Aces of the 78th Fighter Group

Description

Dubbed the 'Eagles of Duxford', the 78th Fighter Group (FG) was unique in being the only fighter unit in the 'Mighty Eighth' to fly the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang operationally. Arriving in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) in November 1942, and eventually committed to combat five months later, the 78th, along with the 4th and 56th FGs, 'wrote the book' on long-range fighter escort by VIII Fighter Command in the ETO. This volume charts the group's highs and lows during its two years in action from Duxford, focusing on the exploits of the 51 pilots who achieved ace status with the 78th during World War 2. These men included Capt Charles London, the very first Eighth Air Force ace, and Maj Quince Brown, who was the 78th's most successful aerial ace prior to being murdered by the SS after he was shot down over Germany. By VE Day, the 'Eagles of Duxford' had downed 316 aircraft and destroyed a further 320 machines on the ground during strafing attacks on German airfields.

Thomas McKelvey Cleaver has been a published aviation writer for the past 35 years, his work appearing in Air International, Air Enthusiast, Plane and Pilot, Air Force Magazine and Aviation History magazine. He is also a regular contributor to Flight Journal magazine. Additionally, he is Senior Contributing Editor to Modeling Madness Webzine, where his weekly reviews include extensive history writing introducing the model reviewed in that article. He is considered to be one of the leading model reviewers on the internet. He is also a published book author, with Air Combat Annals being recently published as an e-book by Pacifica Military History Press. Artist Chris Davey has illustrated more than 20 titles for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Elite Units series since 1994. Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and one of the last traditional airbrush artists in the business, he has become the artist of choice for both USAAF fighters and RAF subject matter.

Overall this is a highly worthy effort on the part of Tom Cleaver, a book which is long overdue and will no doubt be an excellent addition to one's library. Highly Recommended. - www.hyperscale.com