Patton's Eyes in the Sky: USAAF Combat Reconnaissance Missions - North-West Europe 1944-1945 : USAAF Tactical Reconnaissance Missions North West Europe 1944-45 (Air War Classics)

Ivie, Tom

ISBN 10: 1903223261 / ISBN 13: 9781903223260

Published by Classic Publications, 2003

About this Item

some very light creasing to the bottom edge of the spine of the dust jacket, illustrated, 175 pages.

Seller Inventory # 025273

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Patton's Eyes in the Sky: USAAF Combat Reconnaissance Missions - North-West Europe 1944-1945 : USAAF Tactical Reconnaissance Missions North West Europe 1944-45 (Air War Classics)
• Publisher: Classic Publications
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1903223261
• ISBN 13: 9781903223260
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition: 1st Edition
• Condition: Near Fine
• Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis

They were the first on D-Day and the last on VE-Day, flying essential, dare-devil, low-level photographic missions over the invasion beaches of Normandy and then in support of the Allied armies as they fought their way through the Ardennes, across the Rhine and into the Reich itself. The 10th Photo Recon Group flew the F-6 Mustang and the F-5 Lightning and for nocturnal missions, the F-3 Havoc. In its ranks were more Aces than any other such group.

The extremely low-level missions flown by the 10th PRG over the Normandy beaches in May 1944 and later over the Seine and Moselle rivers areas became known as "Dicing Missions", from the British expression, dicing with death. Over Normandy's beaches they flew at an average altitude of 25 feet, and always during low tide when the broadest area of the beaches could be seen and the maximum number of German obstacles would be exposed to the camera's eye.

Review

Superb book covering combat reports,technical descriptions of aircraft and equipment of mostly unkwoon combat of american tactical photo reconnaissance squadrons from D DAY to V DAY in western Europe A gold mine for the enthusiast and for modellers --By Georges-Bernard Wesche

An excellent coverage of the little known subject of photo and tactical reconnaissance missions over the battlefield of Europe.Well written and comprehensive history. --By trevorb26

During World War II, USAAF fighter pilots and bomber crews get all the publicity while their reconnaissance counterparts got table scraps. Yet the information and photographs the various recce units supplied to Allied commanders was invaluable in winning the final victory. In the ETO, the 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group performed yeoman service, utilizing its F-3A Havoc, F-5 Lightning and F-6 Mustang aircraft in a wide variety of roles. Its efforts won the Group a DUC. Tom Ivie profiles this outstanding if unsung unit in this excellent 2003 Ian Allan release. During WW II, the 10th PRG was assigned to the XIX Tactical Air Command, spending much of its combat career aiding Patton's Third Army and other Allied units pushing across France and into Germany. During its service, the Group had its various squadrons carrying out high- and low-altitude photo recce, night photo recce, front line area searches, route recces and artillery spotting along with guiding USAAF fighter-bombers to targets. Aside from accomplishing those missions, four 10th PRG pilots also found time to notch up five kills and become aces. Ivie does a wonderful job of explaining and relating the work done by those brave pilots and crews, having corresponded with many 10th PRG vets. Ivie's engaging text is complimented by over 250 b&w and color photographs and 15 pages of drop-dead gorgeous color profiles by Tom Tullis. Visually PATTON'S EYES IN THE SKY is a delight. In short, Ivie's book is an outstanding, well-researched and well-illustrated tribute to the 10th PRG...and a great read. Military aviation history doesn't get much better than this, folks. Highly recommended. --By Michael OConnor