Kevin A. Mahoney is a 20th-century military history specialist. He has written articles about military history and is author of Formidable Enemies: The North Korean and Chinese Soldier in the Korean War (2001).
The Strategic Bombing Campaign of World War II played a critical
role in defeating the Axis powers. The Fifteenth Air Force played a
significant role in that campaign. Twentieth-century military
historian, Kevin A Mahoney, gives the reader the Fifteenth Air
Force Against the Axis: Combat Mission over Europe in World War II
by providing a 'detailed combat history of the crucial role played
by this air force from November 1943 through May 1945. Presented by
month in chronological order, Mahoney describes all the major
bombing and fighter missions … it highlights the purpose and
importance of the month’s operations, and reviews the Luftwaffe’s
resistance and changes in tactics and important developments in the
Fifteenth Air Force’s organization.' Each chapter includes: an
introduction; the evaluation of the strategic campaign; the purpose
and highlights of that month’s operations; the Luftwaffe’s
resistance and changes in tactics; and alterations in the overall
makeup of the Fifteenth Air Force’s organization. We see the
day-by-day, month-by-month, and year-by-year losses to the crews
and aircraft, the shifts in targets, and an overview of how the
general war was progressing. In addition to the usual notes and
table of contents, the sources and bibliography is simply marvelous
as are the four appendixes and list of individual targets. A sample
of a typical entry is on page 170: July 6 1944. We learn of attacks
in Verona, Italy by fifty-three B-17’s with an escort of thirty-six
P-51s by parts of two Bomb Groups on railroad marshaling yards. The
flak was intense and a smoke screen was present, in addition to
being attacked by four German fighters (which they confirmed one
shot down), they lost one bomber and one fighter themselves.
Details like this extend for several more paragraphs. This work is
highly recommended.
*American Reference Books Annual*
If you’re really interested in details about Fifteenth Air Force in
World War II, this is the best book out on the topic.
*Air Power History*
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