The true story of World War 2's legendary Hell's Angels-the 8th Air Force's 303rd Bomb Group.
Although the United States declared war against Germany in December 1941, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany's industrial and military might were crippled. The first target was the Luftwaffe-the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. The United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain's already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group-Hell's Angels.
This is the 303rd's story, as told by the men who made it what it was. Taking their name from their B-17 of the same name, they became one of the most distinguished and important air combat units in history. The dramatic and terrible air battles they fought against Germany ultimately changed the course of the war.
INCLUDES PHOTOS
The nearly half-million American air crewmen who served during World War II have almost disappeared. And so have their stories.
Award-winning writer and former fighter pilot Jay A. Stout uses Unsung Eagles to save an exciting collection of those accounts from oblivion. These are not rehashed tales from the hoary icons of the war. Rather, they are stories from the masses of largely unrecognized men who-in the aggregate-actually won it. They are the recollections of your Uncle Frank who shared them only after having enjoyed a beer, of your old girlfriend's grandfather who passed away about the same time she dumped you, and of the craggy guy who ran the town's salvage yard, a dusty, fly-specked B-24 model hung over the counter. These are "everyman" accounts that are important but fast disappearing.
Ray Crandall describes how he was nearly knocked into the Pacific Ocean by a heavy cruiser's main battery during the second battle of the Philippine Sea. Jesse Barker, a displaced dive-bomber pilot, tells of dodging naval bombardments in the stinking mud of Guadalcanal. Bob Popeney relates how his friend and fellow A-20 pilot was blown out of formation by German anti-aircraft fire: "I could see the inside of the airplane-and I could see Nordstrom's eyes. He looked confused ... and then immediately he flipped up and went tumbling down."
The combat careers of twenty-two different pilots from all the services are captured in this crisply written book that captivates the listener not only as an engaging oral history but also by putting personal context into the great air battles of World War II.
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 unit's 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.
Jay A. Stout breaks new ground in World War II aviation history with this gripping account of one of the war's most highly decorated American fighter groups.
A hell-bent-for-leather fighter pilot, Elwyn G. Righetti remains one of the most unknown, yet compelling, colorful, and controversial commanders of World War II.
Arriving late to the war, he led the England-based 55th Fighter Group against the Nazis during the closing months of the fight with a no-holds-barred aggressiveness that transformed the group from a middling organization of no reputation into a headline-grabbing team that had to make excuses to no one. Indeed, Righetti's boldness paid off as he quickly achieved ace status and additionally scored more strafing victories-twenty-seven-than any other Eighth Air Force pilot.
However, success came at a high cost in men and machines. Some of Righetti's pilots resented him as a Johnny-come-lately intent on winning a sack of medals at their expense. But most lauded their spirited new commander and his sledgehammer audacity. Indeed, he made his men most famous for 'loco busting,' as they put more than six hundred enemy locomotives out of commission-170-in just two days!
Ultimately, Righetti's calculated recklessness ran full speed into the odds. His aircraft was hit while strafing an enemy airfield only four days before the 55th flew its last mission.
In this dramatic story of World War II, Jay A. Stout describes how the U.S. built an air force of 2.3 million men after starting with 45,000 and defeated the world's best air force. In order to defeat Germany in World War II, the Allies needed to destroy the Third Reich's industry and invade its territory, but before they could effectively do either, they had to defeat the Luftwaffe, whose state-of-the-art aircraft and experienced pilots protected German industry and would batter any attempted invasion. This difficult task fell largely to the U.S., which, at the outset, lacked the necessary men, materiel, and training. Over the ensuing years, thanks to visionary leadership and diligent effort, the U.S. Army Air Force developed strategies and tactics and assembled a well-trained force that convincingly defeated the Luftwaffe.
During the air battles that destroyed Nazi Germany’s ability to wage war, one bomb group was especially distinguished.
The Hell’s Angels.
At the outbreak of World War II, the United States was in no way prepared to wage war. Although the US declared war against Germany in December 1941, the country lacked the manpower, the equipment, and the experience it needed to fight. Even had an invasion force been ready, a successful assault on Nazi-occupied Europe could not happen until Germany’s industrial and military might were crippled.
Because no invasion could happen without air superiority, the first target was the Luftwaffe—the most powerful and battle-hardened air force in the world. To this end, the United States Army Air Forces joined with Great Britain’s already-engaged Royal Air Force to launch a strategic air campaign that ultimately brought the Luftwaffe to its knees. One of the standout units of this campaign was the legendary 303rd Bomb Group—a.k.a. Hell’s Angels.
This is the 303rd’s story, as told by the men who made it what it was. Taking their name from their B-17 of the same name, they became one of the most distinguished and important air combat units in history. The dramatic and terrible air battles they fought against Germany changed the course of the war.
“[An] epic tale of the World War II aerial campaign over Europe…Hell’s Angels is a gripping and awe-inspiring book.”—Nathaniel Fick, New York Times bestselling author of One Bullet Away
