"DOWN TO EARTH" STRAFING ACES OF THE EIGHTH AIR FORCE (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces No 51 SPECIAL)

William Hess

"Like 'The Long Reach', 'Down to Earth' is a message from the battle at its height, told in their own words by the men who fight"--this is how BG Francis Griswold, VIII Fighter Command, ends his introduction to this book. His official endorsement reveals just how important a document 'Down to Earth' was to the teaching of tyro fighter pilots heading for action in the ETO. More leading aces were lost to flak while ground stafing than to German fighters, yet the tast of low-level attack continued to be a vital mission for all fighter groups in the ETO. Indeed, these sorties were so dangerous that the Eighth Air force deemed that ground kills would be give the same accreditation as aerial victories. Author William Hess has included a concise history of VII Fighter Command's ground strafing exploits, as well as biographies of the leading strafing aces, within 'Down to Earth.'  Please note: this book was purchased new from the publisher, however, the back cover has yellowed due to sitting on a shelf by the window. Price reduced. 120 pages