Eighth Air Force 78th FG flew P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang fighters in air combat against German Luftwaffe Me-109, Fw-190, and Me-262 aircraft.
The 78th FG was originally established as the fourth of the P-38 fighter groups that were expected to perform fighter escort in the newly formed Eighth Air Force. Arriving in England in November 1942, the group lost most of its personnel and all of its aircraft as attrition replacements to units in the North African theatre in February 1943. Left with no flying personnel other than flight leaders, and no aircraft, the group was re-equipped with the P-47 Thunderbolt and newly trained P-47 pilots in March 1943. The 78th flew its first sweep along the Dutch coast in April in company with the 4th FG. Along with the 56th FG, these groups would be the first units in VIII Fighter Command, and as such "wrote the book" on long range fighter escort in the ETO. The 78th FG would ultimately prove to be the only Eighth Air Force fighter group to have flown the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang in its operational career. Flying from Duxford, in Cambridgeshire, the group's pilots shot down 316 enemy aircraft in air combat, with a further 144 claimed as probables or damaged. Once turned loose in 1944 to attack German airfields, the 78th was also credited with the destruction of 320 aircraft by strafing. The story of the 78th FG will be researched through extensive first-person interviews with eight surviving pilots and ground personnel of the unit, and also using previously recorded interviews with two leading ace pilots who are no longer alive. Photos will be gathered from surviving group members where possible, with emphasis on never-before-published imagery, in addition to other photos from historical collections.
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Thomas McKelvey Cleaver has been a published aviation writer for the past 35 years, his work appearing in Air International, Air Enthusiast, Plane and Pilot, Air Force Magazine and Aviation History magazine. He is also a regular contributor to Flight Journal magazine. Additionally, he is Senior Contributing Editor to Modeling Madness Webzine, where his weekly reviews include extensive history writing introducing the model reviewed in that article. He is considered to be one of the leading model reviewers on the internet. He is also a published book author, with Air Combat Annals being recently published as an e-book by Pacifica Military History Press. The author lives in Reseda, CA.
“This is more than just another entry in the superb Osprey 'Aces' series because the fast-paced prose is tempered by the writing skills of veteran author Thomas McKelvey Cleaver...Cleaver's research shines through in his meticulous accounting of dates, times and places. Equally important, his writing accurately portrays service personnel as representative of a significant portion of the nation's population -- a far cry from the situation today.” ―Aviation History magazine
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Softcover. Condition: New. Davey, Chris (illustrator). Osprey Aircraft of the Aces - World War II - Allies - American Aces of the 78th Fighter Group (MINT/New)Manufacturer: OspreyProduct Line: Aircraft of the Aces - World War II - Allies - AmericanType: SoftcoverCode: OSPACE115Copyright Date: 2013Author: Thomas CleaverPage Count: 96Please review the condition and any condition notes for the exact condition of this item. All pictures are stock photos. The condition of the item you will receive is MINT/New. Our grading system is explained in the terms of sale section of our bookseller page. Please feel free to contact us with any questions. Product Description:Dubbed the âEagles of Duxfordâ, the 78th Fighter Group (FG) was unique in being the only fighter unit in the âMighty Eighthâ to fly the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang operationally. Arriving in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) in November 1942, and eventually committed to combat five months later, the 78th, along with the 4th and 56th FGs, âwrote the bookâ on long-range fighter escort by VIII Fighter Command in the ETO. This volume charts the groupâs highs and lows during its two years in action from Duxford, focusing on the exploits of the 51 pilots who achieved ace status with the 78th during World War 2. These men included Capt Charles London, the very first Eighth Air Force ace, and Maj Quince Brown, who was the 78thâs most successful aerial ace prior to being murdered by the SS after he was shot down over Germany. By VE Day, the âEagles of Duxfordâ had downed 316 aircraft and destroyed a further 320 machines on the ground during strafing attacks on German airfields. Seller Inventory # 2148657703
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