In a Now Forgotten Sky: The History of the 31st Fighter Group in World War II [Hardcover]

Dennis C. Kucera (Author), Natalie Panfili (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 418 pages
• Publisher: Flying Machines Pr (December 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0963711091
• ISBN-13: 978-0963711090
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 8.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,694,854 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Written well, Poor Photo Quality and Nothing new...., February 25, 2007

By 

Gregg Wagner "Aces Scholar" (South Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In a Now Forgotten Sky: The History of the 31st Fighter Group in World War II (Hardcover)

I felt that this book was not put together well. The photos in the book are extremely dark and you can not determine who is in the pictures without a caption. As an example, looking at page 201, with Sandy McCorkle by his Spitfire, you can not see his face or body. Same with various photos of the group's ace Frank Hill. On page 395 the "famous" photo of the 31st's P-51D's in flight is so dark, you can not make out anything. I also know that the photos were a after thought in this book as I have seen them all before. So don't buy this book for the photos, you will be very disappointed.


Gregg

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best for Details on 31st FG Activities, February 11, 2008

By 

Nowell Didear (Sheridan, OR United States) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: In a Now Forgotten Sky: The History of the 31st Fighter Group in World War II (Hardcover)

This is the book to have if you're interested in the day-to-day details, the men and the machines of the 31st Fighter Group in World War II. I've read other excellent books about the 31st, such as Woodbine Red Leader and Mustang Ace, but those are told strictly from the viewpoint of the pilots who wrote them, and necessarily focus mainly on the men themselves and the pilots they were closest to. This one is more like a logbook for the group as a whole, with valuable summaries of combat statistics at the end. It provides personal detail you'll never find elsewhere. I learned, for instance, the day my dad transferred into the group, and the fact that he got there in time to enjoy the first American beer ration in many months. Other books give you the drama of being a pilot in combat. This one tells what it was like to have been there through all of it, not just the ongoing stream of missions and the men who did or didn't come back, but also the daily routine, the problems that had to be solved, the dealings with the locals, the funny stories and the sad ones.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Honor and Tribulations, August 8, 2000

By 

TC Khadra (Grand Island, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: In a Now Forgotten Sky: The History of the 31st Fighter Group in World War II (Hardcover)

Mr. Kucera has masterfully summarized the untold and neglected story/history of the 31st Fighter Group. From the inception of the 31st Pursuit Group, through the 8th AF, 12 AF and the 15th AF to the end of the War in Europe. A definite must read for any historian/ WWII enthusiast. In A Forgotten Sky finally recognize the highest scoring fighter group in the 15th AF.