{"product_id":"through-blue-skies-to-hell-americas-bloody-100th-in-the-air-war-over-germany","title":"Through Blue Skies to Hell: America's \"Bloody 100th\" in the Air War over Germany","description":"\u003cp\u003eThis book provides a comprehensive look at the air war over Europe during the climactic year of World War II  combining firsthand experience with expert analysis. The centerpiece of the work is a mission-by-mission diary of 1st Lieutenant Richard R. Ayesh  bombadier on a B-17 Flying Fortress  who flew with the 100th Bombardment Group  13th Combat Wing of the 8th Air Force-the legendary \"Bloody 100th.\" He was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross  Croix de Guerre  Air Medal with Four Oak Leaf Clusters  and numerous other medals.  This book follows Ayeths progress from his youth during the Great Depression in Wichita  Kansas  a city which at the time was rapidly becoming the air capital of the nation  to his arrival in England as a Lieutenant in a bomber crew assigned to assault the Third Reich.  Once in Europe  the author provides a comprehensive look at the principles of American daylight strategic bombing  while relaying to the reader the overall military situation on the ground and in the air over Europe just after D-Day. This work is uniquely self-contained and covers all aspects of the Air War in a clear  concise  yet non-technical manner. Topics include photo-reconnaisance  munitions and bomb types  combatant aircraft characteristics  fighter tactics  bomber tactics  bomber formations  strategic target selection  combatant and defensive radars  counter-measures (and counter-counter measures)  logistics  ground crews  and air scouts. The author  interweaving his analysis with the urgent firsthand diary of a participant in the Bloody 100th  describes the air war in full fashion  in the process revealing a number of insights. Throughout 35 combat missions  the unaltered combat diary of Lt. Ayesh is presented mission-by-mission  punctuated by tragedy and unbelievable heroism  with explanations and commentary on the significance of the events and actions described en route. The result is one of the most frank and exciting works on the air war over Europe to date.  There is no varnishing of words in this book  either through the diary or the analysis that accompanies it. Instead  after the gallant Lt. Ayesh is followed on his perilous return home in U-boat infested waters  the book assesses the effectiveness of US strategic daylight bombing in crippling and ultimately paralyzing the Nazi war machine. Finally  the complex moral issues raised by area bombing  city bombing and the controversies surrounding them are explored  all with 21st century implications.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"My Store","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44987137359925,"sku":"ByrdShop_193203367X","price":32.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9781932033670_21a32d1b-19a9-4398-8cde-48668f4ad670.jpg?v=1772688821","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/through-blue-skies-to-hell-americas-bloody-100th-in-the-air-war-over-germany","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}