Book Description

This is a history of an American pilot's experience fighting the Luftwaffe in Europe during World War II. Here's an excerpt from the beginning: "The Commanding Colonel stared at the big map with its red ribbons marking air trails to and from targets. He was spotting the exact point where his Third Fighter group would have to turn back and leave the big Fortresses and Liberators to go it alone into the concentrated defenses of Germany. Weather Officer Miller looked glumly at the map as Colonel Holt placed his finger on a spot. "6/10 cloud over station six." Station six was a Luftwaffe fighter field. The colonel scowled and shook his head. "Are the big boys going out?" "Yes, sir. Conditions over target are very good." Weather grinned when he said it. "We won't get much of a whack at the Jerries," the colonel said rather testily. "The Forts and Libs will make it through," Weather said with a lot of cockiness. He was beginning to act like the rest of the gang around headquarters who believed that the Forts and the Libs could go it alone all the way and shoot down any number of fighters the Germans could send up. Colonel Holt was a strong supporter for fighter cover. He was battling for a flock of longer-range fighters that could accompany the big fellows all the way to Berlin. The way things were going he might not be escorting at all within a few weeks. His Third Fighter Command might be on scouting duty. "We'll see what can be done about it," he said as he turned away. The colonel walked out of the high-ceilinged room which was buried under thirty feet of steel reinforced concrete. He came up out of the building into a drab night. A raw wind stabbed at him, and sent light clouds scudding across the face of the moon. Overhead, a night fighter growled its way through the lonely sky. The country spread around the base was flat with only a few hills to break the sameness."