I consider this work to be the gold standard for World War II unit histories. Freeman has given us a fabulous gift of remembrance for the hundreds of thousands of men and woment who served and sacrificed with the U.S. Eighth Air Force.

This book is extremely well-written with good editing, artwork, and photographs, all of which contribute to the excellent readability of the volume. The author proceeds in a roughly chronological fashion, alternating accounts of 8AF bomber and fighter organizational and operational histories until late in the book, when the accounts tend to blend into a single chronological line, which resembles what actually happened in the course of 8AF operations in 1944 and 1945.

The author is British, which accounts for the very respectful and positive accounts of the 8AF's most trying times. Mr. Freeman could not have done much better.

This book must be consulted for the painting and marking of any 8AF aircraft as the author provides these details as appendices in the book. ( )