B-24 Liberator Units of the CBI

Description

The B-24 Liberator was the mainstay of the US Army Air Force's strategic bombing effort in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Theatre from 1942 until the end of the war in 1945. With longer range and a greater load-carrying capacity than the B-17, the B-24 was well-suited to the demands of the CBI. The CBI's two air forces, the Tenth in India and the Fourteenth in China, each had one heavy bomb group equipped with Liberators. These two groups, the 7th and the 308th, carried the war to the Japanese across China and South East Asia, flying over some of the most difficult terrain in the world. The 308th had the added burden of having to carry its own fuel and bombs over the Himalayan 'Hump' from India to China in support of its missions. Despite the hardships and extreme distances from sources of supply, both units compiled a notable record, each winning two Distinguished Unit Citations.

Edward M Young received his BA in Political Science from Harvard University and his MA from the University of Washington. Prior to his retirement he was a banker and financial analyst, with assignments in New York, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong. He is the author of several books on aviation history. For Osprey he has written Campaign 136 - Meiktila 1945 and Warrior 141 - Merrill's Marauders. Mark Styling has illustrated many titles for Osprey including Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Aviation Elite Units series since 1994. Now based in Bridport, Dorset, he produces accurate illustrations of any chosen aircraft type. He has created some of the best artwork available to Osprey, and his nose art panels are legendary.

"Through fine research and writing, Mr. Young reveals the triumphs, tragedies, heroism, and accomplishments of those bomber crewmen and ground crews who fought to protect China, Burma, and India." --Frederick Boucher, AeroScale "The book is full of narratives and feats of individual B-24 crews' stories. There are many period photos of Liberator nose art, crews, and strike photos, to give the reader a flavor of what it was like. The book also contains an index, and--best of all--the 11 pages of color plates and nose art. It will make you want to build some B-24 kits for sure." --Mike Keller, IPMS/USA "Edward Young widens the focus to include the Tenth Air Force's 7th Bomb Group, which carried the war over some of the world's most difficult terrain. Young includes a collection of B-24 color plates with commentary, colorful nose art and in-flight photos. This book is a keeper for those who want to fill in the gaps about strategic operations in an almost fogotten theater." --C.V. Glines, Aviation History (November 2012) "...this survey packs in vintage black and white photos and a lively coverage that surveys the B-24's successes and influence on the outcome of the war, and is a powerful survey for any serious military or aviation collection." --The Midwest Book Review