U.S. Air Force Comics #33

In the Pacific theater of World War II, Major Len Rodman pilots his P-38 Lockheed Lightning in fierce aerial combat against Japanese Zeros, steadily building his record as a skilled fighter ace. Though consistently outpaced in the victory count by the legendary Red Anson, Rodman's meticulous preparation, disciplined gunnery, and relentless determination keep him climbing the ranks alongside his rival. As the war intensifies in the Philippines in 1944, both aces find themselves in the thick of desperate battles to protect Allied forces—each mission bringing them closer to their ultimate test.

In North Africa, 1942, Lt. Eddie Warren—a fighter pilot and younger brother to a tank officer wounded by Nazi dive-bombers—takes it upon himself to hunt the Stukas that have been terrorizing American ground forces, despite orders to focus on fighter opposition. When his damaged plane is forced down near a tank unit, Warren joins forces with the tankers and launches an impromptu campaign against the German JU 87s, racking up victories while defying his commanding officer's orders. As the Stukas intensify their attacks, Warren must prove that taking down these dive-bombers is just as crucial to winning the air war over North Africa.

A Marine pilot flying an aging F4U Corsair in Korea takes on dangerous low-level bombing runs to support ground troops, earning respect from fellow fliers despite flying an outdated bird compared to the Air Force's faster fighters. When three MiGs jump his plane and he's forced to eject, Lieutenant Wilkins finds himself grounded—until Major Tapley offers him a chance to fly one of the Air Force's newest F-86K Sabres to get back in the fight. Now equipped with a hot new ride, Wilkins is ready to prove that the tactics that work on the ground can take the war to the enemy where it counts.

"The American Way!" presents a straightforward comparison between freedom and totalitarianism, contrasting the prosperity and personal liberties enjoyed by Americans—from consumer goods to free enterprise—with the austere, restricted lives of people living under communist rule. This 1964 advocacy piece makes a direct case for the superiority of American democratic ideals and the tangible comforts that come with living in a free society.