Jigger Tinplate & Redcross: The 359th Fighter Group in World War Two
Author: Kent D. Miller
Publisher: Academy Pub IN
Edition: First
Cover: Soft
Published: 1987
Fighters
Synopsis: This detailed unit history chronicles the combat operations and achievements of the 359th Fighter Group, one of the distinguished fighter units that served with the Eighth Air Force during World War II's European campaign. The book provides comprehensive coverage of the group's formation, training, deployment to England, and extensive combat operations over occupied Europe and Germany. Through meticulous research and extensive use of primary sources, the narrative documents the group's transition from a training unit in the United States to an elite combat organization capable of conducting both escort and ground attack missions. The work explores the unique challenges faced by the 359th as they adapted to European combat conditions, including adverse weather, sophisticated enemy defenses, and the psychological pressures of sustained combat operations. Personal accounts from group members provide vivid descriptions of daily life at English bases, training procedures, and the camaraderie that developed among airmen facing mortal danger on a regular basis. The book chronicles the group's participation in major air campaigns, including escort missions to Berlin, support for D-Day operations, and the systematic destruction of German transportation and industrial targets. Technical discussions explain the evolution of fighter tactics and aircraft modifications that improved combat effectiveness, while detailed mission reports reveal the planning and execution of complex operations. The narrative examines the leadership that made the 359th effective, profiling commanding officers and key personnel whose decisions and innovations contributed to the group's success. Combat statistics and victory claims are analyzed in context, showing how the group's achievements contributed to overall Allied air superiority over Europe. The book also addresses the human cost of operations, documenting casualties and the impact of combat losses on unit morale and effectiveness. Photographs and personal memorabilia bring the story to life, while maps illustrate the geographical scope of the group's operations across Europe. Through comprehensive research and engaging narrative, this work preserves the legacy of a fighter group that exemplified the skill, courage, and determination of American airmen during World War II's air campaign against Nazi Germany.
Jigger Tinplate & Redcross: The 359th Fighter Group in World War Two, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.
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