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One of the first Thunderbolt groups to see action in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) with the US Army Air Forces, the 56th Fighter Group (FG) was also the only fighter unit within the Eighth Air Force to remain equipped with the mighty P-47 until war's end. Led by the inspirational 'Hub' Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber escort tactics employed by VIII Fighter Command between 1943 and 1945. By VE-Day the 56th FG had shot down 100 more enemy aircraft than any other group in the Eighth Air Force, its pilots being credited with 677 kills during 447 missions. The exploits of this elite fighter unit are detailed in this volume together with photographs, their aircraft profiles and insignia.
List of contents
CHAPTER ONE
FORMATION AND TRAINING
CHAPTER TWO
KING'S CLIFFE AND HORSHAM
CHAPTER THREE
HALESWORTH
CHAPTER FOUR
THE 'WOLFPACK'
CHAPTER FIVE
BOXTED AND D-DAY
CHAPTER SIX
MARKET AND THE 'BULGE'
CHAPTER SEVEN
P-47Ms AND LUFTWAFFE JETS
CHAPTER EIGHT
FINAL DAYS IN ENGLAND
APPENDICESCOLOUR PLATES COMMENTARYUNIT HERALDRYINDEX
About the author
Essex farmer Roger Freeman was undoubtedly the most published author on the Eighth Air Force, having produced the seminal works ‘The Mighty Eighth’ - the most popular book of all time in ‘Flypast’ survey - and the ‘Mighty Eighth War Manual’ in the early 1970s. This was his first book for Osprey.Chris Davey has illustrated more than 70 titles for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces and Combat Aircraft series since 1994. Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, as one of the very last traditional airbrush artists in the business, he has become the company's illustrator of choice for both USAAF fighters and RAF subject matter, proving his undoubted skill when dealing with large aircraft subjects such as the Halifax, Sunderland, Lancaster, and Stirling.
Summary
One of the first Thunderbolt groups to see action in the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) with the US Army Air Forces, the 56th Fighter Group (FG) was also the only fighter unit within the Eighth Air Force to remain equipped with the mighty P-47 until war's end. Led by the inspirational 'Hub' Zemke, this group was responsible for devising many of the bomber escort tactics employed by VIII Fighter Command between 1943 and 1945. By VE-Day the 56th FG had shot down 100 more enemy aircraft than any other group in the Eighth Air Force, its pilots being credited with 677 kills during 447 missions. The exploits of this elite fighter unit are detailed in this volume together with photographs, their aircraft profiles and insignia.
