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.
By:
Donald Nijboer
Imprint: Osprey
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Dimensions:
Height: 242mm,
Width: 190mm,
Spine: 25mm
Weight: 454g
ISBN: 9781472854216
ISBN 10: 1472854217
Pages: 320
Publication Date: 10 January 2023
Audience:
General/trade
,
ELT Advanced
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
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
Donald Nijboer lives in Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada. His previous works on World War II include Cockpit: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Interiors, Gunner: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Turrets and Gun Positions, Cockpits of the Cold War, and Graphic War - The Secret Aviation Drawings and Illustrations of World War Two. Donald has also written articles for Flight Journal, Aviation History and Aeroplane Monthly.
Reviews for The Mighty Eighth: Masters of the Air over Europe 1942–45
[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. --Strategy Page
