56th Fighter Group

Description

One of the first Thunderbolt groups to see action in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) with the US Army Air Forces, the 56th Fighter Group (FG) was also the only fighter unit within the Eighth Air Force to remain equipped with the mighty P-47 until war's end. Led by the inspirational 'Hub' Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber escort tactics employed by VIII Fighter Command between 1943 and 1945. By VE-Day the 56th FG had shot down 100 more enemy aircraft than any other group in the Eighth Air Force, its pilots being credited with 677 kills during 447 missions. The exploits of this elite fighter unit are detailed in this volume together with photographs, their aircraft profiles and insignia.

Semi-retired Essex farmer Roger Freeman is undoubtedly the most published author on the Eighth Air Force, having produced the seminal works 'The Mighty Eighth' - the most popular book of all time in 'Flypast' survey - and the 'Mighty Eighth War Manual' in the early 1970s. This is his first book for Osprey. Chris Davey is an airbrush artist of many years' experience, who has become Osprey's principal illustrator of RAF aircraft, having produced the profiles for over a dozen books since 1994. His work includes Aces 27: 'Typhoon and Tempest Aces of WW2; Aces 30: 'p-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the 9th and 15th Air Forces'; Combat AIrcraft 14: 'Halifax Squadrons of WW2' and Combat Aircraft 19: Sunderland Squadrons of WW2'. He is particularly adept at 'big' aircraft like the Halifax and Sunderland.