Modern warfare Books

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOperation GOODWOOD is the story of the largest armoured battle fought in the campaign for north west Europe. Over a thousand British and Canadian tanks were employed as three British armoured divisions pushed forward down a narrow corridor in an attempt to achieve a clean penetration of the German lines. The clash between two very different armies resulted in a number of asymmetric engagements, which are studied in detail. This story contains much new information of interest to tourists and serious students alike.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhen war broke out in 1939 over 20,000 Irishmen were serving in the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force with the greatest proportion in the Army. During the war this rose to over 120,000, suggesting that about 100,000 enlisted during the war.Nine earned the Victoria Cross; three members of the Royal Navy, including a Fleet Air Arm pilot, four soldiers, including a member of the Australian forces, and two RAF pilots.The author looks at the seven Irish regiments in campaigns across the globe, at Irish soldiers across the Army, at Irish sailors from the Battle of the River Plate to the final actions against Japan, and at Irish airmen from the first bombing raids of the war to the closing days of war.Included are outstanding personalities such as the Chavasse brothers, who earned three DSOs, three DSCs and two MiDs, Bala Bredin, Corran Purden, Brendan 'Paddy' Finucane, Blair Mayne and Roy Farran, the latter pair highly-decorated SAS officers. There are also Irish generals, such as Paddy Warren who died while commanding 5th Indian Division in Burma and Frederick Loftus Tottenham, who commanded 81st (West African) Division, not to mention giants such as Alexander, Auchinleck, Montgomery and McCreery.Irish women are not forgotten in the book which also takes a brief look at the Irish in other Allied forces, including a most unusual volunteer for the US Navy whose application to serve had to be approved by President Roosevelt. He was William Patrick Hitler, a nephew of Germany's fuhrer.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Vietnam War placed unexpected demands upon American military forces and equipment. The principal US naval fighter, the McDonnell F-4 Phantom, had originally been designed to defend the Fleet from air attack at long range. However, its tremendous power and bomb-carrying capacity made it an obvious candidate for the attack mission in Vietnam from 1965 onwards. Its opponent was the MiG-17, a direct descendant of the MiG-15, which had given USAF Sabre jets a hard fight in the Korean War. This book brings to life their dangerous duels and includes detailed cockpit views and other specially commissioned artwork to highlight the benefits and shortcomings of each plane type. It was in the skies over Vietnam that many of the techniques of air combat evolved as pilots learned how to use and to defeat supersonic fighters for the first time.Table of ContentsIntroduction · Chronology · Strategic situation· Design & Development · Technical Specifications · Combatants · Combat:· Analysis: · Conclusion · Bibliography and further reading list

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this excellently researched book, Graham Smith describes the air war in Cambridgeshire, and the young airmen who flew night after night against desperate odds. It was from Cambridgeshire airfields that the legendary Pathfinder Force first took to the skies, making targets for the force of bombers behind them. The bravery, determination and resolve of the 'Bomber Men' must never, ever be forgotten.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThroughout the Second World War, Suffolk airfields and the airmen of Bomber Command made a large and vital contribution to the war effort. Just four airfields were established in the county at the outbreak of war in September 1939 - Mildenhall, Stradishall, Wattisham and Honington. Later in the war, new airfields were opened at Chedburgh, Tuddenham and Lakenheath. The losses both in men and machines, were very high. In this excellently researched book, Graham Smith describes the air war in Suffolk and the young airmen who flew night after night in the cold and the dark against desperate odds. Their Commander-in-Chief, Air Marshall Sir Arthur 'Bomber' Harris called them 'The bravest of the brave', an epithet they fully deserved.

Read more less

Book SynopsisScotland's contribution to allied success in the Second World War was colossal. The Lothian region employed thousands of workers in the building of warships, aircraft components, military vehicles, munitions, food and coal. This thoroughly researched and action packed book describes the history of the airfields, highlights the work carried out from them and describes the overall effect of the war on the daily lives of local people. It will appeal equally to aviation enthusiasts and to readers who recall the era when Scottish skies throbbed with the drone of departing and returning aircraft.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the Victoria Cross was first instituted on 29th January, 1856, the medal has been awarded 1,357 times, the most recent was gazetted on 22nd March, 2013, posthumously to L/Cpl J T D Ashworth for his gallantry in Afghanistan. Being the youngest of Britain's military services, it is understandable that few VCs have been awarded to airmen of the RFC, RNAS, RAF and FAA. In fact, just 51 'aerial' VCs have been awarded between 1915 and 1946 and out of this small number, 23 have been won by men from Bomber Command, or credited with flying bomber aircraft, during the Second World War. The range of actions within the book begins with the fruitless Battle of France in May 1940 through to the final stages of bomber offensive over Germany, in February 1945. Several actions came about through volunteering, while others were simply caught up in the melee of unpredictable events which hang over any operation in a bomber from the moment it lifts from the runway to the point it returns. This book will serve as an inspiration to those who are used to thinking of the citation, 'For Valour'. as referring to an action based only on land and sea. Bomber Command's catch phrase, 'Press on Regardless'. was never better exemplified than in the extraordinary bravery of the men whose stories are told here.Trade Review"...As a companion to anyone wanting a short account of what each bomber command VC and his crew went through, this is well worth the money."--Victoria Cross SocietyTable of ContentsCONTENTS Introduction 1. Carnage over the Albert Canal - Donald Garland and Thomas Gray (12 May 1940) 2. The Dortmund-Ems Canal Roderick 'Babe' Learoyd (12/13 August 1940) 3. Inferno over Antwerp John Hannah (15/16 September 1940) 4. Daylight over Bremen - Hughie Edwards (4 July 1941) 5. Out Onto the Wing - James Ward (7/8 July 1941) 6. Lone Attack on Singora - Arthur Scarf (9 December 1941) 7. The Lancaster's Baptism of Fire - John Nettleton (17 April 1942) 8. Cologne Raid in 'D' for Dog - Leslie Manser (31 May 1942) 9. The Faithful Crew - Rawdon Middleton (29 November 1942) 10. Massacre over Chouigui - Hugh Malcolm (4 December 1942) 11. The Kiwi Great Escaper - Leonard Trent (3 May 1943) 12. The Dam Busters - Guy Gibson (16/17 May 1943) 13. Target Turin - Arthur Aaron (12/13 August 1943) 14. Press On Regardless - William Reid (3 November 1943) 15. Against All Odds - Cyril Barton (31 March 1944) 16. Just One More 'Op' - Norman Jackson (26 April 1944) 17. The 'Selfless Recipient' - Andrew Mynarski (13 June 1944) 18. Second to None - Leonard Cheshire (July 1944) 19. With the Pathfinders - lan Bazalgette (4 August 1944) 20. 'Oboe' VC - Robert Palmer (23 December 1944) 21. Putting Your Life on the Line - George Thompson (1 January 1945) 22. Springbok Pathfinder - Edwin Swales, SAAF (23/24 February 1945) Appendix Abbreviations Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisOrdered by Hitler 'to hold, or to die' and to fight 'to the last grenade and round', the German army was a formidable opponent during the 1944 Normandy campaign. This book depicts the experience of that army in Normandy through its own records and documentation. The Wehrmacht Archive is an informative and colourful collection of translated original orders, diaries, letters, after action reports, and even jokes, as well as Allied technical evaluations of weapons, vehicles and equipment and transcripts of prisoner of war interrogations. You will also learn from official documents about the Germans' efforts to cope with Allied air and artillery superiority, create new tactical methods for all arms and maintain discipline in the face of overwhelming odds.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIt is June 1944. The Allied armies are poised for the full-scale invasion of Fortress Europe. Across the Channel, the vaunted Wehrmacht lies waiting for the signs of invasion, ready for the final battle. What happens next is well-known to any student of modern history. The outcome could easily have been very different, as Peter Tsouras shows in this masterful and devastating account in which plans, missions and landings go horribly wrong. Tsouras firmly bases his narrative on facts but introduces minor adjustments at the opening of the campaign-the repositioning of a unit, bad weather and misjudged orders-and examines their effect as they gather momentum and impact on all subsequent events. Without deviating from the genuine possibilities of the situation, he presents a scenario that keeps the reader guessing and changes the course of history.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBorn of the Desert is a classic account of the early years of the SAS. The Special Air Service was formed in 1941 and quickly earned a reputation for stealth, daring and audacity in the Western Desert Campaign. This elite force utilised the endless expanse of the desert to carry out surprise attacks and hit and run raids behind the Afrika Korps' lines, sowing confusion, fear and consternation. Malcolm James served as Medical Officer with the SAS throughout 1942 and 1943, and Born of the Desert is his atmospheric account of his life in the North African desert, the bitter fighting against Italian and German targets and the forging of a remarkable elite unit. James captures the excitement of this dramatic mode of warfare and brings to life the deadly beauty of the desert, the harsh environment and the strong bonds of comradeship and interdependence which resulted. Born of the Desert was written soon after the events depicted and has an immediacy which places it above other Second World War memoirs. The original text has now been augmented by supplementary notes by David List, and appendices on SAS casualties and awards by David Buxton.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAs the Afrika Korps withdrew after a bruising defeat at El Alamein, it became apparent that Axis forces would not be able to maintain their hold over Libya. Rommel pulled his troops back to Tunisia, digging in along the Mareth Line, and turned westwards to counter the massive Anglo-American 'Torch' landings in French North Africa. A series of bitter battles in the craggy hills of Tunisia followed - including the legendary struggle for the Kasserine Pass - with the Germans displaying skills honed in two years of desert fighting, and the Allies relying on their superiority in equipment and manpower. Allied might eventually overpowered Rommel's army and, in May 1943, Axis forces surrendered. David Rolf has made use of rare and valuable source material to present the Tunisian campaign in its entirety. His emphasis is on personal accounts, and use of contemporary dialogue, takes the reader to the heart of the emotions experienced by units fighting on both sides, and adds colour to this intricate 'battle of wits' between legendary commanders. The result is a brilliant example of historical writing and a unique insight into six months of stubborn fighting.

Read more less

Book Synopsis'Fascinating and essential stuff.' Gary Sheffield in Military Illustrated This gripping volume charts the progress of the Allied breakout of Normandy through German eyes. Beginning with Operation COBRA and ending with the offensive which led to the liberation of Paris, this critical phase of the war in the west is examined and described by five senior German officers. From staff officers at OKW to divisional generals on the ground, these officers critique their performance, examine Allied superiority, and evaluate their own efforts to contain Allied forces in Normandy. They look at such key events as the counter-attack at Mortain, the American offensive, British and Canadian efforts and the sequence of events that led to the fighting around the Falaise gap. The officers originally submitted the reports presented here to Allied intelligence during post-war debriefing sessions. This volume brings together a selection of these reports to provide a broad overview of German hopes balanced with the realisation that they could not hope to contain the Allied efforts for long. With supplementary material by David C.Isby, this is a fascinating glimpse into how a defeated army sought hard to turn the tide of defeat.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis thought-provoking book examines the Nazi German plans to raid - and bomb - New York and the eastern seabord in the event of a successful invasion of the Soviet Union. The plans rested upon the use of transoceanic aircraft, such as the six-engined Ju 390, Me 264 or Ta 400. The Third Reich was unable to produce these machines in sufficient numbers, however, if the Soviet Union had been conquered, these plans would have become a reality. With the seizure of vital resources from the Soviet Union the Wehrmacht would have had enough fuel and material to mass-produce giant bomber aircraft: it was a near-run thing. The collapse of the Wehrmacht infrastructure and the premature end of the Thousand Year Reich ensured that plans for long-range remote-controlled missiles never got past the drawing board. This fascinating, thoroughly researched study offers valuable insights into how Germany developed new weapons and shows why the attempts to develop long range bombers were frustrated until they were terminated by the end of hostilities. Includes more than a hundred rarely seen photographs and original plans.

Read more less

Book SynopsisRomania, Bulgaria, Hungary and Slovakia were all German allies in the Second World War, unlike the other countries of Europe which had either been forcibly occupied by the Nazis or remained neutral.SOE Missions mounted within their borders were thus doubly hazardous for they were conducted in enemy-populated territory, heavily policed by military forces and gendarmerie. Furthermore all these states had well developed and experienced security services, usually supplemented by Gestapo and Abwehr units.A further complication to the activities of SOE in these countries was that they had all been effectively conceded by Western Allies to Russia; not surprisingly therefore, operations in the Soviet 'sphere of influence' were to prove diabolically difficult.This is a story about the courage of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds. Hunger, ill-health, exhaustion, cold and treachery all combined to make life for those members of SOE who parachuted into these Fascist outposts of Fortress Europe as insufferable as it was dangerous.

Read more less

Book SynopsisCalled to action on 2 April 1982, the men of 45 Commando Royal Marines assembled from around the world to sail 8,000 miles to recover the Falkland Islands from Argentine invasion. Lacking helicopters and short of food, they yomped in appalling weather carrying overloaded rucksacks, across the roughest terrain. Yet for a month in mid-winter, they remained a cohesive fighting-fit body of men. They then fought and won the highly successful and fierce night battle for Two Sisters, a 1,000 foot high mountain which was the key to the defensive positions around Stanley. This is a first hand story of that epic feat, but it is much more than that. The first to be written by a company commander in the Falklands War, the book gives a compelling, vivid description of the yomp and infantry fighting, and it also offers penetrating insights into the realities of war at higher levels. It is a unique combination of descriptive writing about frontline fighting and wider reflections on the Falklands War, and conflict in general. Gritty and moving; sophisticated, reflective and funny, this book offers an abundance of timeless truths about war. Postscript: Yomping was the word used by the Commandos for carrying heavy loads on long marches. It caught the publics imagination during this short but bitter campaign and epitomised the grim determination and professionalism of our troops.Trade ReviewThis wise, beautifully written book has many excellent photographs. Highly recommended. - The Naval Review Ian Gardiner provides a vivid insight into the conflict and not just into strategy, tactics and the actual fighting. What are most revealing are the human touches - the small things that made life miserable or bearable. In his book Ian Gardiner paints a fascinating picture of the Royal Marines at a pivitol point in their history. This is an excellently written volume which I strongly recommend. - Warship World A cerebral Scot who retired as a brigadier, the author is as brilliant at explaining the strategic complexities of the campaign as he is at allowing the reader to experience what it really felt like to be invloved in an unending battle with the elements and against an enemy whose will needed to be broken if the war was to be won. He is generous in his praise of other units, where praise is due, but never shirks from criticism where it is needed. This book maintains the extremely high standards of detail, interest and readability that the author achieved in his first two books. - Guards Magazine

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first six months of the war in Afghanistan were incredibly confused. Few journalists or civilians had access to the main events and the result was the creation of many urban myths that persist to this day. This book reveals the truth behind Operation Enduring Freedom, its objectives, successes, failures and consequences. Tim Ripley has discovered what actually happened in the first six months of this US-led intervention. He reveals the clandestine US and UK reconnaissance efforts before hostilities commenced on 7 October 2001, secret US UAV and drone operations, RAF Canberra and U-2 spy flights and details of initial combat between Taliban and Northern Alliance ground forces.This is a definitive account of the first six months of the military campaign in Afghanistan that saw the initial air and special drive to unseat the Taliban regime, the launching of search and destroy operations to hunt down Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda organisation and the setting up of President Humid Karzai's government in Kabul. These events were the catalyst for the subsequent and continuing war in that far-off troubled land.Trade ReviewA well-balanced account of the American campaign to topple the Taliban and disrupt or destroy Al Qaeda. Overall this is a useful, well balanced and well organised history of a recent war that is still having a big impact. WWW.HISTORYOFWAR.ORG

Read more less

Book SynopsisHaving driven the British and Indian Forces out of Burma in 1942, General Mutaguchi, Commanding the 15th Japanese Army, was obsessed by the conquest of India. In 1944 the British 14th Army, under its commander General Slim, drew back to the Imphal Plain before Mutaguchi's impending offensive.However to the north, the entire Japanese 31st Division had crossed the Chindwin and, on April 5, arrived at the hill-station and road junction of Kohima, cutting off Imphal except by air from the supply point at Dimpapur. Kohima was initially manned by only 266 men of the Assam Regiment and a few hundred convalescents and administrative troops. They were joined, on April 5, by 440 men of the Fourth Battalion of the Royal West Kent Regiment, straight from the Battle of Arakan.In pouring rain, under continual bombardment, this tiny garrison held the assaults of thirteen thousand Japanese troops in hand-tohand combat for sixteen days, an action described by Mountbatten as 'probably one of the greatest battles in history n effect the Battle of Burma, naked, unparalled herosim, the British/Indian Thermopylae'.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book tells of the courageous story of men who believed in their heritage, and who, through their heroic teamwork and dedication, stopped the main effort of the German Sixth Army. American veterans who participated in this battle remember the events, even after sixty years, as only yesterday. They also remember their compatriots and friends who died in this battle. The book covers what is essentially a five-day critical battle for the North shoulder of the 'Bulge' at Rochearth-Krinkelt. The Bulge was fought was fought in many areas, but it was won for the First Army on this shoulder.The author, has probed into every possible source for factual information. He has studied official after-action reports, histories and unit reports of organisations involved in the battle. In addition, he has conducted an extensive program of individual contacts, not only with the US Army participants, local villages and resistance fighters, but also with German commanders at various levels in the 3 divisions involved. Such an ample and widespread research effort has enabled the author to separate fact from fiction.Trade ReviewHis knowledge is obviously quite comprehensive and his access to first hand accounts and archive material offers o some really stunning photographs. This book will have huge appeal to those with a strong interest in US operations in north-west Europe and to a general reader who appreciates strong personal accounts. - War History Online

Read more less

Book SynopsisThere is a chapter of World War II history that remains largely untold; the monumental struggles of an entire nation have been forgotten, and even intentionally obscured. Giving a full overview of Poland's participation in World War II. Following their valiant but doomed defence of Poland in 1939, members of the Polish armed forces fought with the Allies wherever and however they could. Full of previously unpublished accounts, and rare photographs, this title provides a detailed analysis of the devastation the war brought to Poland, and the final betrayal when, having fought for freedom for six long years, Poland was handed to the Soviet Union.Table of ContentsIntroduction /1: Dawn of Darkness (the pre-war situation and the invasion of Poland in 1939) /2: French Misfortunes (The aftermath of the invasion, and the difficulties of the Polish forces trying to re-form in France, the fall of France, and the Polish evacuation to England) /3: Everything was in Secret (The story of the largest, most complex and most active resistance movement of the war) /4: On Wings of Eagles (Air War over Poland in 1939, over France in 1940, and then in England until the end of the war) /5: Warriors from a Wasteland (the fate of the hundreds of thousands of Polish PoWs and civilians deported to Soviet camps, and then the 100,000 survivors allowed to re-form a Polish army following Germany's declaration of war on the Soviet Union. /6: A Bloody Job Well Done (1st armored division, their formation, and their role in the Normandy breakout, and on into Germany) /7: A Bridge Not Far Enough (the 1st Polish Independant Parachute brigade, their formation, and their role in Operation Market Garden) /8: Poles Under Soviet Command (The actions of those Poles unable to leave Russia who fought as part of the 2nd Polish Corps, fighting under Soviet command from Stalingrad to Berlin) /9: Glory and Heartbreak (The Warsaw Uprising) /10: For Your Freedom (The devastation wrought on Poland by the war, the post-war settlements and the fate of the hundreds of thousands of displaced Polish troops and civilians) /Notes /Further Reading /Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisCheshire's contribution to the war effort was massive and it began well before the outbreak of hostilities in September 1939. This book will appeal equally to aviation enthusiasts and to readers who recall the era when the county's skies never ceased to throb with the drone of departing and returning aircraft. Aldon Ferguson's thoroughly researched and action-packed book describes the history of each airfield, highlights the work carried out from them and puts these air stations into the overall context of a county and country at war.

Read more less

Book SynopsisA full account of the part played by Gloucestershire's airfields during the Second World War. The history of each airfield is described with the squadrons and aircraft based at them and the main operations flown. The effects of the war on the daily lives of civilians and the constant dangers from raids and night bombing are also detailed. Fully illustrated.

Read more less

Book SynopsisVietnam was the US Special Forces most complex and controversial mission, one that began in 1957 and ended in 1973. Camp strike forces, mobile strike forces, mobile guerrilla forces, special reconnaissance projects, training missions and headquarters duty provided vastly differing experiences and circumstances for SF soldiers. Other fluctuating factors were the terrain, the weather and the shifting course of the war itself. Gordon Rottman examines the training, life, weapons and combat experiences of the Special Forces soldier in this challenging environment.Table of ContentsSpecial Forces, an Overview · Chronology · Special Forces in Vietnam · Special Forces Training · Special Forces Camp · Weapons · Color plate commentary · Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisFirst published for the twenty-fifth anniversary of the fall of Saigon, this unique two-volume anthology from the Library of America evokes a turbulent and controversial period in American history and journalism. Reporting Vietnam Part Two: American Journalism 1969–1975, along with its companion volume, captures the bravery, fear, cruelty, suffering, anger, and sorrow of a tragic conflict. This second volume traces events from the revelation of the My Lai massacre in 1969 through the fall of Saigon in 1975. Here are Peter Kann on the ambiguities of pacification; Gloria Emerson on the South Vietnamese debacle in Laos; Donald Kirk on declining American morale; Sydney Schanberg on the fall of Phnom Penh and the victory of the Khmer Rouge; Philip Caputo, Keyes Beech, Peter Arnett, and Malcolm Browne on the last days of South Vietnam.Writers who observed the turmoil in the United States are included as well: Francine du Plessis Gray on factions within the protest movement; Michael Kinsley recounting a confrontation between Henry Kissinger and his Harvard colleagues; James Michener meticulously reconstructing the Kent State shootings; Doris Kearns listening to Lyndon Johnson’s anguished recollections; Hunter S. Thompson watching veterans protest Richard Nixon’s renomination.Included in full is Dispatches, journalist Michael Herr’s acclaimed impressionistic memoir of his immersion in the exhilaration, dread, and sorrow of the Vietnam War.This volume contains a detailed chronology of the war, historical maps, biographical profiles of the journalists, explanatory notes, a glossary of military terms, an index, and a 32-page insert of photographs of the correspondents, many from private collections and never before seen.LIBRARY OF AMERICA is an independent nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1979 to preserve our nation’s literary heritage by publishing, and keeping permanently in print, America’s best and most significant writing. The Library of America series includes more than 300 volumes to date, authoritative editions that average 1,000 pages in length, feature cloth covers, sewn bindings, and ribbon markers, and are printed on premium acid-free paper that will last for centuries.Trade Review“I could quote these pieces forever. They are remarkable, and The Library of America has again produced a tremendous collection.” —American Journalism Review

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring WWII Herbert M Youngdahl was an Infantry Platoon Sergeant in the 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division, Iowa National Guard. He served with the Division throughout the African Campaign, up to the boot of Italy, and north of Rome. The Division set the WWII record of over 500 days in battle and Youngdahl served out most of that time with the Division. In his heartfelt book, Youngdahl shares many real life experiences of his platoon. This is not a gory dissertation but an insider's view of what our troops went through in far away places.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe scrapping of the Nimrod programme has been one of the most controversial events in the military aviation world for many a year. For most of its operational life, from 1969 to date, its contribution to the defence of the realm and its role in offensive duties was, of necessity, often shrouded in secrecy. It was the ‘eye in the sky’ which was absolutely vital to a host of activities – from anti-submarine and anti-surface warfare, to support of land battles throughout the world, to the Falklands campaign, to combating drug-running, the Nimrod’s unsung role was paramount. And now the UK is bereft of such a multi-tasking reconnaissance aircraft. The full story of the Nimrod, and its significance, has now been told. Tony Blackman, who was there at the beginning, test-flew nearly every aircraft and was at Kinloss on the very day the project was cancelled, has written this timely book, covering every facet of its history, its weapons system developments and its tragic accidents. He writes in an approachable way, making technical subjects understandable but his conclusions will, inevitably, not be welcomed by everyone.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Messerschmitt ME 163 Komet was the most dangerous production fighter ever built by Germany, and Sgt. E.R. Jones of Stockton, California received the unique credit of jointly shooting down a Komet over Germany in 1944.Using information written by Sgt. Jones in a tiny diary notebook provided by Sgt. Jones' widow, Mae Jones, and microfilm file material obtained from the U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell Air Force Base in Alabama, this book by Doug Brodie is a fascinating account of aerial warfare over Europe during World War II. Also included are original aerial warfare photos obtained from Henrietta Massey of Jefferson City, Missouri, the widow of Air Force photographer Gerald R. Massey who took photos while flying in U.S. bombers high in the sky over Europe. During the course of his research, Doug Brodie discovered that Massey and Jones flew the same mission on November 2, 1944 in a raid over Mersburg, Germany.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince World War II, the American public has become fully aware of the exploits of the 101st Airborne Division, but within the ranks of the 101st there existed a notorious sub-unit whose formidable reputation has persisted among veterans over the decades. Primarily products of the Dustbowl and the Depression, and never ones to salute an officer, or take a bath, the Filthy 13 attained legendary status within the Screaming Eagles for its hard drinking, and savage fighting skill – and that was only in training.

Read more less