilots?
