Guys, I posted this on AGW, but felt that I should share it here also. I recently got this book and it has become one of my favorites. The information and real-life experiences recorded are among the best I've ever read, Allied or Axis. So here is what I posted over there
I just got a new book from Osprey called "VIII Fighter Command at War, The Long Reach".
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/1855329077/qid=980066896/sr=2-1/ref=sc_b_1/105-3681536-0595904 From Amazon's Website description:
This volume focuses on a previously unpublished official Army Air Force report commissioned by the Eighth Air Forces VIII Fighter Command (FC) in May 1944. The detailed document chronicled the frontline experiences of 24 pilots who had seen extensive service in the frontline escorting B-17s and B-24s on daylight raids deep into Germany. Exactly half of those pilots who contributed to The Long Reach subsequently achieved ace status, all contributing their "pearls of wisdom." A tremendous wealth of first-hand accounts never before seen in print that were actually written at the time in the European Theater of Operations.
It seems the 8th AF HQ sent letters to several of the premier aces and Group and Squad CO's of its fighter groups asking about what worked in order to write a manual. The book is made up of the letters the pilots wrote back to 8th AF HQ. The author found this report at a garage sale!
The book is broken up into three sections, dealing with the P-47, P-38, and P-51. Mind you these letters were written in May 44 so only 3 or 4 FG's had received the first P-51B's.
If you have any interest in the air war in Western Europe, from either side of the fence, at $19.00 this book is a steal. Take it from someone who has been a history fan all his life, this book is worth it.
BTW, want to know some of the pilots whose responses are recorded here?
P-47 SectionLt Col Selden Edner, 4th FG (6.5 kills)
Col Hub Zemke, 56th FG (17.75)
Lt Col David Schilling, 56th FG (22.5)
Maj "Bud" Mahurin, 56th FG (20.75)
Cpt Robert Johnson, 56th FG (27)
Col Joe Mason, 352nd FG (5)
Lt Col John Meyer, 352nd FG (26)
Cpt Virgil Meroney, 352nd FG (9)
P-38 SectionMaj Mark Hubbard, 20th FG (6.5 kills)
P-51 SectionCpt Duane Beeson, 4th FG (17.3 kills)
Maj George Preddy, 352nd FG (26.83)
Lt Col Everett Stewart, 355th FG (7.83)
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Col Dune
C.O.
352nd Fighter Group"The Blue Nosed Bastards of Bodney" "Credo quia absurdum est." (I believe it because it is unreasonable)
- The motto of the Republic of Baja Arizona
[This message has been edited by Dune (edited 01-21-2001).]
