Product Description

Formed around a nucleus of pilots already seasoned by their experience as volunteers in the RAF's Eagle Squadrons, the 4th Fighter Group was established in England in October 1942. Initially flying Spitfires, the Debden Eagles went on to fly the P-47 and P-51, becoming, in July 1943, the first Eighth Air Force fighter group to penetrate German air space. The group's record of 583 air and 469 ground victories was unmatched in the Eighth Air Force, and the group produced a cast of characters that included legendary aces Don Blakeslee, Pierce McKennon, Kid Hofer, Duane Beeson, Steve Pisanos and Howard Hively. Involved in the D-Day landings, Operation Market Garden, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine, the group's achievements came at a high price, with a 42 percent casualty rate. Packed with first-hand accounts, detailed aircraft profiles and full combat histories, this book is an intriguing insight into the best-known American fighter unit in World War II.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #347943 in Books
• Published on: 2008-10-10
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

Customer Reviews

Lively read on the 'Fourth..but First', spoilt by horrible picture reproduction
Another neat history of the famous 'Fourth..but First' , the leading USAAF fighter Group of the ETO. While Chris Bucholtz's text holds the attention well and is a lively read, interspersed as it is with combat report extracts, it is hard not to avoid a comparison with the Squadron Signal title devoted to the 4th FG released in 2007. That volume was slated in certain quarters (most notably by Peter Randall of the `Little Friends' web site) but I can't help feeling that in some areas it is much the better of these two works for all its faults. Two major gripes with this latest Osprey Elite title. Firstly the photo reproduction is awful ! No other word for it - some of the most amazing 4th FG photos - eg Kid Hofer in the cockpit of his famous `Salem Representative' with Duke perched on the coaming- are horribly cropped, dark and small here. A travesty. This particular image was recently reproduced in all its glory in the Kagero `P-51 over the Third Reich' title. If a small Polish publisher can do it, then why not Osprey? There are a couple of rare images from Danny Morris' collection (author of the `Aces & Wingmen' books) also included - but reproduction is so poor that they are worthless. There are some quality new images via Wade Meyers - but this could have been so much better! My second major criticism concerns the artwork - which is dull, lifeless and seems to be somewhat undersized for the page size to my eyes. I didn't like it at all and it compares poorly to the artworks previously rendered on this unit. All in all a disappointing package & a sad return to somewhat indifferent form for Osprey after the recent superlative Forsyth titles in this series. On balance -if pressed- I'd say it's still worth purchasing for the author's vibrant & extensive text and if I could I'd award this an additional half star for that alone..but not the fourth! Could have been much better, especially given the involvement of that passionate 4th FG enthusiast Wade Meyers

Nice tribute
I suspect that since the last review, maybe changes have been made.
My copy has different cover artwork to the one depicted above, mine features a superb Mark Postlethwaite painting of Grover Siems P-51 in combat with 109's during the Shuttle Mission.
I haven't got any complaints with the reproduction of the photographs either, and Chris Daveys' artwork is as good as ever.
I agree with the previous reviewer on the Hofer picture, I have a larger brighter version in another book, but it doesnt spoil my enjoyment of this Osprey title.
All in all, another fine tribute to the Fourth Fighter Group.