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: Marianas Islands (Saipan - Tinian - Guam - Pagan Island)

During World War II, the VII Fighter Command played a crucial role in securing and maintaining air superiority in the Pacific Theater, particularly during operations surrounding the Marianas Islands—Saipan, Tinian, and Guam—from 1944 to 1945. As a key component of the U.S. Army Air Forces' Pacific strategy, the VII Fighter Command was tasked with escorting B-29 Superfortress bombers during their long-range bombing raids against the Japanese home islands, as well as conducting vital air defense and ground attack missions across the Marianas. Once airfields were secured on Saipan and Guam in mid-1944, P-51 Mustang fighter squadrons, newly assigned to the command, were deployed to these islands and quickly became instrumental in the fight. Pilots of the VII Fighter Command flew daring long-range missions, often over open ocean, providing bomber escort and engaging enemy fighters in intense aerial dogfights. The P-51's extended range and superior maneuverability allowed American pilots to outmatch Japanese aircraft, ensuring the success of strategic bombing operations. Additionally, these pilots carried out tactical missions targeting Japanese shipping, radar installations, and troop concentrations in the region. Their presence was vital not only for the protection of American bombers but also for the suppression of enemy air power, ultimately contributing to the strategic dominance of the United States in the central Pacific and paving the way for the eventual invasion of 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 the P-51 Mustang Pilots of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam (1944–1945):

The VII Fighter Command was a critical yet often overlooked component of the United States Army Air Forces during World War II, particularly in the Pacific Theater. As the war shifted toward the Japanese home islands in 1944, the VII Fighter Command transitioned from a primarily defensive unit stationed in Hawaii to a formidable offensive force tasked with gaining and maintaining air superiority in newly captured territories. Nowhere was their transformation more evident than in the Marianas campaign of 1944–1945. The capture of Saipan, Tinian, and Guam provided the United States with vital airfields that brought the Japanese mainland within reach of the new B-29 Superfortress bombers. However, to ensure the success of these long-range bombing missions and to counter the persistent threat of Japanese air power, the U.S. needed a fighter force capable of protecting the bombers and engaging enemy aircraft deep within enemy-held territory. This role would be filled by the pilots of the VII Fighter Command, many of whom flew the P-51D Mustang—a fighter renowned for its range, speed, and performance at high altitudes.

The deployment of P-51 Mustangs to the Marianas marked a significant shift in the air war over the Pacific. Before their arrival, bomber missions launched from the Marianas often suffered heavy losses due to the lack of effective fighter escort over Japan. The P-51’s extended range, made possible by the addition of drop tanks, enabled these fighters to accompany B-29s all the way to targets on the Japanese mainland and back, a distance often exceeding 1,500 miles round trip. Operating from newly built airfields on Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, VII Fighter Command pilots undertook some of the longest and most grueling missions of the war, spending up to eight hours in the cockpit with little room for error. These missions were not only long but also dangerous—pilots faced treacherous weather, mechanical failures over vast stretches of ocean, and the constant threat of enemy fighters and flak once over Japan.

The combat missions of the VII Fighter Command in this theater were multifaceted. Their primary objective was to escort B-29 bombers during strategic bombing raids over Japanese cities and industrial targets. This responsibility required absolute coordination, as the Mustangs had to fend off waves of Japanese interceptors determined to destroy the bombers before they could reach their targets. VII Fighter Command pilots engaged in fierce aerial dogfights with enemy aircraft, including the agile Mitsubishi A6M Zero and other formidable Japanese fighters. The P-51s’ superior speed and firepower gave American pilots a decisive advantage, and they quickly earned a reputation for aggressively clearing the skies and shielding the bomber formations from devastating losses. In addition to escort duties, VII Fighter Command pilots conducted independent fighter sweeps, pre-strike attacks on enemy airfields, and low-altitude strafing runs against ground targets throughout the Marianas and the broader Central Pacific region.

On Saipan and Guam, VII Fighter Command squadrons also flew defensive combat air patrols to protect the islands and airbases from potential Japanese retaliation. While the bulk of combat was directed northward toward the Japanese mainland, the command was still responsible for maintaining aerial dominance in the Marianas themselves, ensuring that newly captured territories remained secure staging grounds for continued operations. The command’s efforts allowed for the uninterrupted use of these islands as critical launch points for the strategic bombing campaign that would eventually bring Japan to its knees.

Beyond their technical accomplishments, the human element of the VII Fighter Command’s mission must be emphasized. The P-51 pilots endured exhausting missions, often flying for hours with limited navigation aids and facing mechanical failures or the possibility of ditching in the ocean with little hope of rescue. Their courage and determination were indispensable to the success of the broader U.S. strategy in the Pacific. These airmen were not only warriors but pioneers, pushing the limits of aerial warfare and endurance in some of the most remote and hostile environments on Earth.

In conclusion, the VII Fighter Command’s operations in the Marianas from 1944 to 1945 were a cornerstone of American success in the Pacific Theater. Their integration of long-range P-51 Mustangs into the strategic bombing campaign over Japan reshaped the air war, dramatically improving the effectiveness of B-29 raids and reducing bomber losses. Operating from Saipan, Tinian, and Guam, these fighter pilots executed some of the most difficult and dangerous missions of the war, ensuring U.S. air superiority and accelerating the defeat of the Japanese Empire. Their legacy is one of bravery, innovation, and a relentless pursuit of victory that played a vital role in bringing World War II to its final conclusion.