Hell Hawks! The Untold Story of the American Fliers Who Savaged Hitler’s Wehrmacht by Robert F. Dorr and Thomas D. Jones, Zenith Press, Osceola, Wis., 2008, $24.95.
Hell Hawks! tells the story of the 365th Fighter Group, which fought a little-known war packed with riveting action. It departs from the standard format of unit histories— usually photographic compilations accompanied by a day-to-day resume of events gleaned from official documents—by relying on a beautifully written narrative, bolstered by firsthand accounts, to chronicle the hard-hitting fighter group.
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolts of the 365th’s three squadron were flown for the most part by young pilots new to combat. Their task, close air support, was not as glamorous as the fight for air superiority, but it was far more important to the advancing American forces. It was also far more dangerous, for while the Allies largely won the contest for air superiority by February 1944, the Germans continued to improve their antiaircraft defenses until the last days of the war.
This is an intensely personal recounting of one of the most successful air campaigns in history. While it has more than its share of gripping battle stories, its defining element is the vivid presentation of the personalities of ordinary men doing extraordinary things. Hell Hawks! sets a new and defining standard for unit histories. It includes 16 pages of excellent photos—and best of all it doesn’t forget to tip the hat of history to the enlisted and noncommissioned personnel who made it possible for the pilots to be heroes.
Originally published in the March 2009 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here.
