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a man in a shirt and tie is sitting at a table with a netflix logo on the bottom right

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Sep 12

ALT: a man in a shirt and tie is sitting at a table with a netflix logo on the bottom right

media.tenor.com

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Reposted by Christoph Bergs

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · Sep 11

Here's part 1 of a chat that Chris and I originally envisioned as a quick'n'easy one. Then we talked for an hour each. For my part, I used this common internet question as a Trojan horse of sorts to explore elements that aren't discussed as often as dry technical details of the aircraft themselves.

Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Sep 11

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers during World War 2 - Join a fascinating chat w/ @justinpykehistory.bsky.social on why Japan went hot & cold on long-range strategic bombers.
youtu.be/nstaj1mHFHU

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Sep 12

Thanks Eugen. All the praise goes to Justin on this one of course.

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Sep 11

Mistake or Calculated Risk? Why Japan Did Not Build Strategic Bombers during World War 2 - Join a fascinating chat w/ @justinpykehistory.bsky.social on why Japan went hot & cold on long-range strategic bombers.
youtu.be/nstaj1mHFHU

The Complicated Luftwaffe Air Support Problem

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Reposted by Christoph Bergs

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · Aug 28

I really enjoyed this video @milavhis.bsky.social just put out on the complex discussion of air support during the Second World War. He focuses on the Luftwaffe, but some of what he covers gave me food for thought in my area of study too.
youtu.be/7fxfp_xGfUg?...

The Complicated Luftwaffe Air Support Problem

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Aug 28

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · Aug 28

I really enjoyed this video @milavhis.bsky.social just put out on the complex discussion of air support during the Second World War. He focuses on the Luftwaffe, but some of what he covers gave me food for thought in my area of study too.
youtu.be/7fxfp_xGfUg?...

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Reposted by Christoph Bergs

Freeman Air and Space Institute @fasikcl.bsky.social · Aug 27

How can military aircraft be used to gain influence in other nation-states?

Piers Register spoke to @milavhis.bsky.social to examine a shift in the military aircraft export market & whether attitudes around aircraft supply & development need to change.

Watch 👇
www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDVg...

Spain Drops F-35 Plans, Looks to European Alternatives

Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Aug 22

Great to speak to NatGeo and bring my history airpower ramblings to the mainstream. Release 2026 alongside an excellent cast of experts.

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Aug 6

In terms of mishaps, the numbers say otherwise. See this for more: www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Aug 6

If Spain is serious about investing 85% of defence spending (2%) into Europe, this will have left ~5bn for an F-35 deal and not much else. It leaves Spain without a fixed-wing carrier post Harrier retirement however and maybe a gap to other European partners until FCAS (if and when).

The Aviationist @theaviationist.com · Aug 6

Spain Drops F-35 Plans, Looks to European Alternatives

Despite the need to modernize, Spain shelves F-35 plans, leaving its Navy without a STOVL replacement.

Story: theaviationist.com/2025/08/06/s...

Despite the need to modernize, Spain shelves F-35 plans, leaving its Navy without a STOVL replacement. The purchase of F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the

theaviationist.com

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Reposted by Christoph Bergs

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · Aug 5

My chat with Jon and Seth over at the Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast is now live! It was a lot of fun. I know a couple of the tangents ended up being a bit ramble-y. You'll have to forgive me there.
youtu.be/ZLKHzhthUEE?...

The Air War Over China 1937-40 with Justin Pyke - Episode 514

YouTube video by Unauthorized History of the Pacific War Podcast

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

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Reposted by Christoph Bergs

Justin Bronk @justin-br0nk.bsky.social · Aug 4

Just published via RUSI... I suspect this one may generate some strong opinions but I think it's an important set of factors for military planners especially in the Land domain to engage with:

NATO Should Not Replace Traditional Firepower with ‘Drones’

www.rusi.org/explore-our-...

Over-reliance on uncrewed aerial systems or ‘drones’ is leading to significant problems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and is not something Western militaries should attempt to replicate

www.rusi.org

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Aug 2

Sign me up!

a young man in a white jacket is standing in front of a door in a room .

ALT: a young man in a white jacket is standing in front of a door in a room .

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

buy more minis instead :)

a baby is wearing a gap shirt and shorts and is walking on the floor .

Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

bomber mafia cope

(nothing against combat box btw, limited but nonetheless terrifying)

ALT: a baby is wearing a gap shirt and shorts and is walking on the floor .

media.tenor.com

Aircraft Armor and Fuel Tank Protection 1914-1941

Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

I understand Allan’s OG point btw. But there is a general phenomenon w/ air superiority portrayed as a binary have/have not with no consideration of operating concepts, temporal and spatial limits and shaping efforts to deliver air effects in contested air environments. Character limits don’t help.

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

Doing this consistently on a rolling basis was “secret sauce” of the Luftwaffe (arguably only 1-2 Fliegerkorps in 1939-1940). This contrasts sharply (initially) with other Air Forces. Broadly similar platforms (eg Fairey Battle) would likely had more success if a similar approach was taken. 2/2

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

This 🧵👇 by @crusaderproject.bsky.social
- The Ju 87 (as any plane of its approximate type) required a permissive air environment which can be limited in time and space. Screening fighters to punch a hole and maintain the window long enough for bomb drop, then covering retreat. That was the… 1/2

The Crusader Project @crusaderproject.bsky.social · Jul 30

@alanallport.bsky.social has disabled quote posts so this will have to do, but this is the only hard disagree in his long and very informative list of options I have. 1/🧵

@balloons2drones.bsky.social @navalairhistory.com @rafhistory.bsky.social @airminded.org

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

where is the ISD?
WHERE is the ISD?
WHERE IS THE ISD?
😡

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

Yup. IL-2 is one of the most shot down planes of WW2. Frontal and lower armour helped vs small arms fire and some 20mm caliber type AA HE hits (esp. at steep angles). It’s impossible to offer all-round protection however.

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Christoph Bergs @milavhis.bsky.social · Jul 31

Worthwhile to consider that during WW2, it is likely that most fighter pilots never saw the plane that “got them”. Beyond ground attackers and bombers, armour was an expensive feature that was balanced to offer the realistically achievable protection to pilot and vital systems, and nothing more.

Justin Pyke @justinpykehistory.bsky.social · Jul 30

This video from @milavhis.bsky.social does a great job introducing aircraft protection in more detail than I can get into here. As Chris says, armour was a "saving throw." It was a last ditch tool. Something else had gone badly wrong if you were relying on your armour.
youtu.be/TZ9Ip1TyWJ4?...