True Comics #45

When Hitler invaded Russia in 1941, Col. Alexandre Pokryshkin joined the Red Air Force as a mechanic—but his determination to fly earned him a transfer to flying school, where he quickly mastered combat. Over the Caucasus Front, Pokryshkin developed his devastating "Hawk Attack" technique, diving straight at enemy aircraft before rolling and striking with lethal precision, and his victory tally climbed steadily through fierce aerial battles. This is the wartime story of how a determined Soviet pilot became his nation's ace of aces through skill, courage, and a tactical mastery inspired by nature itself.

Hosted by radio commentator Lowell Thomas, this 1945 advocacy story showcases the vital work of the National War Fund and its twenty-two member agencies across six continents, from USO recreation centers keeping American soldiers' spirits up to relief efforts feeding and clothing Allied civilians displaced by Nazi occupation. Through scenes of servicemen recuperating, prisoners of war finding solace in donated materials, and families in England, China, Russia, Norway, Greece, Denmark, and Holland receiving aid, the story illustrates how American generosity reaches both our own fighting forces and our allies in their darkest hours. The narrative concludes with a call for readers to support their local Community War Fund, strengthening essential health, welfare, and recreation services both at home and abroad.

In February 1943, a small but determined PT squadron faces off against Japan's feared "Tokyo Express"—a destroyer train tasked with evacuating key personnel and equipment from Guadalcanal while the main Japanese fleet draws away American forces. Outnumbered and outgunned, the PT boats close in for a desperate torpedo attack, with crews fighting through Japanese bombers, naval gunfire, and the treacherous waters themselves to disrupt the evacuation mission. This true account captures the harrowing sacrifice and courage of sailors who turned the tide of the Pacific campaign through sheer audacity and determination.

Ray Barbuti promised himself an Olympic championship, and this determined athlete from Syracuse University set out to prove he had the speed to back it up. After transforming himself from a struggling football player into a competitive sprinter through sheer grit and training, Barbuti takes on the country's best quarter-milers—and then sets his sights on the world's best at the 1928 Olympic Games in Amsterdam. Sports writers doubt the unknown upstart can deliver on his bold claim, but Barbuti's stubborn refusal to settle for anything less than the top makes for a compelling true story of athletic ambition.

Mary Murray employs her gifts as a hostess and patriot to alter the course of Revolutionary War history—when she spots General Putnam's retreating army near her New York home in September 1776, she devises a clever plan to delay the approaching British forces. Murray's wit and hospitality prove as valuable to the American cause as any soldier's rifle, giving Putnam the crucial time he needs to march his troops to safety and regroup.

Modern warfare has learned crucial lessons from nature itself—this educational story explores how camouflage principles, from a zebra's stripes to jungle concealment techniques, have been adapted by American forces to outwit enemy detection. Through practical examples ranging from soldier uniforms to factory disguises, the story reveals the evolving challenge of staying hidden from aerial reconnaissance, including the latest threat of infrared photography and how engineers are developing new countermeasures. Discover how camouflage has become essential across both European and Pacific theaters, turning the tide in humanity's most demanding battlefields.