The Mighty Eighth: The Air War in Europe as Told by the Men Who Fought It
Europe has fallen. Pearl Harbor is in flames. Enter: the Eighth.
In 1941 the RAF fought a desperate battle of survival against the Luftwaffe over Britain. Then, from across the Atlantic, came a new generation of American pilots, gunners, andMore Europe has fallen. Pearl Harbor is in flames. Enter: the Eighth.
In 1941 the RAF fought a desperate battle of survival against the Luftwaffe over Britain. Then, from across the Atlantic, came a new generation of American pilots, gunners, and bombardiers, a new generation of flying machines called the B-17 Flying Fortress, the B-24 Liberator, the P-47 Thunderbolt, and the P-51 Mustang fighter. Soon these brave young men were hurtling themselves and their unproven planes across the Channel and into the teeth of enemy firepower, raining down bombs on the German military machine, and going up against Hitler's best fliers in the sky.
This is the dramatic oral history of the Army Air Corps and the newly created Eighth Air Force stationed in Britain, an army of hard-fighting, hard-playing flying men who suffered more fatalities than the entire U.S. Marine Corps in the Pacific campaign of World War II. Here, in their own words, are tales of survival and soul-numbing loss, of soldiers who came together to fight a kind of war that had never been fought before--and win it with their courage and their blood.
But the road to victory was paved with sacrifice. From its inaugural mission on July 4, 1942, until V-E Day, the Eighth Air Force lost more men than did the entire United States Marine Corps in all its campaigns in the Pacific. The Mighty Eighth chronicles the testimony of the pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and gunners who daily put their lives on the line. Their harrowing accounts recall the excitement and terror of dogfights against Nazi aces, maneuvering explosive-laden aircraft through deadly flak barrages, and fending off waves of enemy fighters while coping with subzero temperatures.
Beginning with the opening salvos from a mere dozen planes, crewmen describe the raids on Berlin and Dresden, the fiasco at Ploesti, Romania, and Black Thursday over Schweinfurt. They fell to the terror of seeing aircraft destroyed--helplessly watching as comrades crash and burn, or parachute over enemy territory, where they will attempt to evade enemy capture through the underground. Others tell of mourning downed airmen murdered by vengeful citizens and soldiers, and of those who endured captivity in POW camps. --> Less
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'Aussie Rick' rated it really liked it
over 4 years ago
I have been a keen fan of Gerald Astor since I first read his book Operation Iceberg. Up until that time I was not keen on oral histories but this author has changed my mind in regard to this style of history. In this book he once again produces an excellent and moving ac. Read full review
Stacy added it
about 1 year ago
Enlightening. I learned a lot I didn't know about WWII. Liked it more 2nd time around.
Lee rated it liked it
Great book that detailed the lives of those who flew with the M8 from training into combat zone
Roy rated it it was amazing
almost 5 years ago
Not exactly a day-to-day account of life in the Eighth Air Force, but very close. Astor does an excellent job of introducing us to not just the famous leaders like Ira Eaker, Jimmy Doolittle and Curtis LeMay, but also to ordinary pilots, navigators, bombardiers, air gunne. Read full review
Jarrod rated it really liked it
5 for content, 3 for how it's written.
If the entire book had been written like the last chapter, it would be a five. The content and personal flavor is amazing. The jump from first person to third to descriptive is horrifying and difficult to follow. I'm very glad I read. Read full review
Wiley rated it it was ok
over 5 years ago
It's okay. Nothing new here for anyone already familiar with the history of the USAAF bomber campaign against Germany in WWII. It does contain a large number of personal accounts of individual airman and crews' combat missions, and associated events. Not the sort of book. Read full review
Steve rated it really liked it
almost 2 years ago
An excellent book on the air war in Europe during World War II and the men who flew the dangerous missions whether on bombing missions by the B-17 Flying Fortresses or the B-24 Liberators or the fighter pilots who escorted the bombers in the P-47 Thunderbolts or P-51 Must. Read full review
Edward rated it it was amazing
Well-researched, well-written, this book really corrected a number of misconceptions I'd had about the air war over Europe. A wealth of details from aircrew and ground crew accounts. Learned a lot about the men, machines, and missions involved in the bombing of the German. Read full review
Jonathan rated it really liked it
Very good look at the air war over Europe from the US side of things. Well written, the stories of the men themselves show the vast differences in such a massive organization. They also do not shy away from the harsh realities of the war.
Jeanie Wallenstein rated it really liked it
Another book about the battles and machines and big politics.