"Losses of the 8th and 9th AF"/Bishop

[Jukka Juutinen]

Any reviews on this book (size, content etc)? This book was listed by Rudi Penker´s e-mail newsletter.

[John Beaman]

Jukka:

This book is A4 size, 542 pages on nice glossy paper. It covers, in this Volume 1, losses of the 8th and 9th AAFs from the start of the 8th's operation in 1942 through December 1943. The losses of the 12th AAF are also covered while it was in England. Lastly, the USN aircraft losses are also included.

The book is based mainly on MACR and apparently supplemented by unit records and personal data. The losses are arranged, chronalogically by month, bombers, then fighters. Each loss gives S/N, markings and name (if existing) crew names, rank, etc. and circumstances of the loss, where known. At the begining of each months listings there is a brief summary overview of the month's activities.

There are a number of photos, both familiar and not so familiar. However, this is not a modeler's book, but exactly what it says, loss records. You can find similar records in Project Bits And Pieces as well as Schieffer's books, but the former is very expensive. Also, this is the first time, to my knowledge anyone has compiled and published 9th AAF losses.

The book is not cheap, but it is worth it IMHO.

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

Yes a Great Book

To me it is well worth the price

I am looking forward to the Second part

There must be one planned

Covering 1944 - 1945

Alex

[John Manrho]

Well, if you want a reference on losses of the 8th and 9th AF, this is the best. Although I am a little biased....I know Jan Hey very well, living about 40 kilometres from where I live.... Anyway, the info goes further than MACR's. In many cases exact crash locations and sometimes info on burial locations is given. Cheers, John.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

Do the book only show operationnal losses or also crashes in UK and so on (for wich there are usually no MACR) ?

Any idea of the price ?

[John Beaman]

Laurent:

It shows all losses, even a/c which were salvaged. It is quite complete. Amazon UK shows it at 59 English pounds.

[Andy Fletcher]

Hi Laurent,

I can also recommend the book.

It lists all crew members, a/c serials, circumstances of loss.

Also includes 12AF losses whilst operating from UK and USN losses (FAW7).

At £59 I think it's well worth the price.

Best Regards

Andy Fletcher

[Ju88G1]

'Losses of the US 8th and 9th AIR FORCES' is worth its money - every cent of it. I am looking forward to the next volume!
But .... the pictures are quite bad. They are blurred and not well done. It is a pity with such a great book and probably falls back on the printer/publisher.
And ofcause there is a small error (there always are in big books) - Marienburg was not bombed on the 8th of October 1943 (page 391).

Besides that I strongly recommend the book and hope that people will buy the book so that the next volume can come out.
Carsten

[BennoT6]

Gentlemen,

Anyone out there having this book who can tell me if there are any losses of T-6 Texans mentioned ? Just wondering if already in this period T-6s were used by the Fighter and Bomber Groups. If yes, please let me know.

Regards,

Benno T6 Goethals, Netherlands

[John Beaman]

...then, by the USAAF and Harvard by the British. A quick look at the extensive appendices in the book on losses by a/c type and groups indicates none were lost, although several other British types are listed.

I would suspect that much of the AT-6/Harvard numbers were in Canada and other places under the Empire Training scheme.