From a historian, retired fighter pilot, and combat aviation specialist, "the finest book yet written about the air war over Europe during World War II." ( Air & Space, Smithsonian magazine )
As described by award-winning author Jay A. Stout, the 352nd Fighter Group was one of the Eighth Air Force's most successful fighter units and counted history's two top-scoring P-51 aces among its ranks. This book—the most comprehensive work ever to cover the actions of a single USAAF fighter unit—details the air actions of not only the group's notable aces, but also the rank-and-file fliers who carried the bulk of the load. It describes the 352nd's activities from its formation at the close of 1942, its movement to England and its combat operations flying P-47s and P-51s against the Third Reich.
Although the book covers the units actions as a whole, it also follows several pilots in detail. Rich descriptions of tactics and equipment, personal reflections, letters home, amusing anecdotes and, of course, detailed descriptions of air combat. Not simply an award-winning historian, Stout draws from his own combat experience as a fighter pilot to make these discussions credible, interesting and real.
Winner of the San Diego Book Award for History.
"Stout's crisp, concise writing powers a narrative that highlights a collection of aviators who destroyed more than 700 German aircraft. The book is certain to take its place with other memorable accounts of European combat." —John F. Wukovits, author of Black Sheep
