LOSSES OF THE US 8TH AND 9TH AIR FORCES: VOLUME 4, ETO AREA JULY 1944-SEPTEMBER 1944

摘要

Volume 4 of this authoritative series runs to a massive 717 pages and at least three more volumes are planned. That it covers only three months of 1944 is indicative of the depth of detail. The 8th Air Force lost a total of 1,260 aircraft in action over the period, while the 9th lost 751 more, and each aircraft is identified by serial and unit. All the aircrew involved are named, along with their fate and the circumstances of the loss. Many photographs of aircraft and aircrew sprinkle the dense text. It is disturbing to read how many airmen baled out successfully only to be killed by SS and Gestapo 'hunting teams: All the aircraft written off in accidents - 'salvaged' in US terminology - are also recorded. One of the several appendices has a seven-page list of the many aircraft returned or transferred to the RAF from May 1943 to September 1944 Another appendix tabulates losses by combat group or unit.