This volume focuses on the little known official Army Air Force report commissioned by the Eighth Air Force's VIII Fighter Command (FC) in May 1944. The detailed document chronicled the experiences of 24 pilots who had seen extensive service in the frontline escorting B-17s and B-24s on daylight raids deep into Germany. Briefed to provide a candid report on combat flying that could be used as a teaching 'manual' for potential fighter pilots, the VIII FC veterans openly discuss their secrets to success, and survival in the deadly skies over occupied Europe. Exactly half of those pilots who contributed to The Long Reach subsequently achieved ace status.
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From the Publisher
Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces series combines full colour artwork, the best archival contemporary photography, and first hand accounts from aces to bring history's greatest airborne conflicts to life.
About the Author
Michael O’Leary possesses one of the most extensive private archival libraries of wartime images relating to American combat aircraft, and has written/photographed over a dozen books for Osprey.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Treasure for Military Aviation History Buffs,
By A Customer
This review is from: Long Reach VIII Fighter Command at War (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 31) (Paperback)
If you are expecting the usual Osprey formula of pretty pictures and shallow historical sketches, this one is not for you. The core of this book is a reprint of a document distributed by VIII Fighter Command during the war. It is basically a manual for fighter leaders, written by some of the all-time greats. The document is comprised of replies by each man in response to a letter which contained questions about the tactics and techniques they employed. It is a snapshot of the "state of the art" tactics that were used to destroy the Luftwaffe. Instead of hazy recollections by veterans in History Channel interviews, we get a glimpse into the minds of these tacticians as they were winning the war. It may be dry reading for modelers or other casual readers, but for students of WWII fighter tactics it is a gold mine. Hats off to Osprey for publishing this document.
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Long Reach Deep Fighter Escort Tactics of VIII Fighter Comma,
By A Customer
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This review is from: Long Reach VIII Fighter Command at War (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 31) (Paperback)
I found this book disapointing, especially with regards to the color artwork. Most of the 40 color profiles have already appeared in the other volumes of this series; so for someone who is collecting the entire series, and is primarily interested in the color profiles, there is very little in the way of new material..
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Treasure for Military Aviation History Buffs,
By A Customer
This review is from: Long Reach VIII Fighter Command at War (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 31) (Paperback)
If you are expecting the usual Osprey formula of pretty pictures and shallow historical sketches, this one is not for you. The core of this book is a reprint of a document distributed by VIII Fighter Command during the war. It is basically a manual for fighter leaders, written by some of the all-time greats. The document is comprised of replies by each man in response to a letter which contained questions about the tactics and techniques they employed. It is a snapshot of the "state of the art" tactics that were used to destroy the Luftwaffe. Instead of hazy recollections by veterans in History Channel interviews, we get a glimpse into the minds of these tacticians as they were winning the war. It may be dry reading for modelers or other casual readers, but for students of WWII fighter tactics it is a gold mine. Hats off to Osprey for publishing this document.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
1. Turn into an attack - timing is important here. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
strafing victories, ranking ace, bomber escort mission, belly tanks, enemy aircraft, element leader, abreast formation, line abreast, lead squadron, aerial victories, squadron formation, flying cadet, flight leader, first ace, dead astern, enemy coast, combat tactics Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Michael O'Leary, Bill Hess, Dick Martin, Eighth Air Force, John Stanaway, Fighter Command, King's Cliffe, Sam Sox, World War, George Preddy, Steeple Morden, Korean War, New York, Capt Don Gentile, Kelly Field, Tom Ivie, Dove of Peace, Eddie Rickenbacker, Mark Hubbard, North American New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
1. Turn into an attack - timing is important here. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
strafing victories, ranking ace, bomber escort mission, belly tanks, enemy aircraft, element leader, abreast formation, line abreast, lead squadron, aerial victories, squadron formation, flying cadet, flight leader, first ace, dead astern, enemy coast, combat tactics Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Michael O'Leary, Bill Hess, Dick Martin, Eighth Air Force, John Stanaway, Fighter Command, King's Cliffe, Sam Sox, World War, George Preddy, Steeple Morden, Korean War, New York, Capt Don Gentile, Kelly Field, Tom Ivie, Dove of Peace, Eddie Rickenbacker, Mark Hubbard, North American New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 3
books:
- To Fly: The Story of the Wright Brothers by Wendie C. Old in Back Matter
- To Fly and Fight: Memoirs Of A Triple Ace (Warcraft) by Clarence E. "Bud" Anderson in Back Matter
- Flying Fortress by Rh Value Publishing in Back Matter
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