January 1944:
The Texas Air Force, like most air forces at this time, have determined that dive bombing attacks against land targets is of limited effectiveness. The risk to the crew often does not justify the effects on a potential target. The Air Staff directs a shift away from dive bombing tactics against land targets and a focus on low level bombing, rocket attacks and strafing.
These decisions are made in preparation for the Allied invasion of France later in the year. The venerable Dauntless divebombers are worn out after two years of employment in North Africa, Italy and Sicily, where battle damage thinned their numbers and aircrew losses are increasing due to better Axis air defense measures.
The 18th Attack Group receives new aircraft to start the new year. The A-1As are replaced with American made Bell P-63A Kingcobras.
Though originally designed as a fighter, the US declined to employ it in combat since other types were better suited for it. But the Kingcobra found a home with the Soviet Air Force, and when Texas Air Force pilots tested it, they liked its performance and noted its potential to be a potent air attack platform. It could keep pace with most enemy planes at low or medium altitudes, a marked change from the dive bombers. Dauntless pilots checked out on the type and most of their backseat gunners transferred home for commissions and flight training.
Of the P-63A deriviatives, the Texan favorites were the P-63A-6 and P-63A-10, which could carry two 500lb bombs or six air-to-ground rockets respectively. The 37mm cannon was loved for its ability to play havoc with armored targets. Some types were delivered with the .50 cal machine guns in the nose; others were not.