{"product_id":"p-38-lightning-vs-bf-109-north-africa-sicily-and-italy-1942-43-paperback","title":"P-38 Lightning Vs Bf 109: North Africa, Sicily and Italy 1942-43 - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eEdward M. Young\u003c\/b\u003e (Author), \u003cb\u003eGareth Hector\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator), \u003cb\u003eJim Laurier\u003c\/b\u003e (Illustrator)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAn exciting account of the aerial battles fought by the USAAF's P38 Lightnings and the \u003ci\u003eJagdflieger\u003c\/i\u003e's Bf 109Gs for dominance over North Africa and the Mediterranean.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eUSAAF fighter pilots experienced a baptism of fire when flying the technically advanced but fragile P-38 Lightning over North Africa in the wake of 1942's Operation \u003ci\u003eTorch\u003c\/i\u003e. Their opponents were battle-hardened \u003ci\u003ejagdflieger\u003c\/i\u003e of the Jadgwaffe, flying the tried and tested Bf 109 in its very lastest \u003ci\u003eGustav\u003c\/i\u003e iteration. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Responsible primarily for escorting USAAF bombers attacking \u003ci\u003eAfrika Korps\u003c\/i\u003e installations in Tunisia, the P-38 units in North Africa had to develop effective tactics to defend the bombers against Luftwaffe fighter attacks. For several months the Lightning squadrons had to also cope with shortages of aircraft and spare parts, steady losses and a lack of replacement pilots. To survive, American aviators had to learn quickly. While it is difficult to definitively attribute victories in air combat, in the air battles over Tunisia and later over Sicily and Italy, the claims made by Lightning pilots were comparable to Luftwaffe claims for P-38s destroyed. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Edward M. Young turns his attention to the bitterly fought air war in North Africa and the Mediterranean in 1942-43. Using original archival sources, official records and first-hand accounts from both USAAF and Luftwaffe veterans, as well as newly commissioned artwork and 50 carefully selected photographs from official and personal archives, this book sees two of the most iconic piston-engined fighters of their era pitted head-to-head for control of the skies in a key theatre of World War II.\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eEdward M. Young\u003c\/b\u003e is a retired financial executive with a BA degree in Political Science from Harvard University and an MA from the University of Washington. In 2015 he received an MA in the History of Warfare from King's College, London and in 2020 completed a PhD in History at King's College. During his career he had assignments in New York, London, Tokyo, and Hong Kong. He is the author of numerous books and articles on aviation history. He lives with his wife in Seattle, Washington. \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThis volume is illustrated by \u003cb\u003eGareth Hector\u003c\/b\u003e (cover and battlescene artwork) and Jim Laurier (engaging the enemy, armament, cockpit and aircraft three-views)\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 80\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.21 x 9.76 x 7.22 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e November 21, 2023\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51765032452384,"sku":"9781472859549","price":23.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0974\/9764\/5344\/files\/1bffd6c01165fbdd4d838d2969d4c679.webp?v=1780260955","url":"https:\/\/ebocreations.com\/products\/p-38-lightning-vs-bf-109-north-africa-sicily-and-italy-1942-43-paperback","provider":"The E-Book Oasis LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}