Bedford Public Library

Blood and fears, how America's bomber boys of the 8th air force saved World War II, Kevin Wilson

eng

Includes bibliographical references (pages 516-521) and index

mapsplates

index present

non fiction

Blood and fears

bibliography

951925853

Kevin Wilson

how America's bomber boys of the 8th air force saved World War II

The US 8th Air Force came of age in 1944. With a fresh commander, it was ready to demonstrate its true power: from Operation Argument in February | targeting German aircraft production plants | to bringing the Luftwaffe to battle over Berlin, the combined US Air Force - Royal Air Force forces' round-the clock campaign bottled up the German army in Normandy. Day after day, the American bomber boys watched their comrades burn to death in blazing bombers, or observed their comrades being thrown out of exploding aircraft without parachutes and sink with their crippled aircraft in the freezing North Sea. But by the following spring they had destroyed the Nazi's fighting spirit and saw Germany broken in two. In this authoritative history, Kevin Wilson reveals the blood and heroism of the 8th Air Force. At the same time, he opens up the lives of the Women's Army Corps and Red Cross girls who served in England with them and feared for the men in the skies, and he hasn't flinched from recounting the devastation of bombing or the testimony of shocked German civilians. Drawing on first-hand accounts from diaries, letters, and his personal audio recordings, the author has brought to life the ebullient Americans' interaction with their British counterparts, unveiling stories of humanity and heartbreak. Thanks to America's bomber boys and girls, the tide of World War II shifted forever

Winter. 'He had us dead to rights' ; 'Things are going to be tough from now on' ; 'A gasp of surprise and dread' ; 'What are those fools trying to do, kill all of us' -- Spring. 'Hiya Baby! Lovely day, isn't it?' ; 'Up and down the streets people jeered and spat at me' -- Summer. 'Invasion! No longer just a gleam in the General's eye' ; 'An Me 109 came at me head on. I was terrified' ; 'Couldn't sleep. Kept seeing ships exploding' ; 'Some were blazing and some were blown to bits' ; 'All hell broke loose' -- Autumn. 'Bodies were scattered all over the area' ; 'The greatest air battle of this war' -- Winter. 'I bet our lives' ; 'So cold tears came into my eyes' ; 'The birds were really flying. What a sight!' ; 'Sitting off my wings was an Me 109' -- Spring. 'Let the English celebrate' ; 'I can't get away from the things I've seen'