A Spitfire IX of a US fighter squadron crash-landed on the beaches of Salerno/Italy.

Forced landing

The Hercules H-4, aka The Spruce Goose. A heavy transport aircraft designed and built as a means to avoid cargo/ship losses by sea, inspired by German submarine warfare in the Battle of the Atlantic. It made its first and only flight on November 2, 1947. Built from wood due to wartime raw material restrictions to the use of aluminium, it was nicknamed the "Spruce Goose" by its critics, some of whom accused Howard Hughes of misusing government funding to build the aircraft. The Hercules is the largest flying boat ever built, and has the largest wingspan and height of any aircraft in history. It survives in good condition at the Evergreen Aviation Museum.

Spruce Gooze

Major THOMAS B. MCGUIRE (August 1, 1920–January 7, 1945) was the second highest scoring US fighter pilot in WW2. He was killed in action during a dogfight with japanese pilots at Negros Island/Philippines.