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: Aguijan Islands - Marianas Group

The VII Fighter Command played a crucial role in the Pacific Theater during World War II, particularly in and around the Marianas Islands from 1944 to 1945. Originally established to defend Hawaii, the command evolved into a powerful offensive unit as the war progressed, spearheading long-range fighter escort and ground attack missions. After the successful capture of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, the VII Fighter Command—equipped with the long-range P-51D Mustang—began launching aggressive operations from the Marianas. These missions included bomber escort runs to the Japanese home islands and targeted strikes against remaining Japanese positions in the region. A notable focus was the small but strategically located Aguijan Island, southwest of Tinian. Though bypassed during the Marianas campaign, Aguijan remained under Japanese control until the end of the war. From late 1944 into 1945, P-51 pilots of the VII Fighter Command were frequently tasked with suppressing enemy activity on Aguijan. They executed precision strafing and bombing runs to neutralize anti-aircraft installations, destroy supply caches, and discourage Japanese forces from attempting communication or escape. These missions required immense skill, as pilots had to navigate the treacherous winds around the cliffs of Aguijan while avoiding sporadic enemy fire. The persistence and bravery of the VII Fighter Command pilots were instrumental in containing Japanese resistance and ensuring the Marianas remained a secure launch point for the strategic bombing campaign against Japan.

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.

Wings Over the Marianas: The VII Fighter Command and P-51 Mustang Operations near Aguijan Island, 1944–1945

During the final chapters of the Pacific campaign in World War II, the skies over the Central Pacific were dominated by the daring and determined pilots of the VII Fighter Command. Originally tasked with the air defense of Hawaii following the attack on Pearl Harbor, the command would evolve from a regional defensive unit into a potent offensive force. By 1944, it was deeply embedded in the heart of America’s island-hopping strategy, playing a critical role in aerial combat operations in the Marianas Islands, particularly in the area surrounding Aguijan Island, a small but fortified outpost still held by Japanese forces well after the major islands of the Marianas were under American control.

The Marianas campaign, launched in mid-1944, resulted in the capture of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam—islands whose strategic value cannot be overstated. These islands provided the U.S. military with vital forward bases from which B-29 Superfortresses could launch long-range bombing missions directly against the Japanese home islands. To protect these bombers and maintain control of the region, the VII Fighter Command—now equipped with the high-performance, long-range P-51D Mustang—was assigned the critical role of aerial escort and island suppression.

With the main islands of the Marianas in American hands, attention turned to isolated enemy holdouts such as Aguijan Island. Located just southwest of Tinian and only a few miles from the B-29 airfields, Aguijan (also known as Aguihan) posed a unique threat. Though small—only about 2.7 square kilometers in size—Aguijan remained under Japanese control throughout the remainder of the war. Intelligence indicated the island housed a garrison of Japanese troops equipped with machine guns, mortars, and small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery. While the Japanese forces there lacked the ability to launch a major offensive, they still represented a security risk to American operations on Tinian and the nearby naval routes.

Beginning in late 1944, VII Fighter Command P-51 pilots, operating from newly built airstrips on Saipan and Iwo Jima, undertook repeated low-level strike missions against Aguijan. Their orders were clear: neutralize the island’s military capability and suppress any activity that might jeopardize nearby Allied operations. These missions were particularly dangerous due to the island's rugged geography. Aguijan is surrounded by steep cliffs and sharp rock formations, making it a challenging target for strafing runs and bombing. Pilots had to fly at extremely low altitudes to deliver accurate attacks while avoiding sporadic Japanese anti-aircraft fire and managing strong wind currents around the island’s edge.

These sorties involved both coordinated bombing and machine gun strafing, with pilots often targeting suspected ammunition caches, communication lines, and troop concentrations. The Mustangs, known for their agility and firepower, proved ideal for these suppression missions. The island was also used as a training ground for P-51 pilots preparing for long-range missions over Japan—allowing them to practice low-level attack tactics in a real combat zone with hostile fire.

While Aguijan was never invaded and the Japanese garrison held out until Japan’s official surrender in September 1945, the relentless air operations by the VII Fighter Command ensured that the enemy on the island remained isolated and ineffective. The P-51s denied the Japanese the ability to use radio equipment, repair fortifications, or stage any sort of offensive activity. In essence, Aguijan was turned into a static, neutralized outpost, with its troops cut off from communication and resupply, a testament to the effectiveness of air power in a modern war.

Beyond the tactical value of suppressing Aguijan, the missions gave P-51 pilots invaluable combat experience in the Pacific Theater. Unlike the vast engagements over Europe, the Pacific demanded precision attacks on small, fortified islands scattered across thousands of miles of ocean. The VII Fighter Command’s operations helped bridge the gap between tactical interdiction and strategic bombing support, providing cover for the B-29s, reconnaissance for amphibious forces, and a swift response to any signs of enemy resistance in the rear.

Moreover, the role of the P-51 Mustang pilots in the Pacific—especially those flying for the VII Fighter Command—has often been overshadowed by their European counterparts. Yet their missions were no less heroic or essential. Flying across vast expanses of open water with limited navigation aids, dealing with the challenges of tropical weather, and facing the constant threat of mechanical failure over the sea, these airmen embodied courage and innovation.

In conclusion, the operations of the VII Fighter Command near Aguijan Island between 1944 and 1945 highlight an underappreciated chapter in the air war over the Pacific. The persistence and skill of P-51 Mustang pilots ensured the safety of crucial forward bases and silenced potential threats before they could materialize. Their precision, bravery, and determination in the face of difficult terrain and determined defenders made them indispensable to the broader Allied strategy, and their legacy continues to be felt in the historical record of the Pacific air war.