Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Massive History of a Legendary B-24 Unit!, June 23, 2008
The 376th Bombardment Group - 'The Liberandos' - can claim many WWII honors including Oldest USAAF Bomb Group Operating Overseas, Only BG to be Formed Overseas, First BG to Operate in the MTO, First BG to Bomb Targets on the European Continent, Lead Formation on the Low-Level August 1943 Ploesti Mission, First BG to be Based on the European Continent, etc. The life and times of this outstanding unit are winningly told in this book by author James Walker and the 376th H.B.G. Veterans Association.
The 376th BG, created out of the Halpro Project/1st BG (Prov.) in October 1942, was assigned successively to the 9th, 12th and 15th Air Forces. It flew 451 missions, lost 169 aircraft and was awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations.
The 376th is most identified with the ill-fated Ploesti mission. The Liberandos, commanded by Group CO K. K. Compton, led the five-group strike. Due in part to poor mission planning and a navigational mistake on Compton's part, the strike was not as successful as hoped for. Since Walker had access to many of the Liberandos who flew the Ploesti mission, his account is quite complete and also helps correct several myths that have grown up over the strike.
Using the membership and resources of the 376th Veterans group, Walker crafted this massive, 613-page tribute to the Liberandos which covers every aspect of the Group's activities - combat ops, camp life, group personalities, etc. The Group comes to life thanks to the many first-person reminiscences included. Over 670 photographs, maps and charts can be found in the book as well as color side-views of Liberando B-24s, color illustrations of the Group's insignia and dynamite cover artwork.
If the book has a failing, it's in the fact that Walker did not compare Group claims of enemy aircraft shot down, ships sunks, etc. against German loss records. (And, to cut him some slack, he may not have been aware of or had access to such records).
Aside from that caveat, THE LIBERANDOS is quite an accomplishment and quite an accomplished work. In all likelihood, Walker's book will stand as THE definitive work on this exceptional Air Force unit.
*****
Published in 1994 and long out of print, the book is being reprinted by the 376th HBG Association. Check out their website for details.
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