Books
The books you'll see listed in this section fall within three different categories:
Reference books
Personal accounts
Informational books
You'll see the majority of the books I have fall into the first category.
Title | ISBN | Description |
Reference Books/Material | ||
AFHRA Microfilm records | N/A | Digital copies of 46 reels of microfilm records pertaining to the 2nd Air Division during WW2. |
Missing Air Crew Reports | N/A | Records of military aircraft lost were created detailing the crew onboard, circumstances of the loss. Also have captured German records with detailed information on those captured or reported as Killed In Action (KIA). |
History of the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy) - Unofficial | N/A | This book was the first chronological history of the 445th Bomb Group's operations during the war and published in 1947. The author was the unit's adjutant, Capt Rudolph Birsic. |
Supplement to History of the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy) - Unofficial | N/A | An updated version published in 1950 with information about the former members of the 445th Bomb Group and what they're doing after the war. |
History of the 445th Bomb Group (Heavy) - Unofficial - Revised Edition | 978-0-9845301-0-6 | Revisions of the first 2 books about the 445th by Birsic. Contains an updated personnel roster and additional photographs not available at the time of the original publication. Another revision is in the works to correct inaccuracies in the target list. |
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR DIARY | 1-85409-071-2 | Probably the definative book on Eighth Air Force operations during World War II written by Roger A. Freeman. Contains detailed information on missions flown by the 8th Air Force. |
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH | 1-85409-531-5 | Contains an abbreviated history of 8th Air Force units during World War II written by Roger A. Freeman. |
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH WAR MANUAL | 0-304-35846-0 | Contains detailed descriptions of the war-time equipment used by the 8th Air Force written by Roger A. Freeman. Covers aircraft types and variations of each, and ground equipment. |
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH - THE COLOUR RECORD | 0-304-35708-1 | Another fine book from Roger Freeman, this one contains color photos of 8th Air Force aircraft and personnel - something not generally known was the use of color film in photography. |
THE MIGHTY EIGHTH - Warpaint & Heraldry | 1-85409-373-8 | This book from Roger Freeman covers unit markings on aircraft to aid in unit identification. |
B-24 Liberator Units of the Eighth Air Force | 1-85532-901-8 | General information and photos of B-24's serving with the 8th Air Force by Robert F. Dorr. |
Liberator Album - B-24s of the 2nd Air Division USAAF | 1-85780-060-5 | Photographs of the 14 B-24 bomb group's aircraft that made up the 2nd Air Division of the 8th Air Force by Mike Bailey and Tony North. |
Great American Bombers of WWII | 0-7603-0650-8 | Covers the 3 great American bombers of World War II - Boeing's B-17, Consolidated's B-24, and Boeing's B-29. Extensive history of all 3 aircraft with many photos. Authors William Hess, Frederick Johnsen and Chester Marshall. |
Consolidated B-24 Liberator | 0-88740-452-9 | Excellent book by John and Donna Campbell documenting B-24's in all combat theaters. lots of pictures and details. |
Personal Accounts | ||
A Reason To Live | 0-916693-12-0 | John H. Robinson's account as a waist gunner in the 703rd Bomb Squadron which was commanded by Capt Jimmy Stewart. Robbie served woth the unit from the very beginning and survived the initial operations. Excellent reading! |
Red Roses and Silver Wings | 0-9667856-8-1 | Story viewed through letters sent home from a pilot in the 445th who was killed flying in support of the Rhine River crossing in March, 1945. |
Not As Briefed | 1-885354-01-0 | Wright Lee's account of a mission that went "not as briefed" and his time in a German POW camp. |
For God And Country In That Order | 0-9820997-5-9 | Sam Mastrogiacomo's account of flying missions with the 445th, diverting to Sweden, being interned there and then escaping back to England. This is a very interesting read. |
Jimmy Stewart Bomber Pilot | 0-7603-2199-X | Starr Smith's account of probably the most notable member of the 445th, the actor James M. 'Jimmy' Stewart who served as the 703rd Bomb Squadron commanding officer and flew 10 missions with the unit. |
Informational Books | ||
B-24 Liberator In Action | 0-89747-190-3 | A Squadron/Signal Publications book, this one covers the development of the B-24 from its very beginning until the end of World War II as the bomber that had the most number of aircraft produced - over 18,000! |
Airfields of the Eighth - Then and Now | 0-900913-09-6 | A look back at the airfields of the 8th Air Force - then and now. |
Finding Francis... | 978-1-4787-1717-1 | The true story of Eric Hutchin, a young Royal Air Force pilot who trained at Falcon Field, Mesa, Arizona during World War II. There he fell in love with a seventeen year old American girl, Francis McKenzie. He then returned to war torn England and flew Spitfires and Typhoons. The rest is history. Brings out a little known fact that this "Lend-Lease" airfield was actually funded by Hollywood. |