Comes with a hand-signed C.O.A.

“As part of the Seventh Air Force, the VII Fighter Command P-51 pilots were instrumental in securing U.S. air superiority, conducting long-range escort missions, and supporting the strategic bombing campaign against Japan. Their deployment in the Marianas Campaign was pivotal to the success of the island-hopping strategy and the eventual destruction of Japan’s war-making capabilities”

Type: Original World War II VII Fighter Command “Kneepocket" Flight Map Specially Made For P-51 Mustang Pilots of the Seventh Air Force’s VII Fighter Command

Titled: Tinian Island - Marianas Group

During World War II, the VII Fighter Command played a pivotal role in the aerial operations surrounding the Marianas Islands, particularly from mid-1944 to 1945, as the United States sought to gain strategic dominance in the Pacific. With the capture of key islands like Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, the VII Fighter Command was tasked with providing air cover and escort for the massive Boeing B-29 Superfortress bombing missions launched from these newly established airbases. The introduction of the long-range P-51D Mustang fighters marked a turning point in the Pacific air war. Stationed primarily on Iwo Jima and later rotated through bases like Tinian, these Mustang pilots of the VII Fighter Command undertook some of the most dangerous and grueling missions of the war. Their primary objectives included long-range bomber escort missions to Japan, aggressive fighter sweeps over enemy-held territory, and the suppression of Japanese airfields and defensive positions across the Marianas and Bonin Islands. The P-51s played a crucial role in neutralizing Japanese air resistance and enabling the sustained strategic bombing campaign against the Japanese mainland. From the airstrips carved out of coral and volcanic rock on Tinian, these pilots launched missions that not only protected bombers en route to targets like Tokyo and Nagoya but also conducted independent strikes against ships, radar installations, and troop concentrations in the region. The VII Fighter Command’s presence over the Marianas ensured air superiority and solidified American control over one of the most strategically vital regions in the Pacific theater.

Size: 4 × 7 inches

This incredibly rare, museum-grade World War II artifact is an original combat map used by United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) pilots from the Pacific Theater's VII Fighter Command. Known among pilots as the "kneepocket" map, this essential navigation tool was carried by all P-51 Mustang pilots on every combat mission during the war.

Designed and field-printed by the “VII Fighter Command Drafting Section”, this compact yet detailed map was tailored for the specific challenges faced during long-range escort and reconnaissance missions over the vast Pacific Ocean. It was designed to fit perfectly inside the large knee pocket of a P-51 pilot’s flight suit, ensuring easy access without interfering with cockpit controls during combat missions.

The kneepocket map was vital during missions, whether escorting B-29 Superfortresses on Very Long Range (VLR) bombing runs to Japan, or conducting fighter sweeps and reconnaissance. Pilots used this map while in the air to track their positions, coordinate formation movements, and record real-time intelligence on enemy activity and potential targets.

Additionally, the map played a crucial role in emergency planning, providing vital information about nearby islands for potential crash landings. In a theater where engine failure, damage from enemy fire, or fuel shortages posed constant threats, the kneepocket map could mean the difference between survival and being lost at sea.

As a field-produced document, each map was unique, and only a handful of examples with direct connections to the VII Fighter Command have survived, with most reserved for high-end museum archives. Today, these original VII Fighter Command combat maps are exceedingly rare artifacts of WWII aviation history.

The VII Fighter Command and the P-51 Mustang Pilots in the Marianas: Guardians of the Sky, 1944–1945

During World War II, the Pacific Theater was defined by its vast distances, strategic island-hopping campaigns, and brutal air combat over hostile territory. One of the most significant yet often overlooked contributors to the success of the United States’ aerial campaign was the VII Fighter Command, a unit of the U.S. Army Air Forces that played a vital role in securing air superiority over the Pacific. From 1944 to 1945, the VII Fighter Command operated in and around the Marianas Islands, including Tinian, Saipan, and Guam, providing critical fighter support for bombing missions against Japan and serving as the shield and spear of American air power.

Establishing a Foothold in the Marianas

The Marianas campaign, launched in the summer of 1944, marked a pivotal shift in the Pacific war. By seizing islands like Saipan and Tinian, U.S. forces gained airfields within striking distance of the Japanese home islands. The capture of Tinian in August 1944 was particularly important; the island's flat terrain made it ideal for constructing massive airfields such as North Field and West Field, which soon became the primary launch points for B-29 Superfortress bombers conducting long-range raids over Japan. However, with the success of the B-29 program came new threats: Japanese fighters, flak installations, and persistent aerial harassment during bombing runs.

It was here that the VII Fighter Command was brought to the forefront. Originally headquartered in Hawaii, the unit had been responsible for regional defense following the Pearl Harbor attack. However, as the war progressed, the command's mission evolved into a highly mobile, aggressive force capable of escorting bombers, engaging enemy fighters, and conducting offensive air sweeps. The introduction of the P-51D Mustang, a long-range, high-performance fighter, was a game-changer. It gave VII Fighter Command the reach and firepower needed to take the fight deep into enemy territory and protect American bombers on their 1,500-mile round trips.

Mustang Operations from Tinian and Beyond

From late 1944 into 1945, P-51 pilots of the VII Fighter Command were based primarily on Iwo Jima after its capture in early 1945, but they frequently operated in conjunction with units stationed on Tinian and Saipan. These Mustang squadrons flew Very Long Range (VLR) missions, a concept born out of necessity due to the enormous distances in the Pacific. Their primary objective was the escort of B-29 bombers during raids on strategic Japanese industrial and military targets. However, their role quickly expanded.

On missions originating from or supported by Tinian’s airfields, P-51 pilots engaged in fighter sweeps over Japanese-held islands, attacked enemy shipping lanes, strafed airfields and radar stations, and hunted down remaining Japanese aircraft that posed a threat to U.S. air dominance. These missions were often grueling—flown over open ocean for hours, with limited navigation aids and minimal margin for error. Any malfunction or damage could leave a pilot hundreds of miles from help, forcing many to ditch in the sea or attempt dangerous crash landings.

Despite these risks, the Mustang pilots of the VII Fighter Command proved indispensable. Their presence reduced B-29 losses significantly, as they intercepted enemy fighters before they could reach the bomber formations. The Mustangs were faster, more maneuverable, and better armed than many of the Japanese planes they faced. This dominance in the air contributed directly to the success of strategic raids, including the firebombing of Tokyo and the eventual delivery of the atomic bombs—both launched from North Field on Tinian.

The Psychological and Strategic Impact

The impact of the VII Fighter Command’s presence in the Marianas extended beyond just tactical success. Their operations dealt a severe blow to Japanese morale and war-making capacity. As P-51s began appearing in the skies over Japan in early 1945, they sent a clear message: the U.S. now had the capability to strike the heart of the Japanese empire at will—and to do so with fighter protection. This eliminated a key advantage Japan once had: their interior lines of defense. No longer could Japanese aircraft strike with impunity or rely on the element of distance.

Furthermore, the VII Fighter Command’s relentless pressure on Japanese airfields and infrastructure in the region helped pave the way for the final phases of the Pacific War. By neutralizing Japanese air resistance and ensuring the safe passage of bomber formations, the Mustang pilots contributed directly to the weakening of Japan’s war machine and the eventual surrender in August 1945.

Legacy of the VII Fighter Command

Though their contributions were overshadowed at times by the bombers they protected or the infantry who took the islands, the VII Fighter Command’s P-51 pilots were among the unsung heroes of the Pacific air war. Their missions from Tinian and the surrounding Marianas were not only physically and mentally demanding but often decisive. They flew into harm’s way with limited resources and brought American airpower to the very doorstep of the Japanese homeland.

Today, the legacy of the VII Fighter Command is preserved in the rusting remnants of airstrips on Tinian, the records of daring escort missions logged in combat reports, and the memories of the few surviving airmen who once flew their gleaming Mustangs into the vast Pacific sky. Their story is a testament to the courage, innovation, and relentless determination that defined the Allied victory in the Pacific.