Aces of the 78th Fighter Group
by Thomas McKelvey Cleaver, Osprey Publishing, Oxford, UK, 2013, $22.95
This is more than just another entry in the superb Osprey “Aces” series, because the fast-paced prose is tempered by the writing skills of veteran author Thomas McKelvey Cleaver. While it maintains the usual Osprey format of excellent, well-captioned photos, deftly annotated color profiles and reams of data, Aces of the 78th Fighter Group is far more readable than most thanks to Cleaver’s time spent writing for films. In a volume packed with vivid personal narratives, he manages to segue smoothly from one experience to the next, bringing the reader along with him.
Beginning with the start of the U.S. air offensive in Europe in 1943, Cleaver presents the triumphant progress of the 78th Fighter Group through the war. Saddled at first with early Republic P-47s, with their well-known deficiencies in climb and turning flight, the group received progressively improved versions of the Thunderbolt until it converted to North American P-51s in December 1944. Its success could be attributed in great measure to the leadership provided in the early days by well-liked Colonel Arman Peterson.
Most readers will appreciate the way Cleaver applauds the ground crews who made the aces’ efforts possible, as sufficient credit is rarely given to these men. While they were never in immediate danger as were the aircrews, their vitally important work was difficult and often conducted under miserable conditions.
The depth of Cleaver’s research shines through in his meticulous accounting of dates, times and places. Equally important, his writing accurately portrays service personnel as representative of a significant portion of the nation’s population—a far cry from the situation today, when only a small percentage of U.S. citizens are involved in its defense.
Originally published in the May 2014 issue of Aviation History. To subscribe, click here.
