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Osprey Dogfight #2
P-51B/C Mustang: Northwest Europe 1943–44
This new volume straps the reader into the cockpit of the P-51B/C as the Mustang-equipped fighter groups of the 'Mighty Eighth' Air Force attempt to defend massed heavy bomber formations from deadly Luftwaffe fighters charged with defending the Third Reich.
Luftwaffe Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring admitted that the appearance of long-range Mustangs over Berlin spelled the end of the Jagdwaffe's ability to defeat American daylight bombing. But the Mustang was far more than an escort -- it was a deadly hunter that could out-perform nearly every German fighter when it was introduced into combat. Entering combat in Europe in December 1943, P-51Bs and P-51Cs had advantages over German Bf 109s and Fw 190s in respect to the altitude they could reach, their rate of climb and top speed. Initially tapped for close bomber escort, Mustangs were quickly turned loose to range ahead of the bomber stream in order to challenge German fighters before they could assemble to engage the bombers en masse. Thanks to the Mustang's superior performance, USAAF pilots effectively blunted the Luftwaffe's tried and tested tactic for destroying B-17s and B-24s. Boldness and aggression in aerial combat meant that P-51B/C pilots inflicted a rapidly mounting toll on their German counterparts in the West during the early months of 1944, contributing mightily to Allied air superiority over northern France on D-Day.
This volume, packed full of first-hand accounts, expertly recreates the combat conditions and flying realities for Mustang pilots (including headline aces such as Don Blakeslee and Don Gentile, as well as lesser known aviators). It is heavily illustrated with photographs, artwork, and innovative and colorful 3D ribbon diagrams, which will provide a realistic overview of the most dynamic dogfights in aviation history.
Luftwaffe Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring admitted that the appearance of long-range Mustangs over Berlin spelled the end of the Jagdwaffe's ability to defeat American daylight bombing. But the Mustang was far more than an escort -- it was a deadly hunter that could out-perform nearly every German fighter when it was introduced into combat. Entering combat in Europe in December 1943, P-51Bs and P-51Cs had advantages over German Bf 109s and Fw 190s in respect to the altitude they could reach, their rate of climb and top speed. Initially tapped for close bomber escort, Mustangs were quickly turned loose to range ahead of the bomber stream in order to challenge German fighters before they could assemble to engage the bombers en masse. Thanks to the Mustang's superior performance, USAAF pilots effectively blunted the Luftwaffe's tried and tested tactic for destroying B-17s and B-24s. Boldness and aggression in aerial combat meant that P-51B/C pilots inflicted a rapidly mounting toll on their German counterparts in the West during the early months of 1944, contributing mightily to Allied air superiority over northern France on D-Day.
This volume, packed full of first-hand accounts, expertly recreates the combat conditions and flying realities for Mustang pilots (including headline aces such as Don Blakeslee and Don Gentile, as well as lesser known aviators). It is heavily illustrated with photographs, artwork, and innovative and colorful 3D ribbon diagrams, which will provide a realistic overview of the most dynamic dogfights in aviation history.
80 pages, Paperback
Published February 15, 2022
5 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
February 12, 2024
For all of its 80 pages, this book provides the reader with a comprehensive history of the development and deployment in combat in Northwest Europe of the B and C variants of the P-51 Mustang fighter, spanning from late 1943 to the spring of 1944.
The Mustang entered service with United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighter squadrons of the Eighth Air Force operating out of Britain at a very critical period of the USAAF's strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Though the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, with which USAAF 8th Fighter Command was equipped, was a rugged and capable aircraft against the Luftwaffe, it lacked the range to escort the bombers deep into Germany and back to Britain. The Luftwaffe was able to capitalize on this, waiting for the P-47s to withdraw (for lack of fuel) and attack the bombers. As a result, the USAAF sustained heavy bomber losses on a number of deep penetration missions over Germany during 1943. For example, the bombing attacks on Schweinfurt and Regensburg, which resulted in the loss of more than 100 bombers (which translates into more than 1,000 USAAF airmen killed or captured). Bomber losses by late 1943 had become prohibitively costly and it was clear to the USAAF leadership that a long-range escort fighter was urgently needed if the bomber campaign were to continue. Here is where the P-51 B/C Mustang fit the bill.
This book, like others in the Dogfight series, has plenty of photos, illustrations, and eyewitness accounts that makes for an enlightening and rewarding reading experience.
The Mustang entered service with United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighter squadrons of the Eighth Air Force operating out of Britain at a very critical period of the USAAF's strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Though the P-47 Thunderbolt fighter, with which USAAF 8th Fighter Command was equipped, was a rugged and capable aircraft against the Luftwaffe, it lacked the range to escort the bombers deep into Germany and back to Britain. The Luftwaffe was able to capitalize on this, waiting for the P-47s to withdraw (for lack of fuel) and attack the bombers. As a result, the USAAF sustained heavy bomber losses on a number of deep penetration missions over Germany during 1943. For example, the bombing attacks on Schweinfurt and Regensburg, which resulted in the loss of more than 100 bombers (which translates into more than 1,000 USAAF airmen killed or captured). Bomber losses by late 1943 had become prohibitively costly and it was clear to the USAAF leadership that a long-range escort fighter was urgently needed if the bomber campaign were to continue. Here is where the P-51 B/C Mustang fit the bill.
This book, like others in the Dogfight series, has plenty of photos, illustrations, and eyewitness accounts that makes for an enlightening and rewarding reading experience.
April 29, 2022
This is the first of the Osprey 'Dogfight' series I've read. Accounts of action are great--far more detail than in Osprey's 'Duel' series. Development of the early P-51 is very well covered making it a good resource for modelers. I thought the ribbon diagrams were overly complicated and worse, the legend for each was on one page and the diagram on a two-page spread making readers page back and forth to make sense of things. Text is good, but the pilot histories/accounts are jammed into a 20-page chapter with no breaks or subheads, flowing from one pilot to the next. Most Mustang sources dwell on the P-51D so it's nice to see this one focused on the P-51B which debuted 6 months before the vaunted D model and broke new ground for US fighter escort policy.
June 4, 2022
While the P-51D with its bubble canopy has become the US Air Force icon of WWII air superiority- it was really a Different Mustang that cause such initial shock over Nazi skies. The wonderful airframe that North American Aviation had developed in place of making P-40s under license for the Brits needed to find its perfect engine and get tested- before it could become that Icon. Chris Bucholz, a Naval Aviator and expert author on aeronautical topics- takes us through the early struggles of the classic WWII bird- both catching production problems and taking the air war over Germany. In the second book in the Osprey Dogfight series we learn how the addition of the British Rolls Royce Merlin engine - and creative ways to fly whilst sipping gas- made it possible to stay closer to the B-17 and B-24 four engine bombers of the 8th Air Force. Suddenly the US had their own Spitfire- but one a lot better because it could do all that same high speed and high G force combat- hundreds of miles from its home bases. We get lots of great pics- both b/w and colour and the sort of explanatory charts, maps and diagrams that explain how it all happened. I enjoyed it immensely.
The Mustang allowed the Escorting fighters to stay with the Bomber formations - but also to leave the bombers and go hunting the Luftwaffe- once the decision had been made to chew up Goring's pride and joy over its own fatherland. These new aircraft could essentially loiter miles deep into the Reich. And then prove as good or better than the Me 109s, FW 190s and other aging Me210s that defended Germany. Allied pilots were getting better and receiving better equipment- while the Luftwaffe was withering on the wing. The Allies needed to win this battle on the enemy's turf- before D-Day could be viable. Bucholz shows us how technical achievements begat combat victories begat strategic victory- and how much of the real heavy lifting- building of what the P-47 and P-38 could do- was done by the early versions of the P-51. Less Iconic perhaps - but no less deadly efficient.
I think a Junior Reader of 10/11 years or older with an interest in history or aviation will be able to learn from the book - with no adult themes and no graphic violence passages. For the Gamer- especially if you play Blood Red Skies or other WWII aerial combat games- this will be most informative book about the real heavy lifting of the US Strategic Air War over Europe, helping with scenario development and the gamer's sense of the period. The modeler gets some pictures and text that may help diorama and build processes- but this is more for the other hobbyists- except if you need to read action reports to get psyched up for your modeling.... The enthusiast gets an interesting insight into a clutch weapon and period of the WWII- the birth of a legendary WWII/Cold War Icon. I enjoyed the read- think it will find its audience.
The Mustang allowed the Escorting fighters to stay with the Bomber formations - but also to leave the bombers and go hunting the Luftwaffe- once the decision had been made to chew up Goring's pride and joy over its own fatherland. These new aircraft could essentially loiter miles deep into the Reich. And then prove as good or better than the Me 109s, FW 190s and other aging Me210s that defended Germany. Allied pilots were getting better and receiving better equipment- while the Luftwaffe was withering on the wing. The Allies needed to win this battle on the enemy's turf- before D-Day could be viable. Bucholz shows us how technical achievements begat combat victories begat strategic victory- and how much of the real heavy lifting- building of what the P-47 and P-38 could do- was done by the early versions of the P-51. Less Iconic perhaps - but no less deadly efficient.
I think a Junior Reader of 10/11 years or older with an interest in history or aviation will be able to learn from the book - with no adult themes and no graphic violence passages. For the Gamer- especially if you play Blood Red Skies or other WWII aerial combat games- this will be most informative book about the real heavy lifting of the US Strategic Air War over Europe, helping with scenario development and the gamer's sense of the period. The modeler gets some pictures and text that may help diorama and build processes- but this is more for the other hobbyists- except if you need to read action reports to get psyched up for your modeling.... The enthusiast gets an interesting insight into a clutch weapon and period of the WWII- the birth of a legendary WWII/Cold War Icon. I enjoyed the read- think it will find its audience.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews