The 354th Fighter Group was formed in California in November of 1942, and trained for almost a year in the mid-engine Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter before being moved to England where they were attached to the US 9th Air Force. The IX Tactical Air Command was formed by the United States Army Air Forces in Great Britain in 1943 to provide close air support for the US First Army when the time finally arrived for the Allied invasion of occupied Europe. They began combat operations flying across the English Channel from bases in southern England to interdict logistical targets such as railways, warehouses, fuel and ammo dumps and German Army positions in France and Belgium.

The 354th Fighter Group initially arrived at Boxted Air Field where they were equipped with the brand new P-51BC fighter aircraft, and because they were the first USAAF unit to take the Mustang into combat, they became known as 'The Pioneer Mustang Group'. After being temporarily assigned to the 8th Air Force and gaining experience escorting long range bomber missions into Germany, the three squadrons of the 354th Fighter Group moved to the Advanced Landing Ground at Lashenden and settled into their new quarters. Six man canvas tents, a steel mat landing strip and generous supplies of slippery mud clearly indicated they were preparing for the upcoming move to the continent with the front line invasion forces. Following D-Day escort missions on June 6th, 1944 the 353rd 'Flying Cobras', the 355th 'Pugnacious Pups' and 356th 'Red Ass' Fighter Squadrons flew tactical reconnaissance, close air support, ground attack and more escort missions from ALG Lashenden while waiting their turn to move across the English Channel.

Time frame: June - August 1944
Regiment: 354th Fighter Group
Available Aircraft: P-51B
Duration: 15 missions
Author: Jay =Jaegermeister= Yarbrough

This campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Normandy module to run.

In May 1943 the battle for the Kuban bridgehead entered its decisive phase. The North Caucasian Front troops managed to capture the village of Krymskaya, but the main German defensive line was never broken through. The Soviet command began preparing a new offensive operation, which began on May 26 in the Kievskoye – Moldavanskoye sector. The success of the actions of the ground forces largely depended on the outcome of the battle that unfolded in the air between the Red Army Air Force and the Luftwaffe.

You will take on the role of deputy squadron commander of the 43rd IAP (Fighter Air Regiment), which is part of the 278th Fighter Air Division of Major General Savitsky's 3rd Fighter Air Corps. The regiment arrived in the Kuban at the end of April and immediately joined the struggle to gain air supremacy, changing airfields several times and taking part in all the main events at the front. You can expect both the standard tasks of covering friendly ground troops, patrolling, escorting, and intercepting, as well as intense battles over your airfields and sorties for reconnaissance and strikes deep in enemy territory.

Timeframe: May 6th – June 5th, 1943
Unit: 43rd IAP of 278th IAD
Aircraft: Yak-7b series 36
Duration: 15 missions
Average playtime: 8 hours
Author: Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov

This campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Kuban.

While being an independent creation, Sky Nomads continues the story of the Soviet fighter pilot you may know from the Blazing Steppe campaign.

Spring 1943, the final stage of the Battle for the Caucasus. The German 17th Army holds the Kuban bridgehead firmly, repelling all Soviet troops attacks. Both sides prepare for upcoming operations and are rapidly increasing the number or aircraft they can put into action over the Kuban. One of the largest and fiercest air battles on the Eastern front is ready to explode.

You've just been appointed flight commander in 5. Staffel of the German ground attack unit II./Sch.G 1 and you will fly a modified attack variant of the newest Fw 190 A-5 fighter plane. Your objective is to attack artillery batteries, vehicle convoys, armored columns, airfields and battle formations of the advancing enemy. Your opponents are mountainous terrain, strong anti-aircraft fire and numerous Soviet, American and British-made fighters.

In spring 1943, the tide of the air war is slowly turning against the Luftwaffe, are you up to the challenge? Can you halt the Soviet advance?

Timeframe: April 14th – May 16th, 1943
Unit: II./Sch.G 1
Available aircraft: Fw 190 A-5
Duration: 15 missions
Average playtime: 8 hours
Author: Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov

This campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Kuban.

This campaign is inspired by the exploits of the 365th Fighter Group (388th Fighter Squadron) over Europe in the Autumn/Winter of 1944-45.

History books called them the "Hell Hawks", the USAAF called them as the 365th Fighter Group, the Germans called them a terror. The 365th was instrumental in supporting American ground forces that opposed the German Ardennes Offensive which would become known as the “Battle of the Bulge” in late 1944-45. Flying the P-47D, or "Jug" as it was affectionately known to its pilots, the player will join the 365th FG / 388th FS and take part in supporting General Hodges’ First Army. Air operations from the Battle of Aachen, through the Battle of the Bulge, and the German air attack on New Year’s Day 1945 and beyond are represented.

You’ll fly close air support, armed recon, supply interdiction and air to air missions and all events are taken from, or inspired by the actual events from the 365th Fighter Group history. This campaign features realistic 9th Air Force operations, as well as custom radio calls.

Time frame: Oct 1944 to Jan 1945
Regiment: 365th Fighter Group
Available Aircraft: P-47D
Duration: 16 missions
Mission Duration: 40 to 80 minutes
Average total playtime: Approx. 14 hours
Author: Gambit21

Note: Turn off the in-game radio to suppress the default radio messages to clearly hear the custom radio messages in this campaign. The custom radio messages are in English language only.

This campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Bodenplatte.

This new historical campaign is dedicated to the Soviet ground attack aviation regiments during one of the most intense episodes of the Battle of Stalingrad in December 1942. During this time-frame, Soviet command had to simultaneously solve several problems: disrupt enemy airborne re-supply operations, contain 284,000 German and Romanian troops who have been encircled, and repel a very dangerous counter-strike by the German 4th Panzer Army from the area of Kotelnikovo (Operation "Winter Storm").

You are expected to search and destroy German transport planes in the air, to strike at airfields and troops inside the cauldron, and to conduct reconnaissance along the Stalingrad front. At the final stage of the campaign you will take part in the hardest battles on the Myshkova River, which determined the outcome of the entire German counter-offensive and sealed the fate of the German army trapped near Stalingrad.

Time frame: November 29th - December 25th, 1942
Unit: 505th ShAP 226th ShAD
Available aircraft: IL-2 AM-38 (model 1942)
Duration: 15 missions
Average playtime: 7 hours
Author: Alexander =BlackSix= Timoshkov

Player review by ShamrockOneFive

This campaign requires IL-2 Sturmovik: Battle of Stalingrad.