A welcome addition to the very popular Images of War Series. This new book provides a remarkable selection of Spitfire images in US service. It includes some particularly rare full colour photographs – Highly Recommended.
NAME: Images of War, Star-Spangled Spitfires, Rare Photographs From Wartime Archives FILE: R2537 AUTHOR: Tony Holmes PUBLISHER: Pen & Sword BINDING: soft back PAGES: 100 PRICE: £14.99 GENRE: Non Fiction SUBJECT: Spitfire, 8th Air Force, RAF, USAAF, ETO, Europe, air war, World War 2, WWII, World War Two, Second World War, Eagle Squadron
ISBN: 1-47388-923-5
IMAGE: B2537.jpg6 BUYNOW: http://tinyurl.com/yc7z5sg9 LINKS: DESCRIPTION: A welcome addition to the very popular Images of War Series. This new book provides a remarkable selection of Spitfire images in US service. It includes some particularly rare full colour photographs - Highly Recommended. US citizens began arriving in Canada and in the British Isles from the outbreak of WWII wishing to volunteer for service with the RAF. This led to the founding of the Eagle Squadron and began producing American Spitfire Aces. When the US entered the war after Pearl Harbour, it was agreed that the US would fully support the war in Europe and the Middle East as a priority. Accordingly, the 8th Air Force was created and sent to Britain. This force comprised bombers and fighters. Although some US RAF volunteers would have preferred to remain with the RAF, they were transferred to the USAAF. Many of them had been flying Spitfires and had to convert to P-47, P-38 and P-51 fighters because the Spitfire did not have the range to escort USAAF bombers to their targets. However, the USAAF did receive Spitfires and made good use of them. This book provides a unique visual record of Spitfires serving with the USAAF and the full colour images are especially welcome. US pilots developed a strong liking for the Spitfire and it proved a popular and useful addition to the US manufactured fighters in 8th Air Force service. The Spitfire also served the USAAF in North Africa and Italy in the fighter and fighter-bomber roles. The final Spitfires in USAAF service were the unarmed high altitude PR XI photo reconnaissance models.