92nd Bomb Group
92nd Bomb Group

Author:

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Published: 1997-01-01

Total Pages: 1234

ISBN-13: 161858748X

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You'll feel like you're in a 92nd Bomb Group B-17 as they bomb the shipyards at Kiel! You'll feel the danger as you strike at the factories at Schweinfurt! Learn what it felt like to fight in World War II and in Korea! Featured in 92nd Bomb Group (H): Fame's Favored Few are the group's history, war stories, biographies of veterans, and photographs.

The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission
The Schweinfurt-Regensburg Mission

Author: Martin Middlebrook

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2012-07-19

Total Pages: 656

ISBN-13: 1781598002

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A detailed history of the American World War II bombing mission over Nazi Germany, by the author of The First Day on the Somme. On August 17, 1943, the entire strength of the American heavy bomber forces in England set out to raid two major industrial complexes deep in southern Germany: the Messerschmitt aircraft factory and the KGF ball bearing plant. For American commanders, it was the culmination of years of planning, the day when their self-defending formations of the famous Flying Fortress could at last perform their true role, reaching out by daylight to strike at targets in the deepest corners of industrial Germany. The day ended in disaster for the Americans. Thanks to the courage of the aircrews, the bombers won through to the targets and caused heavy damage, but sixty were shot down and the hopes of the American commanders were shattered. Historically, it was one of the most important days for the American air forces during the Second World War. While researching this catastrophic raid, author Martin Middlebrook interviewed hundreds of the airmen involved, German defenders, “slave workers,” and eyewitnesses. The result is a mass of fresh, previously unused material with which the author finally provides the full story of this famous day’s operations. Not only is the American side elaborated upon, but the previously vague German side of the story—both the Luftwaffe action and the civilian experiences in Schweinfurt and Regensburg—is also now presented clearly and in detail for the first time. Middlebrook also covers the important question of why the RAF did not support the American effort and follow up the raid on Schweinfurt as planned.

Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II
Battle Colors: Insignia and Aircraft Markings of the Eighth Air Force in World War II

Author: Robert A. Watkins

Publisher: Schiffer Publishing

Published: 2004-01-01

Total Pages: 127

ISBN-13: 9780764319877

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Relying heavily upon visuals, Battle Colors fills a long standing void in the annals of the Eighth Air Force during World War II. This volume focuses on all forty-eight Bomb Groups comprising the Eighth and features color illustrations depicting the evolution of all fuselage, wing and tail markings assigned to the individual units. Details concerning the proper size, placement, color and configuration of all tactical markings of U.S. Bomber Command are addressed. Group and squadron combat insignia as well as airfield location maps for each unit are also depicted. All bombardment units incorporated within the Eighth are indexed and easily cross-referenced by squadron, group, wing and division assignments. Additionally, all major components comprising the Eighth have been organized into quick reference organizational flow charts that show the actual order-of-battle for the Mighty Eighth. This book is an invaluable tool for anyone with an interest in the history of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in World War II.

The B-29 Superfortress
The B-29 Superfortress

Author: Robert A. Mann

Publisher: McFarland

Published: 2015-07-11

Total Pages: 289

ISBN-13: 0786482761

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The B-29 Superfortress was for many years a cornerstone of American military aviation. Best known as a bomber, it also served in reconnaissance, as a tanker, and as a rescue plane. It was a crucial tool for American and Allied forces during World War II, Korea and beyond. This operational history of the B-29 gives in-depth information on the career of each plane. A list of the names and serial numbers of the planes, each plane's history from delivery date to removal from service, a description of the B-29's physical characteristics and performance parameters, and a description of the five B-29 variants are provided. Sections of the book give complete mission data for the B-29's World War II service in the China-Burma-India theater of operations, operations over Japan, aerial mining missions and test atomic bombing runs.

Air Force Gunners
Air Force Gunners

Author: Turner Publishing

Publisher: Turner Publishing Company

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 141

ISBN-13: 1563111675

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History of the airforce gunners from early days through World War II and later

Selling Schweinfurt
Selling Schweinfurt

Author: Brian Vlaun

Publisher: Naval Institute Press

Published: 2019-10-15

Total Pages: 277

ISBN-13: 1682474674

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A common theme of airpower histories is that the Combined Bomber Offensive was the proving ground for a post-war independent air force. Whether or not the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) could perform to the hype of its interwar doctrine, Allied commanders based their rival approaches to victory in Europe on their differing views of independent airpower. However, there is an essential, yet overlooked facet to this story: commanders' convictions alone could not hold sway within the War Department, much less at the politically and bureaucratically charged meetings of the Combined Chiefs of Staff. The air commanders pressed their staffs for decision-quality assessments and photographic evidence to sell their arguments and project their progress. They needed informed targeting plans and objective post-raid reports as well as an air-intelligence enterprise to mature all-too-quickly out of interwar neglect. What they received--and Brian Vlaun explains--was a collision of organizational interests and leadership personalities that shaped Ira Eaker's command of the Eighth Air Force in 1943, the tumultuous air campaign over Germany, and the path of the post-war U.S. Air Force. As a result of the author's research through thousands of declassified files, Selling Schweinfurt examines the relationships between air-intelligence organizations and key decision-makers. His analysis spans from pre-war planning and doctrine development, through the Eighth Air Force's independent air campaign, and culminates with the formation of the United States Strategic Air Forces and its 1944 pre-invasion preparations. This book concludes that military organizations, if left unchecked, may adopt symbols and exaggerate claims to justify their own preferences and market their ideas in ways that mask their optimistic assumptions. In the case of the air campaign against Germany, both the four-engine bomber and specialized targets--like Schweinfurt's ball bearings--served as symbols and powerful marketing tools for the AAF and air intelligence, respectively.