Aces and Pilots of the US 8th/9th Air Forces
Prix régulier 60,00 € TTC 6%
Characteristics
| ISBN-13 | 9780711028951 |
| ISBN-10 | 0711028958 |
| Book cover finish(es) | Hardcover ( square back binding ) Dust jacket |
| Condition |
Used - like NEW |
| Author(s) | Jerry Scutts |
| Publisher | Ian Allan Publishing |
| Number of pages | 160 |
| Published date | 2001 |
| Language(s) | English |
| Size | 21 x 26 x 1.5 cm |
Description
From December 1941, when the United States of America declared war on the Axis powers, through to the cessation of hostilities in Europe in May 1945, the US military presence in Europe during World War II expanded dramatically. By air, land, and sea, the impact of the US Armed Forces was critical to the ultimate Allied victory.
Of all the elements that contributed to victory, air supremacy proved one of the most decisive. Yet at the start of the war, fighter aircraft were often regarded in the United States as secondary assets, mainly used in support of ground forces or for homeland defence. The principal air offensive was expected to be carried out by bomber formations, whose defensive armament was believed sufficient to protect them from enemy fighters.
However, once the US Eighth Air Force began its daylight precision bombing campaign from England in August 1942, the limitations of this doctrine quickly became apparent. Short-range fighter escort was available, but once American bombers penetrated deep into Germany, they suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Luftwaffe. By 1943, the development of long-range escort fighters such as the North American P-51 Mustang, alongside the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, shifted the balance of the air war in favour of the Allies.
In Aces and Pilots of the US 8th/9th Air Forces, Jerry Scutts—one of Britain’s leading aviation historians—examines the contribution of American fighter pilots in the European Theatre of Operations. The book recounts operations involving mass daylight and night bombing raids, the Dieppe Raid of August 1942, the D-Day landings in 1944, the Ardennes offensive of 1944–45, and many other key actions.
By the end of the war, Allied air superiority was such that hundreds of American pilots had achieved “ace” status, each credited with five or more confirmed aerial victories. Supported by over 150 historic photographs, the book traces the formation, deployment, and operations of these squadrons up to the final defeat of Nazi Germany in May 1945.
Alongside the narrative, detailed appendices list the top 100 American aces and provide full inventories of participating fighter units and squadron identification codes. This well-researched and richly illustrated volume is an essential reference for anyone interested in the air war over northwest Europe during the Second World War.
