Thanks for the tips and offers for help. I have a fast connection, so I'm OK with massive downloads.
Looks like I'll muck around with stock SHIII (just got it last week), for about a month, to get my feet wet. One month for you guys might translate to two or three for me...I can't afford to make my family SHIII widow/orphans.
I'm starting at the bottom: a campaign in 1939 in a IIA. I'll probably end at the bottom, too.
I'm also doing a Gibraltar single mission to learn some things about avoiding escorts, and other basics other than shooting.