Osprey Publishing Aviation Elite Units:

303rd Bombardment Group

by

Brian D O'Neill

Reviewed by Rodger Kelly

vailable online from Squadron.com

Aviation Elite Units is a new series from Osprey Publications. As the title states, the books concentrate on a single unit or squadron within in an organisation. Whilst similar in format and content of the Osprey Combat Aircraft series, the Aviation Elite series are more comprehensive and complete.

This book details the history of the 303rd Bombardment Group "Hells Angels", one of the pioneering Boeing B-17 equipped bombardment groups of the 8th Air Force during WWII.

The coverage is complete. It commences with the formation and training of the 303rd Bomb Group (consisting of the 358th, 359th 360th and 427th Bomb Squadrons) on 3 February 1942 at Camp Pendleton, Oregon in the United States and follows it throughout its operational life up to VE Day in 1945.

This book will appeal to those with an interest in WWII aviation. Understandably, the main focus is on the history of the 303rd however, it is written in a style that conveys both the "dry facts" and the human element of life in a bombardment group in an easy to understand and interesting format. Hard-core "facts and figures" fans are catered for with the provision five different appendices that cover individual histories of aircraft, the pilots who flew them and their ultimate fates as well as a list of targets attacked.

If you are a modeller who is looking for close-up photographs to detail your latest masterpiece then look elsewhere, however, the book does provide 39 excellent colour profiles (by Mark Styling) of the 303rd's aircraft as well as colour profiles of the artwork borne by a further 42 aircraft.

The book consists of 128 pages printed on glossy paper between cardboard covers.

Recommended.
 

Review Copyright © 2003 by Rodger Kelly
This Page Created on 17 June, 2003
Last updated 15 August, 2003

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