Packed with personal accounts of the action, this is a vivid narrative history of the often-overlooked USAAF campaign in North Africa and Sicily in World War II. In 1942, the Western Allies needed to take the offensive against the Axis powers to relieve pressure on the Soviet Union. With planning for a cross-Channel invasion beset by logistical and operational difficulties, in May President Roosevelt ordered his military leaders to prepare to support the British in the Mediterranean. This led to the first USAAF units arriving in the Middle East in July, firstly as reinforcements for the British and later as part of the Operation Torch landings in French Morocco and Algeria in November. This is the story of how, in only 11 months, the USAAF grew from these small beginnings in North Africa to become the senior partner in the region, providing aircraft and crews the other Allies were unable to match. In those 11 months, the Axis forces that had controlled almost the entire southern shore of the Mediterranean had been swept from the African continent and the island of Sicily – thanks in no small part to the efforts of the USAAF. Using first-hand accounts from pilots and other aircrew, renowned aviation historian Tom Cleaver describes how the USAAF units that landed in 1942 faced an intense baptism of fire in combat with veteran Luftwaffe units, and how the experience gained in the skies over North Africa and Sicily was invaluable in developing the air forces that would dominate the skies over Europe in the latter years of the war. Read more

The inspiration for the major Apple TV+ series, streaming now! The riveting history of the American Eighth Air Force in World War II and the young men who flew the bombers that helped beat the Nazis and liberate Europe, brilliantly told by historian and World War II expert Donald L. Miller. The Masters of the Air streaming series stars Austin Butler and Callum Turner, and is produced by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, the legendary duo behind Band of Brothers and The Pacific.Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes you on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people. Masters of the Air is the deeply personal story of the American bomber boys in World War II who brought the war to Hitler’s doorstep. With the narrative power of fiction, Donald Miller takes you on a harrowing ride through the fire-filled skies over Berlin, Hanover, and Dresden and describes the terrible cost of bombing for the German people. Fighting at 25,000 feet in thin, freezing air that no warriors had ever encountered before, bomber crews battled new kinds of assaults on body and mind. Air combat was deadly but intermittent: periods of inactivity and anxiety were followed by short bursts of fire and fear. Unlike infantrymen, bomber boys slept on clean sheets, drank beer in local pubs, and danced to the swing music of Glenn Miller’s Air Force band, which toured US air bases in England. But they had a much greater chance of dying than ground soldiers. The bomber crews were an elite group of warriors who were a microcosm of America—white America, anyway. The actor Jimmy Stewart was a bomber boy, and so was the “King of Hollywood,” Clark Gable. And the air war was filmed by Oscar-winning director William Wyler and covered by reporters like Andy Rooney and Walter Cronkite, all of whom flew combat missions with the men. The Anglo-American bombing campaign against Nazi Germany was the longest military campaign of World War II, a war within a war. Until Allied soldiers crossed into Germany in the final months of the war, it was the only battle fought inside the German homeland. Masters of the Air is “a stunning achievement” (David McCullough), “a fresh new account” (Walter Boyne, former director of the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum) of life in wartime England and in the German prison camps, where tens of thousands of airmen spent part of the war. It ends with a vivid description of the grisly hunger marches captured airmen were forced to make near the end of the war through the country their bombs destroyed. Drawn from recent interviews, oral histories, and American, British, German, and other archives, Masters of the Air is an authoritative, deeply moving account that “accurately and comprehensively” (Lt. Gen. Bernard E. Trainor, USMC (Ret.) and coauthor of Cobra II) tells of the world’s first and only bomber war. Read more

Ride Along with a Real Top Gun and Get His View from the CockpitYou’ve heard him as host of the Fighter Pilot Podcast. More than 100k listeners have been waiting for this book.Now ride along. From the cockpit of a Navy jet circling overhead, an aircraft carrier—1,000 feet long and displacing 98,000 tons—looks no bigger than a child’s toy. No wonder the fighter pilots call it a boat. Try landing on one of these bucking broncos without boltering.TOPGUN instructor and seasoned naval aviator, E. Vincent “Jell-O” Aiello takes readers on an exhilarating flight from being a wide-eyed eight-year-old peering into a jet’s cockpit at the Point Mugu Airshow to flying one. Not the Hollywood version by any means, Vincent explains his tough, terrifying, and trusted path to flying America’s war planes.With heart (spoiler alert), Vincent recounts theChallenges of flight school,Terror of his first carrier landing (and many after),Importance of family back home for those serving our country, andHard-earned lessons about life when viewed from the cockpit.From flying F/A-18 Hornets on missions worldwide, to serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, to teaching the art of air combat at TOPGUN, Jell-O brings you into the adrenaline-fueled world of naval aviation while proving that persistence is a pilot’s most valuable skill.After retiring from the Navy with more than 3,800 flight hours and 700 carrier landings, Vincent, now an airline pilot, hosts the popular Fighter Pilot Podcast, where he explores the fascinating world of air combat with stimulating revelations about—The complex, multi-million-dollar aircraft,The lethal weapons systems they employ, andThe fearless people who protect our country every single day.This is the personal story of a boy with big dreams who became the man behind the yellow visor.Grab your copy today! And then, "Strap in," as Rear Admiral Mike “Nasty” Manazir, TOPGUN fighter pilot and former commander of the USS Nimitz, says, because this is an "adrenaline rush from the first page.” Read more

The incredible, untold story behind the rise of the P-51 Mustang, the World War II fighter plane that destroyed the Luftwaffe and made D-Day possible“Aviation buffs will cheer this high-flying saga.”—Publishers Weekly • “[A] fascinating book about passion and innovation.”—Walter Isaacson • “An essential book for those who appreciate tales of military bravery, and also for all seeking understanding of decision-making under pressure. A major contribution.”—E. J. Dionne, Jr.When the P-51 Mustang began tearing across European skies in early 1944, the Allies had been losing the air war for years. Staggering numbers of bomber crews, both British and American, had been shot down and killed thanks to the Luftwaffe’s superior fighter force. Not only did the air war appear grim, but any landing of troops in France was impossible while German fighters hunted overhead. But behind the scenes, a team of visionaries had begun to design a bold new type of airplane, one that could outrun and outmaneuver Germany’s best.    Wings of War is the incredible true story of the P-51 Mustang fighter and the unlikely crew of designers, engineers, test pilots, and army officers who brought it from the drafting table to the skies over World War II. This is hardly a straightforward tale of building an airplane—for years, the team was stymied by corruption within the defense industry and stonewalled by the Army Air Forces, who failed to understand the Mustang’s potential. But when squadrons of Mustangs were finally unleashed over Hitler’s empire, the Luftwaffe was decimated within months, clearing the skies for D-Day. A compelling, character-focused narrative replete with innovation, determination, and bravery, Wings of War is the never-before-told story of the airplane that truly changed the course of World War II. Read more

True tales of heroism and the men who fought and died in the skies of World War II Europe.In World War II, there were all too many ways for a fighting man to die. But no theater of operations offered more fatal choices than the skies above Nazi-occupied Europe. Inside of a B-17 Bomber, thousands of feet above the earth, death was always a moment away. From the hellish storms of enemy flak and relentless strafing of Luftwaffe fighters, to mid-air collisions, mechanical failure, and simple bad luck, it’s a wonder any man would volunteer for such dangerous duty. But some very brave men did.    Some paid the ultimate price. Some made it home. But in the end, all would achieve victory.   Here, author Travis L. Ayres has gathered a collection of previously untold personal accounts of combat and camaraderie aboard the B-17 Bombers that flew countless sorties against the enemy, as related by the men who lived and fought in the air—and survived. They are stories of heroism, sacrifice, miraculous survival and merciless warfare. But they should all be remembered...INCLUDES PHOTOS Read more

The astounding memoir of one of the great Spitfire pilots of World War Two.Dunkirk, the Battle of Britain, the Channel Dash, North Africa, Sicily, Dieppe, D-Day, and the fight against the V1 menace — Group Captain Bobby Oxspring saw action in many of the most famous battles of the Second World War.His memoir of time as a Spitfire fighter is the perfect book for fans of First Light by Geoffrey Wellum, Samurai! by Saburo Sakai, and The First and the Last by Adolf Galland.Beginning in 66 Squadron, by the end of the Battle of Britain, he was already an ace with eight enemy aircraft destroyed: three Heinkel 111s, one Dornier 17, one Me110, and three Me109s. He then went on to become flight commander in No. 41 Squadron RAF and later took command of three more squadrons, leading his men through some of the most ferocious air battles of the war.His memoir, Spitfire Command, is a remarkable account of life as one of The Few, charting his journey through the war, flying all marks of the Spitfire — from the Mk I to the Mk XIV — right through to when he ended operational duty just a week before the war ended. Written vividly, Oxspring provides an authentic insight into the lives of the men who fought in the air. It is a fascinating and inspiring story of bravery, good humour, and sacrifice.‘Group Captain “Bobby” Oxspring, DFC and two Bars, was one of that select band of fighter pilots who flew throughout the Second World War, and in his excellent book he writes of the splendid characters he knew in the fighter squadrons.’ Air Vice Marshal ‘Johnnie’ Johnson CB, CBE, DSO (Two Bars), DFC (And Bar), DL Read more

‘A SHINING ACCOMPLISHMENT. A CLASSIC' NEW YORK TIMES‘RANKS AMONG THE OUTSTANDING AIR MEMOIRS OF THE WAR' MAX HASTINGSOn an August morning in England in 1943, a group of American airmen were told that before the day was out they would deliver the blow that would win the war.Flying the legendary B-17 Flying Fortress, their mission was to destroy the industrial facilities that kept the Nazi war machine in business – Schweinfurt’s ball-bearing factories.But a determined and ferocious defense awaited the bomber crews of the USAAF’s Mighty 8th.Somehow, Navigator Elmer Bendiner and his crew survived, their faithful B-17, Tondelayo, carrying them home. Hundreds of their young compatriots did not.Vivid, powerful and often viscerally engaging, THE FALL OF FORTRESSES is a stunning testament to the skill, courage and sacrifice of the men who fought in WWII’s deadliest campaign.‘An enduring classic’ Daily Beast‘Without doubt the finest book written on the US Army Air Force’s war in the skies of Europe, ever reminding us of the incalculable debt owed to those thousands of American boys who gave their tomorrows’ John Templeton Smith‘Exceptional. It’ll stay with you long after you’ve turned the last page’ Rowland White‘Masterly and moving’ Sunday Telegraph* * *Elmer Bendiner was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 1916. Following the death of his father his family moved to New York City, where he spent much of his adolescence. He worked as a reporter, married in October, 1941, and, one week after the attack on Pearl Harbor, enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He served as navigator on Tondelayo, a B-17 ‘Flying Fortress’ and was awarded the Purple Heart, the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak-leaf clusters. After the war he worked as a journalist and author. Published books include A Time for Angels: The Tragicomic History of the League of Nations, The Virgin Diplomats, a chronicle of diplomacy during the American Revolution, The Rise and Fall of Paradise: When Arabs and Jews Built a Kingdom in Spain and The Fall of Fortresses. Elmer and Esther were married for sixty years. They had two daughters, Winifred and Jessica. He died on September 16, 2001. Read more

THE FIREBOMBING OF TOKYO. Strategic Air Command. John F. Kennedy. Dr. Strangelove. George Wallace. All of these have one man in common—General Curtis LeMay, who remains as unknowable and controversial as he was in life. Until now. Warren Kozak traces the trajectory of America’s most infamous general, from his troubled background and heroic service in Europe to his firebombing of Tokyo, guardianship of the U.S. nuclear arsenal in the Cold War, frustrated career in government, and short-lived political run. Curtis LeMay’s life spanned an epoch in American military history, from the small U.S. Army Air Corps of the interwar years to the nuclear age. LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay tells the whole story of the innovative pilot and navigator; the courageous general who led his bomber formations from the front, flying the lead bomber; the brilliant strategist; the unflagging patriot; and the founder of modern strategic bombing, who was famous and notorious in turns. LeMay: The Life and Wars of General Curtis LeMay gives an unprecedented glimpse into the might and mind of one of the founding fathers of air power, whose influence, and controversy, continues to this day. Read more

Have you ever wanted to pull up the curtain and look at what the US Army was really like during the Vietnam War?From enlistment through Basic, Officer, and Flight training, veteran pilot Richard Guay will take you on a journey many have never witnessed…Sit with Richard in the cockpit of the venerable UH-1 Huey helicopter as he maneuvers the sky to accomplish missions, protect his troops, and put to the test his years of training to stop the spread of Communism in Southeast Asia.Through a journey from steamy jungles to war-torn skies over battlefields, Richard’s raw and informative recollection is a story not only of war, but of brotherhood and the will to survive. Through countless helicopter flights, readers will experience both the fear and the excitement of war firsthand.Vietnam Warhorse is a thrilling memoir detailing years of US Army training, helicopter warfare tactics, and piloting techniques employed during actual enemy engagement. With a touch of humor, this is an intense and fresh perspective on the Vietnam War for anyone interested in history or aviation! Read more

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Dive into this “truly compelling” (Good Morning America) New York Times bestseller that explores how technology and best intentions collide in the heat of war—from the creator and host of the podcast Revisionist History. In The Bomber Mafia, Malcolm Gladwell weaves together the stories of a Dutch genius and his homemade computer, a band of brothers in central Alabama, a British psychopath, and pyromaniacal chemists at Harvard to examine one of the greatest moral challenges in modern American history.   Most military thinkers in the years leading up to World War II saw the airplane as an afterthought. But a small band of idealistic strategists, the “Bomber Mafia,” asked: What if precision bombing could cripple the enemy and make war far less lethal?     In contrast, the bombing of Tokyo on the deadliest night of the war was the brainchild of General Curtis LeMay, whose brutal pragmatism and scorched-earth tactics in Japan cost thousands of civilian lives, but may have spared even more by averting a planned US invasion. In The Bomber Mafia, Gladwell asks, “Was it worth it?”   Things might have gone differently had LeMay’s predecessor, General Haywood Hansell, remained in charge. Hansell believed in precision bombing, but when he and Curtis LeMay squared off for a leadership handover in the jungles of Guam, LeMay emerged victorious, leading to the darkest night of World War II. The Bomber Mafia is a riveting tale of persistence, innovation, and the incalculable wages of war. Read more

A true story of downed B-24s in Japanese-occupied Borneo and a native tribe that “makes us—like the airmen—rethink our definitions of civilized and savage” (Entertainment Weekly). November 1944: Their B-24 bomber shot down on what should have been an easy mission off the Borneo coast, a scattered crew of Army airmen cut themselves loose from their parachutes—only to be met by loincloth-wearing natives silently materializing out of the mountainous jungle. Would these Dayak tribesmen turn the starving airmen over to the hostile Japanese occupiers? Or would the Dayaks risk vicious reprisals to get the airmen safely home in a desperate game of hide-and-seek? A cinematic survival story featuring a bamboo airstrip built on a rice paddy, a mad British major, and a blowpipe-wielding army that helped destroy one of the last Japanese strongholds, The Airmen and the Headhunters is also a gripping tale of wartime heroism unlike any other you have read. Read more

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One of the great untold stories of World War II finally comes to light in this thrilling account of Torpedo Squadron Eight and their heroic efforts in helping an outmatched U.S. fleet win critical victories at Midway and Guadalcanal. Thirty-five American men -- many flying outmoded aircraft -- changed the course of the war, going on to become the war's most decorated naval air squadron, while suffering the heaviest losses in U.S. naval aviation history. Mrazek paints moving portraits of the men in the squadron, and exposes a shocking cover-up that cost many lives. Filled with thrilling scenes of battle, betrayal, and sacrifice, A Dawn Like Thunder is destined to become a classic in the literature of World War II. Read more

The battles of the Coral Sea, Midway, Eastern Solomons, Santa Cruz Islands, and Philippine Sea showcase the power of ship-based air power.But how did naval aviation emerge? And why was the Pacific such a ferocious battleground for aircraft carriers and their planes?This book is perfect for fans of Ian Toll, James D. Hornfischer, and N.A.M. Rodger.Beginning with the origins of naval aviation, Donald Macintyre traces the use of aircraft by naval forces from their fledgling days just prior to World War I to their apex of power at the Battle of the Philippine Sea during the Second World War.Wings of Neptune examines why, after witnessing the potential of naval air power during the First World War, navies diverged in their approaches. While British forces were provided with an inadequate air component, the Japanese and United States embraced air arms as integral to their sea power. The second part of this book explores the intense conflicts between these naval aviation proponents in the Pacific theatre of World War II.Drawing on his expertise as a convoy commander who liaised with supporting air cover and his renowned historical research, Macintyre provides a thorough investigation into the emergence of aircraft carriers during World War II and why air power became crucial to modern navies.“interesting and useful coverage of the naval aviation side of World War II.” U.S. Naval Institute Read more

A definitive history of one of the Allies' most important planes of World War II, flying from the first to the last day of the war.This book is essential reading for fans of John Nichol, Rowland White, and Donald L. Miller.Designed by Sir Barnes Wallis, the Vickers Wellington featured an innovative geodetic airframe that allowed it to withstand monumental damage without being brought down, with pilots regularly returning to base despite large sections of the fuselage missing. This unique design enabled the medium bomber to become the backbone of RAF Bomber Command during the first three years of the war. When it was eventually superseded by larger bombers, it was not consigned to history but instead proved its versatility, serving as one of the first bombers equipped for night raids, as well as in anti-submarine warfare, convoy protection, torpedo bombing, and essential training.Through in-depth research and hundreds of interviews with air and ground crews, Chaz Bowyer provides fascinating insights into the Wellington bomber’s contribution to the war effort. He traces the technical origins and development of Wallis's aircraft, before revealing what it was like to fly through the heat of battle, including some of the longest bombing missions of the era.The Wellington Bomber is a remarkable tribute to this innovative and respected aircraft, whose versatility made it one of the most successful operational planes of all time. Read more

A compelling history of the most successful flying boat ever to serve the Royal Air Force—the ‘Queen of the Boats’—the Short Sunderland.Ideal for fans of Alexander McKee, Andrew Hendrie, Ken Delve, and Martin W. Bowman.The story of the Sunderland flying boat began with the innovative Short brothers, Horace, Albert, and Hugh, who, since 1908, were at the forefront of British aeroplane design and manufacturing. Having trained the first Royal Navy officers as pilots in their flying machines and successfully deployed seaplanes during World War One, they were well-positioned in 1933 to meet the RAF’s need for a long-range, four-engine flying boat with armaments, sleeping accommodations, and catering facilities. The result was the Short Sunderland, entering RAF service and history books in 1938.In this book, Chaz Bowyer traces the evolution of this remarkable aircraft and the valuable contribution it made to the Allied campaign worldwide throughout the Second World War. Bowyer’s research is thorough and exhaustive, drawing on sources that include original documentation, reports, and many first-hand accounts from those who flew or worked on the Sunderland in the UK and abroad.The Sunderland served the RAF for a total of 21 years, during which it is estimated to have been instrumental in destroying or damaging at least 60 German and Italian U-boats. Operating as part of Coastal Command, it played a vital role throughout the war: protecting shipping routes and convoys, reconnaissance, supplying aid and evacuations, air-sea rescues, and passenger transportation, to name but a few. Post-war, its usefulness endured, supporting the Berlin Airlift, with many aircraft converted for use in civil aviation. Reading this account, it is easy to see why the Sunderland inspired such awe and affection among those who lived and worked with it. Read more

‘THE MASTER OF THE SPITFIRE’ Guardian‘OUTSTANDING’ New York Times‘THE RAF’S GREATEST WING LEADER’ Aeroplane Magazine__________‘Johnnie’ Johnson was a young civil engineer when he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1939 as a weekend flyer.Five years later he finished the war as the RAF’s top-scoring fighter pilot with thirty-eight confirmed victories.Wing Leader is a book to match the author’s remarkable experiences, providing a pilot’s-eye view of the greatest aerial fighter actions of the war, from the Battle of Britain to bitter fighting over Dieppe and the final offensive above occupied France.With gripping accounts of battles in the air and sympathetic portraits of his companions, Wing Leader is one of the finest accounts of air combat in World War II ever written.___________‘Britain’s top ace’ Air and Space Smithsonian‘A Spitfire legend’ Daily Express‘Johnson had a relentless desire to be at grips with the enemy’ The Times‘Required reading for anyone with a passion for vintage aviation… chock full of fantastically exciting stories, it’s a fabulous account of what life was like flying Spitfires in a front-line fighter squadron. An essential addition to any library. You won't be disappointed’ keyaero.com ‘The top-scoring RAF fighter pilot of the Second World War; his dash, courage and flying skills were outstanding’ Telegraph‘The Royal Air Force’s top gun in World War II’ Los Angeles Times‘“Johnnie” Johnson not only flew in more than 700 Spitfire combat missions during the Second World War but he was also the top-scoring RAF flying ace of the conflict with thirty-eight confirmed victories’ Lord Ashcroft‘The king of the dogfights’ Ottawa Citizen‘It is the stuff that heroes are made of’Aviation News Read more

An in-depth chronicle of the jet aircraft that revolutionised military aviation during the height of World War Two.Essential reading for aviation enthusiasts, military historians, and anyone fascinated by the evolution of modern air combat.Debuting as the world’s first fully operational jet-powered aircraft in July 1944, the Gloster Meteor transformed aerial combat.How did this revolutionary plane come into being? Did it truly live up to its promise in the heat of battle? And how did it shape the evolution of modern aviation?Renowned aviation historian Chaz Bowyer charts the remarkable story of this jet — from its conception in the mind of Sir Frank Whittle, to experimental development and its first combat flights in the Second World War. For over a decade, the Meteor reigned as the RAF's premier fighter, capable of travelling over six hundred miles an hour, serving air forces around the world before it was ultimately outpaced by newer, more advanced aircraft.Gloster Meteor stands as a compelling tribute to one of aviation history's most groundbreaking aircraft. Read more