Battlehawks

I am not entirely sure if this is the game I remember. If it is, it is still one of my all time favorite combat flight simulators. Given a choice between it, and any of the "Ace Combat" series, I would choose Battlehawks.
The game is a WWII based simulator. You first create a pilot. This is a simple process, just type a name. You begin as a cadet, and work your way up the naval ranks. You move up higher, with a better performance.

The highest I ever made, as I can recall, was commander. You also earn medals, such as the Air Medal, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. There is a section were you can view your awards, kills, and accomplishments.
You start a mission by choosing a campaign. There are many to choose from, for example: Midway, Guadalcanal, etc. And you undertake missions against actual Japanese ships and targets. You can change the course of history! If you get shot down, you may blow up or crash, Your career will end, and you will be listed K.I.A. You can bail out. In this case, you will either be rescued and continue on, or be captured. This also ends your career, but you are listed M.I.A.
Game-play is simple, requiring only your keyboard. Not terribly accurate, but still a good time. Depending on which mission or aircraft you chose, the game will require different things. You can fly classic fighters. I always liked the wildcats, but the hellcats perform better. There are also missions with torpedo bombers, and dive bombers. These are my favorites, especially the dive bombers. You can fly around and switch to your rear gunner. That’s right, you can switch to different positions, and the plane will fly itself. Albeit in a straight line.
This is a great technique though. What you do is fly in a straight line, enemy planes line up behind you to get a kill shot, and you pick them off. Then fly over your target, dive, strafe at the same time, drop your bomb, and pull up. Mission accomplished, with the maximum number of kills. You can go on the bomb run right away, and complete the mission, but you will be awarded more, if you go after the fighters. And the graphics are blocky, but not bad for their time. I love this game, and played it for hours on end, over and over again. I highly recommend checking it out. It’s a very good time, check it out A.S.A.P.