An Ace of the Eighth An American Fighter Pilot's Air War in Europe

343 Pages·2007·2.32 MB·English

by  Fortier Norman J

Table of Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Acknowledgments
“LET’S GET ’EM!”
High Flight
Prologue
Foreword
Flight Training
Primary
Basic
Advanced
Operational Training
The Queen
Steeple Morden
September 1943
DeCosta’s Art Studio
October 1943
November 1943
December 1943
January 1944
February 1944
A Squadron
B Squadron
March 1944
April 1944
May 1944
June 1944
July 1944
Rest and Recuperation
Meanwhile, Back at the War . . .
October and November 1944
December 1944
January 1945
February 1945
March 1945
April 1945
May and June 1945
Glossary
Epilogue
Copyright Page
To Jane
My loving wife and best friend
Acknowledgments
“Memory isn’t the first thing to go,” I’m told, but it certainly doesn’t improve
with age—at least not in my case. I had to rely on several sources—and people
—to fill in large gaps. Among the many whose help was invaluable: Burt Sims,
whose contribution to this book was written more than fifty years ago, when he
wrote the diary-style History of the 354th Fighter Squadron. Without the
squadron’s history to jog my memory, I couldn’t have written it with any degree
of accuracy. A professional writer, Burt also gave me helpful tips when I started
working on this book.
Colonel Ray Shewfelt, USAF (Ret.), flew combat missions with the 2d
Scouting Force at Steeple Morden, and was assigned to the 358th Fighter
Squadron for administration. Ray took on the monumental task of copying the
histories of all 355th Fighter Group units from microfiche records at the USAF
Historical Society at Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama. He is the
acknowledged, though unofficial, group historian. He allowed me to borrow his
copy of the 354th Squadron history—more than a thousand pages—for months
at a time. More importantly, Ray was an invaluable font of information about
our chain of command, other Eighth Air Force units, bomber tactics, and even
Luftwaffe units. He was a constant source of encouragement and support.
Bill Marshall is the son of 355th legend Bert Marshall, and the author of
Angels, Bulldogs, and Dragons. He furnished details of Bert’s career before and
during World War II, and important information about another 355th legend,
Clay Kinnard. He gave me unlimited access to his large albums of photographs
of 355th people, aircraft, and events.
My thanks also to my friend Gordon Smart, who helped edit my first draft.
When I review that draft today, I realize what a chore that must have been.
The one indispensable person in all this was Eric Hammel, author, historian,
and publisher at Pacifica Press, California. It was Eric who told me—four years
ago—that I had to write a book, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer. I
dragged my way through the first draft. In retrospect, I wonder why he didn’t
return it to me with a short note: “I was wrong!”
Instead, he went through it page by page, making marginal notes as well as
corrections, all the while recording a running commentary on audiotape. He was
not only editing my early effort, he was also teaching me to be a better writer.
This book would not have been written without his help. I shall always be
grateful to him.
My sincere appreciation to all.
“LET’S GET ’EM!”
About fifteen miles northwest of Bremen, I spotted five Focke-Wulf 190s at
two o’clock, heading southwest at about fifteen thousand feet. We were above
them and up-sun, so they didn’t see us. “Let’s get ’em!” I radioed to the flight.
“Everybody take one.” My plan was to make one pass and keep going because
we were all getting low on fuel, especially Taylor. We didn’t have enough for a
prolonged dogfight.
Back up to full power, I started the dive toward the two 190s on the left. Perry
went after the three on the right. My speed built up considerably as I closed on
the one at the left of the formation. I started firing at about three hundred yards,
closing to a hundred yards, firing all the way from dead astern and slightly
above.
He never knew what hit him. . . .
Books published by The Random House Ballantine Publishing Group are
available at quantity discounts on bulk purchases for premium, educational,
fund-raising, and special sales use. For details, please call 1-800-733-3000.