P-47 Pilots: The Fighter-Bomber Boys

This is the story of young American boys, at the beginning of World War II, that came from every part of the country to Aviation Cadet centers in the major cities of the U.S.A. with high hopes of becoming pilots in the United States Army Air Forces; however, very few would achieve that goal. Only those with above average coordination, hearing, eyesight and physical stamina would be chosen to continue toward their goal. However, the elimination process would continue many times over,and only a select few would achieve their dream of wearing a pair of Silver Wings. The fighter pilot is the lone wolf. He is the only one in the cockpit of his plane. What ever goes wrong he must fix it, If the weather closes in and he gets lost, he is the only that can get him home. But he also must be a team player and the team is his squadron. Fighter pilots have been around since World War I, but now, during World War II, a new and complicated task has been added, some fighter pilots now have to carry bombs and perfect the technique of placing that bomb on an enemy target that is killing our ground troops or destroying our tanks. He must do this regardless of how much antiaircraft fire is coming his way. So now we have a new name to add to the list of warriors, The Fighter-Bomber Boys. From the war in Europe only about three thousand could carry that distinct title. They fought at treetop level, not at five miles above the earth. They lived in tents with mud floors, ate from mess kits, wore G.I. boots, slept in sleeping bags, and were more associated with the ground war than the air war with its massive bombing raids over Germany. If you like war books, this is one you should not miss.