Donald Millers new book really covers this often told and perhaps glossed over period of WW2 history- with shocking realism and perspective.

We are aware of the Memphis Belle pilots via movies - however this book digs deep and gives us a look inside the cockpit of the B17/B24 and B29 Flying Fortresses and the US Eighth Air Force crews.

Frostbite was a huge issue for the crew in the unheated aircraft - especially when canopies and gun turrets were blown open by enemy combat and flak fire.

It’s fascinating to read the rapid development of the fighter escorts - the P51 Mustang as they escorted the Fortresses to targets in Europe from bases in southern England and later southern Italy.

The range of the fighter escorts was always a concern - as they had to return to base and leave the bombers vulnerable to enemy ME109 and JU88 dive-bomber attacks- as they proceeded to carpet bomb German cities.

The emergence of new German jet fighters the ME262 towards the end of the war was a terrifying prospect for fighter pilots of both the USAF and RAF - as their piston powered P51 Mustangs and Spitfires battled a new foe -with a top speed 100 mph faster and performance that could out accelerate the allied fighters.

(Pictured : Messerschmitt ME 262 Jet Fighter)

We also see the emergence of the V1 and V2 rockets aimed at London and causing horrendous damage.

In fact it really was the onslaught of allied air attacks on Nazi fuel depots and railway yards that slowed the German war machine to a standstill.

You could say it was just in time - as the emergence of German jet fighters and surface to air missiles ushered in a new game changing was in which aerial warfare would be waged.

We also learn the atomic bomb would initially be used over Germany - if the air war could not stop the Nazi war machine.

As it was - Europe was spared the horrific effects of atomic warfare - and instead it was Japan in 1945 that was dealt the fatal blow and surrender.

Its a haunting book that really is expertly researched.

There are many more insights within the pages -eg. the differing treatment of downed American pilots in neutral Switzerland versus Sweden -and the ramming of allied planes by Nazi pilots during combat when the Luftwaffe was decimated.

Again it’s a history we do not hear about - but its all in this a book.

Highly recommended!

More info here:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52693801