War in Pacific Skies

By Charlie & Ann Cooper,
featuring the Aviation Artwork of Jack Fellows
Paperback w/flaps, 11 x 9.625
192 pages, 122 color & 100 b/w photos/illustrations
ISBN: 978-0-7603-3932-9
$27.99 / $29.99 CAN / £20.00
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“Lots of wartime photographs and plenty of entertaining and informative text…a wonderful book, one that inspires and educates and makes you wish for more.”

—Aviation History

Available in paperback for the first time, War in Pacific Skies fuses art and history in accurate detail, complete with the personal insights of World War II combatants. Cover the most famous air engagements of the Pacific Theater, never-before-published photographs, artwork, and personal accounts bring to life the air battles at Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guam, Tinian, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and more.

Climb into the cockpit of America’s famous Pacific warbirds, including:

• The Lockheed P-38 Lightning flown by the USAAF’s top aces, Richard Bong with 40 victories and Thomas McGuire with 38
• The Curtiss P-36 Hawk piloted by Harry Brown that provided America’s first airborne response at Pearl Harbor
• The TBF/TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, the aircraft flown by future U.S. President, Ensign George H.W. Bush

About the Authors
Charlie and Ann Cooper have varied backgrounds in aviation, business, writing, and the military. Their first joint publication was Tuskegee’s Heroes, Featuring the Aviation Art of Roy La Grone. Ann is a Certificated Flight Instructor and accomplished author with five other books and over 700 magazine articles to her credit. Charlie, a retired Air National Guard Major General, is an Air Force Master Navigator. His simultaneous business career in the telecommunications industry spanned 32 years. This book is his third published work.

Jack Fellows is a widely recognized expert on World War II’s critical aerial events and a proponent of many of the war’s lesser-known stories. Fellows’ paintings illustrate the stark contrast between the Pacific air war and the historically tranquil and peaceful Pacific Ocean environment. His artwork is based principally on extensive research by Bob Rocker and voluminous person correspondence and interviews with the pilots and crewmembers who were there.

Reviews of War in Pacific Skies

"War in Pacific Skies fuses art and history in 192 pages of photographs and artwork that depict the air battles at Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway and much more. Authors Charlie and Ann Cooper and illustrator Jack Fellows put readers in the cockpit of warbirds such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, the Curtiss P-36 Hawk and the TBM Avenger."

—Plane & Pilot

"This coffee table book skillfully blends photography and military history to illustrate the war int he Pacific from 1941-1945. Noted aviation artist Jack Fellows has contributed many historical paintings depicting aerial combat that complement the accompanying text of this book."

—WWII History

"There are lots of aviation history books out there and there are many worth having on the shelf. What makes this one different is the blend of story, photography, and art....This is a well-written and beautifully illustrated book that will provide a unique look into the Pacific Air War during World War II."

—Cybermodeler

"War in Pacific Skies fuses art and history in accurate detail with many never-before-published photographs, artwork, and personal accounts that bring to life the battles at Pearl Harbor, Coral Sea, Midway, Guam, Tinian, the Philippines, Iwo Jima, Okinawa and many more. The artwork is simply stunning with full color depictions of the famed Lockheed P-38 Lightning flown by many of the top aces, along with the variety of other fighting and bombing aircraft the turned the time of war to victory over the Japanese empire."

—Bookviews

"What a perfect blend of rare photographs and stunning artwork depicting the more famous aerial engagements in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. There is something to see and study on every page...This is an excellent visual history for both the beginner and the expert student of World War II and aviation."

—The Past in Review

"With this huge volume, Charlie and Ann Cooper have done a magnificent job of summarizing the conflict with amazing art by Jack Fellows, along with black and white photos taken during the battles."

—Pacific Flyer

Fortress Rabaul: The Battle for the Southwest Pacific, January 1942-April 1943

By Bruce Gamble
Hardcover, 6 x 9
416 pages, 32 b/w photos, 5 maps
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-2350-2
$28.00 / $30.00 CAN / £20.00
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“Not for the first time, Bruce Gamble has done amazing work gathering a dazzling array of tiny, little facts, then arranging them in a big, dazzling story that amazes one's inner historian even as it breaks one's heart on its way to a triumphal conclusion.”

—Eric Hammel, author of Islands of Hell: The U.S. Marines in the Western Pacific

When Japan invaded the Southwest Pacific island of New Britain in early 1942, Rabaul, on the northern tip of the island, was quickly developed into a major military complex. Rabaul served as a springboard for several new offensives and became the key to Japanese operations in the region. The mere mention of the island stronghold sent shudders through thousands of Allied airmen.

Millions of square feet of new construction provided housing and storage facilities for a hundred thousand soldiers and naval personnel, and by mid-1943 Rabaul’s air strength stood at six hundred planes. Some called it “Fortress Rabaul,” an apt name for Japan’s mightiest base in the Southwest Pacific and the headquarters of the 17th Army as well as the 8th Fleet and 11th Air Fleet.

In the beginning, only the Royal Australian Air Force stood against the amassing Japanese forces on New Britain, but an increasing presence of American squadrons in Australia soon joined the escalating air war over Rabaul. The virtually impregnable stronghold was the focus of Allied attacks from January 1942 until the end of the war in August 1945, a total of forty-four months, making it the longest battle of World War II.

In Fortress Rabaul, author Bruce Gamble describes the dramatic events that contributed to Rabaul’s increasing notoriety, detailing the island’s transformation into the ultimate twentieth-century fortification. Drawing upon an extensive array of Japanese and Allied sources, Gamble chronicles Rabaul’s crucial role during the first year and a half of the Pacific war, from the Japanese invasion through the shooting down of Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto in April 1943, a turning point in Japan’s offensive operations. A compelling story of military strategy and might, it is also a critical and, until now, little understood chapter in the history of World War II.

About the Author
A native of Central Pennsylvania, Bruce Gamble graduated from Penn State University in 1980 with a degree in Pre-Law. He reported to Naval Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, earned his wings as a Naval Flight Officer in 1982, and specialized in electronic warfare during the closing years of the Cold War. Lieutenant Gamble logged nearly 1,000 hours as a navigator in EA-3B Skywarriors while completing two deployments aboard aircraft carriers in the Pacific and Indian Oceans.

Returning to Pensacola in 1985, Lt. Gamble instructed student naval flight officers for two years. Diagnosed with a malignant spinal cord tumor in 1988, he underwent a complicated surgery and was medically retired from the Navy the following year.

Starting over as a wheelchair user, Bruce began serving as a volunteer at the National Museum of Naval Aviation. He later worked as a part-time historian for the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation, collecting oral history interviews and writing numerous articles for Foundation magazine. Eventually he became a freelance writer, earning acclaim for his nonfiction books on World War II, including, Black Sheep One: The Life of Gregory “Pappy” Boyington and Darkest Hour: The True Story of Lark Force at Rabaul—Australia’s Worst Military Disaster of World War II.

Bruce has appeared as the featured historian in documentaries produced by the Fox News Channel, the History Channel, and the Military Channel. He was recently named as the recipient of the 2010 Arthur W. Radford Award for excellence in naval aviation history and literature, presented by the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation. Cancer-free for more than twenty years, he lives in Lynn Haven, Florida.

Reviews of Fortress Rabaul

“This tour de force by Bruce Gamble is an absolute must for anyone interested in the true story of one of World War II’s most interesting—and most overlooked—battles. The author rivals Stephen Ambrose with his detailed personal accounts of not only victory and defeat, but also of the more routine events that entail quiet pride or—sometimes—suppressed embarrassment.”

—Col. Walter Boyne, USAF (Ret.), author of Clash of Wings and former director of the National Air & Space Museum

“Following his theme of Rabaul opened in Darkest Hour, Bruce Gamble now continues the saga, moving forward with the Japanese occupation in January 1942 to the almost immediate start of the Allied counter air-offensives against Rabaul.  Gamble sets the stage magnificently, with a compelling description of the geography, volcanic origin and cultural setting and development level of Rabaul at the time of the Japanese occupation.  After an excellent description of the too little, too late attempts to prepare for the Japanese invasion and the futile attempts to repel the powerful Japanese carrier strikes, the focus shifts to the Japanese construction at Rabaul that will make it the famous fortress port of the Solomons campaign.  The human drama, Allied and Japanese, is enriched by skillfully placed anecdotes, like a botched demolition of an ammo dump by the Allied garrison to Japanese carrier aircraft having embarrassing results in bombing runs, to behind-the-scenes bickering of officers and staffs.  The narrative reads with all the vigor and imagery of a novel, while incorporating copious facts and detail…Not only does Fortress Rabaul fill an important gap in the coverage of the Southwest section of the Pacific War, it makes fine and engaging reading.”

—Anthony Tully, coauthor of Shattered Sword: The Untold Story of the Battle of Midway

“Gamble’s book is a wonderful tribute to these and all the other pilots and crews, both land-based and carrier airmen, who kept the pressure on the Japanese at Rabaul. By August 1943, the Allied were rapidly advancing through the Pacific. The defenders at Rabaul watched helplessly as their empire slowly began to erode, until the island finally surrendered in September 1945, without firing a shot.”

—WWII History

“…a detailed reference book that reads like a novel.”

—Air Classics

“To most of the reading public, the aerial siege of Rabaul remains one of the untold stories of the Pacific War.  Nobody is better qualified than Bruce Gamble to relate that lengthy campaign, beginning with the first 15 months of the conflict.  The depth and variety of his coverage is exceptional: not only the Allied and the Japanese perspectives, but the personalities and their attendant feuds; and ultimately the successful air blockade that released the unstoppable might of an industrialized America to take the war ever nearer Japan itself."

—Barrett Tillman, author of Whirlwind: The Air War Against Japan, 1942-1945

“…Fortress Rabaul opens a broader vista on this under-studied campaign with its wide research, thoughtful analysis, and gifted story-teller’s panache.”

—World War II

"A former naval flight officer, Gamble understands aviation, and his expertise shows in his latest offering, a survey of Japanese and Allied air operations in the region through April 1943."

—Naval History

"Fortress Rabaul upholds Bruce Gamble's reputation as one of our best WWII writers. The book will captivate anyone who picks it up. Definitely one of the best new books we've seen so far in 2010, and probably destined to be one of the top books of the year."

—Stone & Stone Second World War Books

"If anyone were to ask me to recommend a good “first book” for the study of the war in the Pacific, I would be hard pressed to suggest a better selection than Gamble’s Fortress Rabaul. It offers context, insight, data and profoundly engaging story telling."

—Biblio Buffet

"...a compelling story of military strategy and might, a little told or understood chapter in the history of World War Two."

—Bookviews

"Gamble writes good history and a good story. His writing contains a lot of information (the history part), but reads like a novel."

—Collected Miscellany

"...a magnificent and important work on this often neglected part of World War II....It is a must read for any military or aviation history buff. It would make a great addition to any community or university library."

—Kepler's Military History Book Reviews

Warbird Legends

By John Dibbs

Paperback, 13.5 x 9.5

244 pages, 180 color, 85 b/w photos

ISBN: 978-0-7603-0967-4

$27.99 / $34.99 / £17.99

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The Second World War spurred tense focus among industries of the world's powers. In the short span of six years, military aircraft developed from open-cockpit biplanes to fighters that soared to 40,000 feet and toyed with the sound barrier.

Represented in this spendid volume are images of the war's 20 greatest aircraft - from the legendary Mustang, Spitfire, Flying Fortress, and Mitsubishi Zero, to lesser-known but equally awe-inspiring warbirds like the Mosquito, Blenheim, and Kingcobra. 

The award-winning air-to-air photography of John Dibbs captures immaculately restored aircraft and is complemented by a selection of archival, frontline images illustrating the true spirit and humanity of these Flying Legends. John M. Dibbs spent his childhood near old RAF Command Airfields. His natural interest in aviation has led to a diverse portfolio, and this collection represents his favorite images of World War II aircraft. 

About the Author
John M. Dibbs is an award-winning air-to-air photographer, who has flown in more than 120 different aircraft types, undertaken 850-plus air-to-air sorties, and authored eleven books including his widely acclaimed Flying Legends series. He lives in Redmond, Washington. Dibbs’ work can be found online at www.planepicture.com

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

By Starr Smith, Foreword by Walter Cronkite
Paperback, 5.5 x 8.5
288 pages, 100 b/w photos
ISBN 0-7603-2824-2
$14.95 / $18.95 (CAN) / £9.99
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“Smith’s clear admiration for Stewart comes through on every page, but with an understatement that even George Bailey could have lived with.”

–Publisher’s Weekly

Jimmy Stewart never made a World War II movie; he once said that Hollywood war pictures never seemed to show things the way they happened. The only WWII role Jimmy Stewart embraced was that of a bomber pilot in real-time battle.

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot by Starr Smith, with foreword by Walter Cronkite, recounts Stewart’s WWII role as it really happened. It also recounts a time when wealth and fame weren’t the most important things to Hollywood stars—when acting took a backseat to patriotism and words were backed by action. 

In March of 1941, Stewart—movie star, Academy Award–winning actor, American folk hero, Princeton graduate, aviator, bachelor, and favorite with the Hollywood ladies—entered the army as a private. By January, 1944, he was flying combat missions from wartime England against Nazi Germany.

Stewart lived the American Dream. He was the small-town boy, with small-town, traditional values who earned the respect and admiration of the United States by becoming one of the most respected movie stars and an honored war hero. He both entertained and protected the country he loved.

Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot is “a true story of personal knowledge,” writes Walter Cronkite in the foreword, “and is told with skill, respect, and admiration.”

About the Author
Starr Smith is an international journalist, author, photographer, and award-winning travel writer. Smith was a combat intelligence officer with the Eighth Air Force in England during World War II. His duties included protecting Jimmy Stewart from the media. After the war, Smith worked in Washington, D.C., on behalf of the United States Air Force with the military’s top brass—Anderson, Arnold, Doolittle, Eaker, Kenney, and Spaatz, among other great World War II leaders and generals. He is the author of two previous books: a memoir, Only the Days were Long (1985) and a travel book, Starr Smith’s Southern Scenes (2001).

Reviews of Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot

“My father would feel honored by this book."

–Kelly Stewart Harcourt

“This is not a book about Jimmy Stewart’s movie star life. Smith got him out of Hollywood on the second page. It is a very human, courageous, first-hand, and personal story of Stewart’s service in wartime and a pilot and military leaders, and Smith’s work with him as a combat intelligence officer in the 8th Air Force.”

–Second Air Division Journal

“A fine book about a fine human being … Starr Smith, himself a member of Tom Brokaw’s ‘Greatest Generation,’ gives us a rare glimpse into one of its well-known personages and his little-known contribution to the war effort. It is a study in character and integrity we would do well to emulate … Far more than a tribute to Stewart, Smith has given us a window on what patriotism is all about. It is a timely chronicle.”

–Montgomery Advertiser

“Recounts Stewart’s WWII role as it really happened. It also recounts a time when wealth and fame weren’t the most important things to Hollywood stars – when acting took a backseat to patriotism and words were backed by action.”

–Bomber Legends

“Smith writes this biography from the viewpoint of a dear friend, fellow serviceman and first-rate journalist. Smith’s admiration for Stewart is evident throughout the book and honors Stewart as not just a movie star but as an air combat commander.”

–Herald-Journal

“This is a very well-researched and written book . . . It fills a place in history about no mere actor, but a courageous and selfless man.”

–General Michael E. Ryan, Chief of Staff, USAF (Ret.)

“How wonderful it is that Starr Smith has finally directed a literary light on the personal history of Jimmy Stewart. I welcomed Starr’s book. It’s needed and wanted. Bravo.”

–Gay Talese

“In Jimmy Stewart: Bomber Pilot, author Starr Smith has seamlessly done something seemingly impossible: he gently melds together flashy Hollywood stories with reminisces of people who knew Jimmy Stewart as just a “regular” guy. If you’re a World War II veteran or a history buff, Jimmy Stewart, Bomber Pilot is going to show you how a reel hero became a real hero.”

–The Birmingham News

The Most Dangerous Enemy: An Illustrated History of the Battle of Britain

By Stephen Bungay
Hardcover, 9.7 x 11.55
272 pages, 25 color, 100 b/w photos, 15 diagrams, 10 maps
ISBN-13: 978-0-7603-3936-79
$40.00 / $44.00 CAN
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"...quite simply the best single volume treatment of the battle to have appeared in 70 years."

—Aviation History

Almost seventy years since Spitfires, Merlins and Hurricanes fought to protect Britain’s skies, it is surprising how little is publicly known about the Battle of Britain. Many people may not even be aware that the RAF’s triumph in this battle was integral in saving Great Britain from German invasion in the Second World War. What collective memory exists at all undoubtedly features a soaring Spitfire as the hero of this epic battle, with little more detail than the faint sound of air-raid sirens. However, in the 1980s and 90s, scholars began to counter this image, publishing works which devalued Churchill’s leadership and the quality of the Spitfire’s engineering. Not sure who to believe, Stephen Bungay set out to discover the truth behind these myths. The result was The Most Dangerous Enemy: A History of the Battle of Britain, a tome described as “the most exhaustive and detailed account of the Battle of Britain.”

To commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the Battle, this classic work has been transformed into a new, large-format, fully illustrated edition. With over 150 photographs (including rare color photos), full color maps, and diagrams, and numerous sidebar features, it brings this dramatic story to life in a fresh and exciting way. Archival photographs of the planes, pilots, and key military leaders, many of which have never before been published, are accompanied by fascinating three-dimensional diagrams illustrating dogfights and battle tactics on both sides.

The Most Dangerous Enemy brings to light stories of first-hand experience, compiled from extensive research and interviews, one of which reveals how oblivious some fighter pilots were about the significance of their actions. Outnumbered, and with little previous experience of air warfare, it appears that British pilots managed an astounding victory. Bungay also explores how the Battle of Britain may not have happened, had Churchill not have been elected as Prime Minister, and how Churchill’s military confidence and sense of moral obligation stood alone against government and public calls for peace.

For the avid historian there is still much to learn about the Battle of Britain, and Bungay weaves his newfound knowledge into an exciting and compelling narrative. This new edition of The Most Dangerous Enemy is a fitting way to mark the Battle of Britain’s anniversary and will bring this most remarkable of stories to a whole new group of readers.

About the Author
Stephen Bungay is a renowned military historian and author. In 2004 he was featured in the documentary television series about the Battle of Britain, Spitfire Ace. His other books include Alamein, which has been praised as “a brilliant balance between lucid analysis and piquant detail.” Bungay lives in England.

Reviews of The Most Dangerous Enemy

"This coffee table book has some incredible photos and maps detailing the nearly four-month long air campaign commonly referred to as the Battle of Britain. Unit designations, types of aircraft, leaders, strategies and the combat itself are all discussed."

—WWII History

"This remarkably concise and cogent rendition of larger events also offers clear explanations of strategy and tactics, and precies characterizations of leading and lesser figures. In revisiting this oft-told tale, Bungay seeks a middle way between over-reverence an over-revisionism. By and large, he succeeds, telling his tale with accuracy and verve. The 150 pictures, diagrams, and maps make the package pop."

—World War II

"...an outstanding book and likely to become the definitive account of the Battle of Britain."

—Armchair General.com

"...the most detailed account in print of the Battle of Britain, and offers first-hand experiences, historical debates, and more. Highly recommended as a key acquisition for any military history collection."

—Midwest Book Review

"The Most Dangerous Enemy would be a great addition to history enthusiasts of all types. The rich content made it a valuable source of the battle, the many photographs created a good visual storybook, and the glossy print even allowed it to be somewhat of an entertaining coffee table book. This would definitely be a book that I would keep on the shelf for ready reference."

—World War II Database

"The Most Dangerous Enemy is a great book and unique—a coffee table book with excellent illustrations and a first-rate narrative history of the battle....It would be an ideal gift for anyone interested in World War II or fighter aircraft.”

—The Daily News

"For those interested in what really happened at the Battle of Britain, this product from Zenith Press is smashing. Not only are the principle players examined in detail, there are 25 color and 100 black and white photos, 15 diagrams and 10 maps to accompany the text....this must be in your library."

—Pacific Flyer

Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler's Wehrmacht

By Robert F. Dorr & Thomas D. Jones
Paperback, 6 x 9
336 pages, 47 b/w photos, 3 maps, 1 diag.
ISBN: 978-0-7603-3825-4
$17.99 / $19.99 (CAN) / £14.99
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“Hell Hawks! is a fascinating and detailed account of the realities and terrors of combat flying, filled with well-researched personal stories of the desperate air-to-ground campaign in World War II!”

—Neil Armstrong, attack pilot, test pilot, Gemini 8 and Apollo 11 commander

Formed and activated in 1943, the 365th Fighter Group has a legacy unlike any other group of aviators to take to the skies during World War II.

Known as the “Hell Hawks,” most of the group’s young pilots were barely twenty years old and fresh from flight training in the United States when they risked all amidst the clouds over Europe. Dividing their time between the cockpits of their P-47 Thunderbolts, aka the Jug, and their tents set in the cold mud of their frontline airfields, these one-of-a-kind pilots had as much in common with the G.I.s they supported as they did with the crafty fighter aces they flew with and against.

Beginning just prior to D-Day, June 6, 1944, the Hell Hawks flew in close support of Eisenhowers ground forces as they advanced across France and into Germany. In just over a year of combat , the Hell Hawks delivered a catastrophic toll upon the German air and ground forces in Europe. The group’s missions varied from Allied bomber support and air-to-air jousting with some of the Luftwaffe’s deadliest aces to the attacking of enemy gun emplacements and communications facilities and constant harrassing of German ground troops.

Their war only stopped with the Nazi surrender on May 8, 1945. During their year in combat, the Hell Hawks paid a heavy price to win the victory. Sixty-nine pilots and airmen died in the fight across the continent. The Groups 1,241 combat missions—the daily confrontation of sudden, violent death—forged bonds between these men that remain strong sixty years later.

In the tradition of Flyboys and Flying Tigers, Hell Hawks! is the story of the band of young American fighter pilots, and their gritty, close-quarters fight against Hitlers vaunted military. Equal parts detailed historical record and edge-of-your-seat adventure novel, this book is the all-to-real account of bravery and sacrifice in the air above the European battlefields of World War II. 

About the Authors
Robert F. Dorr is an Air Force veteran, a retired senior American diplomat, and the author of 60 books and thousands of magazine articles and newspaper columns about the Air Force and air warfare. He is a columnist for Air Force Times newspaper and writes the "Washington Watch" feature for Aerospace America magazine.

Bob has interviewed hundreds of veterans of World War II and maintains a photography archive of Air Force combat operations. Bob served in the Air Force in Korea (1957-60), and was a Foreign Service embassy at American embassies and consulates (1964-89) before becoming a full-time author.

In the past year, Bob has written for Air and Space Smithsonian, Aerospace America, Flight Journal, as well as Air Forces Monthly, Air Power History, and many other publications. His book Air Force One, a history of presidential aircraft and air travel, has been praised by critics. Other recent books by Robert F. Dorr include Korean Air War, co-authored with Warren Thompson, and the Alpha Bravo Guide to the U. S. Army. Bob lives in Oakton, Virginia, with his family and Labrador retriever.

Dr. Thomas D. Jones is a scientist, author, pilot, and former NASA astronaut. A Distinguished Graduate of the Air Force Academy, Tom piloted B-52D strategic bombers for five years before beginning his NASA career. He holds a doctorate in planetary sciences, and in more than eleven years with NASA, flew on four space shuttle missions totaling 53 days in orbit. On his last flight, Dr. Jones led three spacewalks to install the centerpiece of the International Space Station, the American Destiny laboratory.

In the past year, Tom has written for Air and Space Smithsonian, Aerospace America, Flight Journal, and Checkpoints magazines. He is the co-author of two books for young adults, both written with June A. English. Mission: Earth detailed his orbital experiences on two missions to take the pulse of the planet's ecosystem, oceans, and geology. The Scholastic Encyclopedia of the United States at War traced our nation's path through conflict and peace to its place as the world's lone superpower. He co-authored with Michael Benson, The Complete Idiot's Guide to NASA. His most recent book book, Space Station Odyssey was published by Smithsonian Institution Press in 2004.

Dr. Jones consults, writes, and speaks from the Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.

Reviews of Hell Hawks!

“Hell Hawks! sets a new standard for histories of the tactical air-war in Europe. Veteran authors Bob Dorr and Tom Jones combine masterfully crafted veteran interviews with the broader picture of the air war fought by the Thunderbolt men. You gain a new appreciation of just how tough their deadly task was, and the courage needed to fly close air support against the Nazi fighters and flak. This outstanding book raises the bar on aviation history as it brings alive the true story of an aerial band of brothers.” 

—Col. Walter J. Boyne, National Aviation Hall of Famer, former director of the National Air & Space Museum, and best-selling author

“The world of the Ninth Air Force P-47 Thunderbolt pilots flying close air support missions during World War II was brutal and deadly. What they did was of historic proportions, and Tom Jones and Bob Dorr have done a brilliant job of telling their story.

—Capt. Quentin C. Aanenson, 391st Fighter Squadron, 366th Fighter Group, writer/producer of A Fighter Pilot’s Story, and contributor to Ken Burns’ The War

"These accounts depict the Hell Hawks over the beaches at Normandy, across France, and into Germany recalling their notable or heroic acts, mission after mission, finding the price of victory leading to their reckoning. The authors craftily weave together first person accounts of 365th Fighter Group Hell Hawks pilots and crews from a result of an astounding 183 interviews along with research conducted over a four year period. The esteem and regard you take in reading about their jobs and efforts during such a harrowing time is largesse."

—World War II History Blog

Bombs Away! The American Bombing Campaigns over Europe

By John R. Bruning
Hardcover, 10.75 x 12.25
336 pages, 50 color & 400 b/w photos, 3 maps
ISBN: 978-0-7603-3990-9
$50.00 / $55.00 CAN / £35.00
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"This is a monumental work and it reflects exceptional historical reporting."

—Tucson Citizen

It started with a dream of avoiding the stalemate of the Great War. A generation of idealistic young men thought that glory awaited among the clouds, and strategic bombing, it was theorized, was the solution to attritional warfare. But when war returned and thousands of aircraft darkened the skies, ideals were overwhelmed by the need to defeat the evil of the Nazis. The war of attrition had just shifted to the air, to freezing, flak-filled missions with terrifyingly high casualty rates. Bombs rained down on Europe, sending civilians scurrying for shelter in blacked-out cities—or in broad daylight. Far above them an escalating battle of machines and tactics played out between bombers and fighter planes, their pilots and crews, until in the end the German war machine simply could not keep up.

The first comprehensive illustrated history of military history’s deadliest combat innovations, Bombs Away! covers the massive strategic aerial bombardment in Europe between 1939 and 1945.

From the American (U.S. Army Air Forces) and British (RAF Bomber Command) aerial campaigns against Germany to the German use of strategic bombing during the conquest of Europe and the Battle of Britain, author and military historian John R. Bruning pays tribute to the fighters and bombers and the men who flew and maintained them through hundreds of rare photographs, dozens of them in color, and a detailed text that follows the evolving air war.

Over 450 vivid images provide an unrivaled visual tour through the six years of bombing campaigns and a sobering look at the cities that bore the brunt of this devastating method of combat—from London, Birmingham, Liverpool, Southampton, Manchester, Bristol, Belfast, Cardiff, and Coventry to Hamburg, Kassel, Pforzheim, Mainz, Cologne, Bremen, Essen, Düsseldorf, Hanover, Dortmund, Frankfurt, and Berlin.

About the Author
John R. Bruning has been a professional military historian and writer since 1990. He is the author of Crimson Sky: The Air Battle for Korea, The Battle of the Bulge: The Photographic History of an American Triumph, Ship Strike Pacific, Luck of the Draw, and The Devil’s Sandbox: With the 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry at War in Iraq.

Bruning served as an embedded civilian historian with the 2/162 during Operation Southern Comfort, the post–Hurricane Katrina relief operation in New Orleans. Bruning also has numerous articles, documentaries, multimedia CD-ROM programs, flight simulators, and museum displays to his credit. He lives in Independence, Oregon.

Reviews of Bombs Away!

"This comprehensive and gripping book details the birth of aerial warfare in World War I (Who called it the "war to end all wars?"), but concentrates mainly on the European bombing during World War II."

—History Wire

"Covering the major campaigns, the strategies, the planes, and most of all, the people involved, Bombs Away uses superior prose, quotes, and stunning photographs to bring the story of the air war in Europe to life in a powerful and unforgettable way."

—Bookpleasures.com

"The skies are empty now and the pilots and crews who fought these violent battles above the burning cities of Europe are mostly gone to their reward, knowing that they fought to defend freedom in their countries. I'm sure that when they had flown a few missions the romance of battle paled and they realized that their futures looked grim indeed. The ones who got home carried a lot of baggage with them as they do today. Only Hollywood could find this glamorous. The reality of war shouldn't fade from our memories as these brave people fought for our freedom and should never be forgotten. This book will help keep those memories alive."

—Feathered Quill Book Reviews

"Bombs Away! is an extensive, in-depth reference recommended for any military collection in general and libraries specializing in World War II events in particular. It covers strategic aerial bombardment in Europe between 1939 and 1945 and documents particular aerial campaigns against Germany and the German use of strategic bombing in Europe. Rare photos - many in color - pack a survey which considers the machines, flyers, and strategy involved, documenting the evolution of air war from its roots in World War I to the campaigns that were led across Europe."

—Midwest Book Review

"I am a WWII buff and collector. I collect memorabilia as well as books. And I found Bombs Away! to be a keeper! This is a wonderful keepsake that includes photographs and information on all air battles fought over Europe during WWII. It also includes some photos of WWI campaigns as well. The information comes from those who have been there; those who themselves fought in this war, and from various countries. Needless to say, I loved this book and it will be prominently displayed in my library."

—Book Bargains and Previews