Pages of History (January): Ace in a Day!

In this month’s Pages of History, you’ll be at the center of events that took place in different theaters of war. Many important battles ranging from the end of World War II, as well as major battles in the Middle East: take part in battles with the vehicles corresponding to these historic battles and receive prizes.

From January 1st until January 31st, you’ll be offered 8 tasks consecutively. Completing each will reward you with a trophy, and completing all of them will earn you a unique player icon.

William Arthur Shomo was an American reconnaissance pilot during the Battle of Luzon. On January 11th 1945, during one of his flights, Shomo noticed a squadron of Japanese fighters escorting a bomber. Despite being outnumbered, he went on to attack and after six minutes shot down seven enemy aircraft (with his wingman hitting three more), becoming an “Ace in a Day”. For this feat he was promoted to major and received the Medal of Honor.

William Arthur Shomo

You can immediately purchase this profile icon for Golden Eagles until February 3rd, 11:30 GMT without completing tasks. To find it, go to your Nickname → Achievements → Pages of History.

Trophy reward for each task

Completion of each individual task will bring you a trophy with one of the following rewards:

  • 20-50% RP booster for 3-10 battles;
  • 20-50% SL booster for 3-10 battles;
  • 3-5 universal backup vehicles;
  • 1 day of premium account;
  • A random camouflage for ground vehicles (out of the selection of camouflages currently obtainable in game for completing tasks, or purchasing with Golden Eagles).

Other terms

  • Tasks are available from 11:00 GMT until 11:30 GMT on the final day of each task.
  • Tasks can be completed in random battles except for “Assault” mode.

January 1st — January 4th
Operation Bodenplatte

On January 1st 1945, the Luftwaffe began its last large-scale operation with the purpose to support the Wehrmacht ground offensive in the Ardennes. The operation was conducted in such secrecy that some planes were shot down by German air defense. Many Allied planes were hit on the ground, but these losses were made up within a week — Germany lost over 200 pilots and never recovered.

January 4th — January 7th
Operation Nasr

The largest tank battle of the Iran-Iraq War took place from January 5th to 9th 1981 near the city of Dezful in Southwestern Iran. Iran’s superior armored forces advanced the attack hoping to push out Iraqi troops. However the numerical advantage was not high enough, and the Iranians also lacked artillery support, coordination with the air force, and even fuel and ammunition. The Iraqis lured enemy troops into a trap and subsequently defeated them.

January 8th — January 11th
Battle for Luzon

On January 9th 1945, the battle for the Philippine island of Luzon began and lasted until the very end of the war. Japanese troops fought to the end, suffering huge losses. At the end of the battle, only a number of small scattered groups remained, leading guerrilla resistance in the jungles.

January 12th — January 15th
Operation Blackcock

From January 13th to January 27th 1945 the Allies pushed out the last remnants of the Wehrmacht from the border of the Netherlands and Germany. The operation, named after the black grouse bird, was carried out mainly by British troops near the confluence of the Ruhr and Meuse rivers. As a result, the bulge at the front occupied by German forces was eliminated.

January 16th — January 19th
Breaking the blockade of Leningrad

The blockade of Leningrad, which began in September 1941 cut off the city from receiving fuel and food supplies. The Soviet Army made many attempts to lift the blockade but until January 1943 these attempts were all unsuccessful. Finally, as part of Operation Iskra, troops of the Leningrad and Volkhov fronts managed to unite on January 19th. By the beginning of February, a road and railway were built to the city, where Leningrad began to receive supplies again.

January 20th — January 23rd
Battle of Anzio

During the Italian Campaign, Anglo-American forces landed and fortified themselves in the city of Anzio, located on the west coast of Italy behind the heavily fortified Gustav Line. The landing command did not dare to advance further, but Anzio remained under Allied control until the victory at Monte Cassino.

January 24th — January 27th
Heiligenbeil Pocket

In 1945 Soviet troops were already advancing through German territories. At the end of January, the 4th Army of the Wehrmacht was surrounded near the city of Heiligenbeil in East Prussia. After two months of fierce fighting, it was completely destroyed with German command refusing to evacuate it.

January 28th — January 31st
Battle of Khafji

The first major land battle of the Gulf War. On January 29th 1991, Iraqi troops, hoping to draw the international coalition forces into exhausting ground clashes, attacked Saudi Arabia taking the city of Khafji. However, lacking air cover they were driven out of the city within two days after suffering noticeably heavy losses.

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When are we gonna get a Manfred von Richthofen profile icon? Can’t believe it’s been put off for this long.

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Just another “good guy” profile icon “BOOOORINNGGGG”.

Finally, a worthy profile pic reward.

No offense, but a pilot which killed a D3A Val trying to land and scoring 7 kills in 2 passes vs JP rookies whilst bouncing them undetected from behind (he ended the war with 8 kills) is compared to other pilots not really an achievement.

Details

Medal of Honor action[edit]

Two days after his first victory, on January 11, 1945, Captain Shomo and his wingman, Lieutenant Paul Lipscomb, were heading north for the Japanese airfields at Tuguegarao, Aparri, and Laoag, when they saw several enemy planes flying south at about 2,500 feet (760 m). Despite being outnumbered, they immediately pulled Immelman turns and found themselves behind 11 Kawasaki Ki-61 “Tonys” and one Nakajima Ki-44 “Tojo” escorting a Mitsubishi G4M “Betty” bomber.

On their first pass through the formation, Shomo closed to less than 40 yards (37 m) before opening fire. He shot down four Tonys, then came up under the bomber, firing into its belly. The bomber caught fire and began to lose altitude as its pilot attempted to crash-land the plane. Two of the Tonys escorting the bomber stayed with it as it went down. Shomo pulled up in a tight vertical spiral to gain altitude while the Tojo turned to engage him. The Japanese fighter fired until it stalled and slipped into the clouds. The Betty exploded as it bellied in, and the two escorting Tonys broke away, staying low. Shomo made a second diving pass at the two Tonys and downed them both. In under six minutes, Shomo had shot down seven enemy planes, becoming an “ace in one day.” (Only one other American fighter pilot scored more confirmed victories in a single mission: Navy Commander David McCampbell, with nine confirmed victories and two probables on 24 October 1944.) Meanwhile, his wingman shot down three of the remaining six planes. The three other Japanese planes fled.

At least he had a civilian education as a mortician/undertaker - perfect job profile.

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