The Mighty Eighth: Masters of the Air over Europe 1942–45: Donald Nijboer: Osprey Publishing

The Mighty Eighth

Masters of the Air over Europe 1942–45

The Mighty Eighth

Masters of the Air over Europe 1942–45

Description

The perfect companion to Masters of the Air on Apple TV+, this is a superbly illustrated examination of the aircraft, pilots, crews and operations of the US Eighth Air Force.

The US Eighth Air Force-known as the “Mighty Eighth”-was a combat air force activated in Georgia, USA on January 28, 1942. Its bomber command soon moved to Northern Europe to conduct strategic bombing missions, seeking to destroy Germany's ability to wage war. Among the major operations it participated in were “Big Week” in February 1944; the D-Day landings in June 1944; and the defeat of the Luftwaffe and destruction of German industry. Eighth Air Force was the largest of the deployed combat Army Air Forces in numbers of personnel, aircraft, and equipment. At peak strength, Eighth Air Force had 40 heavy bomber groups, 15 fighter groups, and four specialized support groups.

This work provides a superbly illustrated and fully comprehensive exploration of the Mighty Eighth's bomber and fighter planes, its incredibly brave pilots and crew, and its daring and dramatic operations. It also explores the careers of key personalities associated with the Mighty Eighth, such as Earle Partridge, James Doolittle, and William Kepner. Packed with hundreds of color aircraft profiles, battlescene artworks, and period photographs, The Mighty Eighth provides a truly comprehensive look at the illustrious history of the US Eighth Air Force.

Introduction
Genesis
VIII Fighter Command

Chapter 1: The Friendly Invasion: “Over Paid, Over Sexed, and Over Here!”
Strategic Air Depots
Daily Life and Conditions of Service
Easily Replaced
Love, London, and Longing
Tents and Castles
“Consider Yourselves Already Dead”

Chapter 2: The Light of Day: The USAAF Strategic Bombing of Germany 1942–45
1942: First Missions
1943: A Decisive Year
1944: Winning the Argument
1945: Crippling Nazi Germany

Chapter 3: Organization of Eighth Air Force: Air and Ground Units
Air Units
Ground Crews and Personnel
Eighth Air Force order of battle, January 1945

Chapter 4: Aircraft of the Eighth Air Force: Bombers, Fighters, Reconnaissance
Bombers
Fighters
Photo-recon and Reconnaissance

Chapter 5: The Tools of Battle: Training, Formations, Technology, Armament, Tactics
Training
Formations
Technology
Armament
Fighter Tactics

Chapter 6: The Experience of Battle: Facing the Flak, Dueling the Fighters
Enemy Coast Ahead
12 O'Clock High
Receiving Flak
Bailing Out
Air Sea Rescue
Returning Home
Relief and Debrief
Casualties
Combat Focus: 303rd Bomb Group “Hell's Angels”
Fighter Mission
Combat Focus: 4th Fighter Group “Debden Eagles”
Combat Focus: 56th Fighter Group
The Opposition: Defending the Reich

Chapter 7: Eighth Air Force Personnel: Leaders and Aces
Senior Leadership of Eighth Air Force
Heroes at the Sharp End

Chronology
Further Reading and Research
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations
Acknowledgments
Index

Product details

Published	Sep 01 2022
Format	Ebook (PDF)
Edition	1st
Extent	320
ISBN	9781472854247
Imprint	Osprey Publishing
Illustrations	200 colour and black and white photographs, maps, aircraft profiles, and battlescenes.
Series	General Aviation
Short code	GNA
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

[I]t provides a comprehensive history of the Eighth, one spanning both the human and technical aspects of the story… It is marvelously illustrated… it is a good introduction to the topic. It provides all the information needed to finish with a clear understanding of what happened and why, without baffling a reader with technical jargon.

Ricochet
With The Mighty Eighth, Osprey offers modelers and historians a great deal of information to stoke our imaginations, springboards for more in-depth research, and source material for our research…I believe that for a modeler, this book is a treasure trove of images and source material, whether for individual aircraft or personnel equipment, or for dioramas. Recommended.

Aerocscale
The story of the Eighth Air Force's combat operations, along with all that made it possible – aircraft, leaders, tactics, organization – would be difficult to include in any book of this size. The author has included a lot in a limited space (especially when the extensive illustrations are considered). But even if the end result may not fully cover its subject, there is enough – text and illustrations – that may interest a reader to look at the broader (and deeper) story.

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