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Loading... Blood and Fears: How America's Bomber Boys of the 8th Air Force Saved World War IIby Kevin Wilson
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The US 8th Air Force came of age in 1944. With a fresh commander, it was ready to demonstrate its true power: from Operation Argument in February--targeting German aircraft production plants--to bringing the Luftwaffe to battle over Berlin, the combined US Air Force - Royal Air Force forces' round-the clock campaign bottled up the German army in Normandy. Day after day, the American bomber boys watched their comrades burn to death in blazing bombers, or observed their comrades being thrown out of exploding aircraft without parachutes and sink with their crippled aircraft in the freezing North Sea. But by the following spring they had destroyed the Nazi's fighting spirit and saw Germany broken in two. In this authoritative history, Kevin Wilson reveals the blood and heroism of the 8th Air Force. At the same time, he opens up the lives of the Women's Army Corps and Red Cross girls who served in England with them and feared for the men in the skies, and he hasn't flinched from recounting the devastation of bombing or the testimony of shocked German civilians. Drawing on first-hand accounts from diaries, letters, and his personal audio recordings, the author has brought to life the ebullient Americans' interaction with their British counterparts, unveiling stories of humanity and heartbreak. Thanks to America's bomber boys and girls, the tide of World War II shifted forever. No library descriptions found. |
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Google Books — Loading... GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)940.54History and Geography Europe Europe 1918- Military History Of World War IILC ClassificationRatingAverage:
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Following the method many writers follow when describing a military campaign, Wilson outlines the history of the campaign but he brings each period to life with snippets from diaries, newspaper accounts, military documents, interviews with survivors and their descendants. Many of the stories are graphic as the air war was violent with hundreds killed or wounded on many trips.
There are great descriptions of flying the B-17 when it was healthy and when it was damaged. Wilson also included the memories of the impact of all these Americans descending on the British public which was mostly good around the air bases. The American crews enjoyed the pubs, the women and the beautiful countryside. ( )