[Johan Willaert]

Just two weeks after releasing the GICG II, French publisher Histoire & Collections has released a new book about the 9AAF during WW2.
A companion to their 8AAF book, which has been available for about two years now, this book tells the story about that other US Air Force in the ETO during WW2. The 9th was mainly responsible for Tactical Bombing, Troop Carrying, Air Force Engineers etc....

The book is written in their well-known style combining WW2 pictures with modern color images of life mannequins and gear...

Sale Price in Europe is 41,95Euro and it's available in both French or English version.

Available from their website at:
http://livres.histoireetcollections.com/pu...-1942-1945.html


Johan

[Dubar1]

I'll have to check this out. My dad was in the 9th AF, 372nd FG, 407th FS. I have not been able to find a lot of info on this unit. Even if the book doesn't have unit breakdowns it'll still be nice to read a bit about the 9th.

[Johan Willaert]

I received my copy last Monday and have spent several hours looking at the many previously unpublished pictures in the book.

Using items and pictures from the collections of several advanced collectors and veterans, a general overview of the 9th AAF is given, illustrating its mission and units.
Not all units are represented, but rather typical examples of each 'branch' or 'specialty' of the 9th is covered.
There are many WW2 illustrations of both men, gear and planes and in real Militaria Magazine tradition, uniforms and equipment is described with real life 'mannequins' showing exactly how the equipment was used.

The book starts out with a chapter explaining the 9th's mission and composition, and the bases in England and the continent...

Following men and units are illustrated in the book:

*12th Bomb Group (BG)
*Cpl KIELEY, Photographer, 36th Fighter Group (FG)
*Several Pilots and Officers of the 344th BG
*Sgt LACKNER, Pilot, 14th Liaison Squadron
*Lt PLUMMER, Pilot, 362nd FG
*394th BG
*Lt DAVEY, Pilot, 440th Troop Carrier Group
*Several NCO, 386th BG
*Sgt BENEK, Armorer, 425th Night FS
*Several GI's, 405th FG
*Sgt GORDON, 926th Engineer Aviation Regt
*Sgt SICILIANO, 410th BG

No, not every single unit of the 9th is described in detail, but the pictures in the book should convince any USAAF collector to add it to his library.

Available from Histoire&Collections in both a French and an English version.

Price in Europe: 41,95Euro


JOhan

[Bart P]

I got my copy Friday...

It is indeed a very good book. I can only confirm what Johan said: nice pictures...

rgds
Bart

[jgawne]

I have not seen this yet, but the 8th AAF book is THE book I would bring with me if I was going to interview an 8th airman.
There is just so much stuff in it, that it would certainly jog out a few memories.

It is really well done , and I am not even that big of a fan of aviation stuff. So I suspect the 9th is done in the same way.

[John Cooper]

A new book from Histoire & Collections is a combination of historical information with an eye toward collector that provides an interesting cross section of units, equipment, and operations which is available from Casemate Publishing the US distributor.




I enjoyed the great reconstruction photos along with description of gear which gave me some great display ideas! This book contains numerous photos and color plates along with various charts and diagrams which really make this book a visual treat.

The historical overview is provided via snapshots and vignettes from various units that focus on specific airmen which provides a good feel for the types of units assigned to the 9th Air Force

I feel the modern reconstruction photos showing period uniforms flight gear and ephemera provide the reader a high quality visual connection to the men and machines that helped win the war in Europe.

In short I appreciated the overall format and content which strike a balance between the history of the 9th Air Force and the things we collectors love to collect.

Regards,

John


Author: Gergory Pons
Artist: Nicholas Gohin

[Dubar1]

Just got the book and the photos of the old planes and crews, and the "repro" photos are great for historians and modelers.

I'm just starting to read it, but so far have found nothing in reference to the 372nd FG or 407th FS (my dad's unit). It's almost conspicuous in it's absence, like it never existed. I'm sure it did as I have plenty of old paperwork referring to it.