Planes on the Prairie

Welcome back to another episode of our Minnesota Aces Series, this time covering Captain Francis J. Lent of Melrose, MN! Lent served with the 431st FS of the famed 475th FG, downing 11 aircraft in the New Guinea Air Campaign. Follow along to hear about Lent's life and combat career, along with context on the air battle for New Guinea in 1943.

Hey guys, it's been a while! There's been a lot going on outside the podcast, but we're excited to be able to sit down and chat about what is going on, and what we look forward to doing in terms of creating more content for the podcast and YouTube channel!

In this episode of our Minnesota Aces series, the guys travel back to the First World War to discuss the combat career of Lake Benton native Harold Boysen. Boysen saw extensive combat with No. 66 Squadron of the Royal Flying Corps on the Italian Front. Tune in to learn about an American flying with the British and a little-known air campaign from the dawn of air combat!

In this episode, the guys discuss the life and combat career of First Lieutenant Hipolitus T. Biel. Also known as Tom or "Hippo", Biel had a successful combat career with the 334th FS, 4th Fighter group in the European Theater of Operations, becoming an ace in just a short time with the squadron before unfortunately meeting his end in combat. Tune in to learn more about Biel, the 4th FG, and Mustangs!Biel Victory Records:http://www.cieldegloire.fr/014_biel_h_t.php

In our eleventh installment of the Minnesota Aces series, the guys discuss the life and combat career of Colonel Leslie E. "Andy" Andersen. A Leader, MN native, Andersen had a successful combat career with the 96th Fighter Squadron of the 82nd Fighter Group in the Mediterranean Theater (MTO) during the Second World War, downing five aircraft. Thanks for listening!

In this installment of our Minnesota Aces series, we have a very special one for you, featuring Waseca native Percy Bartelt. Bartelt was an ace belonging to the American Volunteer Group, better known as the Flying Tigers. Tune in to learn about the AVG, Bartelt's exploits, and the aircraft he flew.

The Planes on the Prairie crew are excited to bring to you this very special episode, featuring Captain William "Bill" Hennon, who was a fighter pilot in P-40s during the darkest days of the Pacific War, racking up aerial victories in the ill-fated Java campaign along with the struggle for air superiority over Northern Australia in early 1942. This episode is very special to us because we were able to get in touch with Hennon's son, Mike Raudenbush, who not only was able to provide us with great insight on his father's personal life and combat exploits, but also to join us on this episode of the podcast. Episodes like this are why we are doing this series, and it has been a blast working with Mike. With that being said, we hope you enjoy this installment of our Minnesota Aces series!

In this episode, the guys cover Major William J. Stangel, a Thief River Falls, Minnesota native. Tune in to learn about his combat exploits during the final years of the Second World War and learn about the famed 352nd Fighter Group!

In our next episode, we discuss our seventh MN Ace, this time featuring Captain Herbert N. Houck, a Corona, Minnesota native. Tune in to learn about Houck's impressive combat career with VF-9 of the US Navy, the air engagements he was apart of, and the famous sinking of the Yamato.

In this episode, the guys discuss a World War I ace by the name of Martinus Stenseth, a Heiberg, Minnesota Native. Tune in to learn more about Stenseth with his time with the 28th Aero Squadron on the Western Front during WWI, his interwar exploits, and his time during WWII as the founding commander of what is now called Nellis AFB.

In this episode, the Planes on the Prairie crew discuss the life and combat career of the podcast's first F4U Corsair Ace, Albert Lea native Major John W. Ruhsam. Tune in to learn a bit about his combat career, the air battle over Okinawa, and the "Death Rattlers" of VMF-323.

In this spooky edition of the Minnesota Aces series, we have a special treat for you, 1st Lt. Eugene D. Axtell, a P-61 Black Widow ace who hails from Minneapolis, Minnesota. Tune in to hear the guys discuss the combat career of Axtell, and learn a little bit about the 422nd Night Fighter Squadron, along with night fighting operations in the European Theater of the Second World War. Thanks for listening!

In this installment of the MN Aces series, Max and Sam discuss the life and combat career of Second Lieutenant Cecil J. "Danny" Doyle. Doyle was a Marshall, Minnesota native who served as a member of VMF-121, Joe Foss's "Flying Circus." We hope you enjoy this episode of our first Marine ace across all of our episodes, and thanks for listening!

In our second installment of our Minnesota Aces Series, Max and Sam discuss the life and combat career of Kenneth H. Dahlberg, who was a triple ace flying Mustangs and Thunderbolts in Western Europe. Special thanks to AirCorps Aviation out of Bemidji, MN for their assistance in researching this episode!Shillelaugh Restoration: https://www.aircorpsaviation.com/p-51b-shillelagh-wings-of-the-north-museum-project-fall-2021-update/

We're excited to announce that we are back with a new "Aces" series, this time featuring aces from Minnesota! We thought it fitting to start off this series featuring Lieutenant Colonel William R. Dunn, who was the first American ace of the Second World War, primarily flying with No. 71 Eagle Squadron RAF. We hope you enjoy this episode, and we're glad to be back!

We are back with a holiday special, featuring Pembina, North Dakota native and P-51 Mustang pilot Donald Emerson. Both Max and Sam have ready Sandra Merrill's biography of her uncle Donald in the thrilling book Donald's Story, and both of the Planes on the Prairie crew enjoyed it so much, they figured you would enjoy hearing his story and his exploits as a fighter pilot in the 4th Fighter Group. Unfortunately, Emerson was killed by ground fire on Christmas Day, 1944, but his story cannot go untold by the crew, so enjoy this episode, have a great holiday season an happy new year!

In our last episode of the North Dakota Aces series, we cover John Owen Donaldson, our only Ace from World War One. Tune in to hear us discuss World War I aerial combat, Donaldson's victories, and his harrowing journey as a POW on the run.

In this installment of the North Dakota Aces Series, we cover Leland Molland, a Nome, North Dakota native who flew Spitfires and Mustangs in the Mediterranean Theater of Operations with the 308th FS of the 31st FG. Tune in to learn more about Reverse Lend Lease aircraft, a bit about the air war in the MTO, and of course the "Fargo Express!"

Welcome to our tenth episode of the ND Aces Series, where Max and Sam cover Harvey Picken, a Minot, North Dakota native who served as a photo reconnaissance pilot with VF-18 in the Pacific. Special thanks go out to Mike Fink and Jackie Case for the wealth of information provided during the research process for this episode.

Episode nine of our ND Aces series features Colonel Donald A. Baccus, a Jamestown, ND native who downed five aircraft while serving with the 356th Fighter Group in Europe during World War II. Tune in to hear a neat story!