Summary of James Holland's Big Week

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book.

Sample Book Insights:

#1 By 1943, Britain had been in the war for almost two years. The Battle of the Atlantic had been won, meaning the Allies could plan the road to final victory. The USA had become an arsenal of democracy by December 1941, but the journey there had begun in the summer of 1940.

#2 Air power was central to both Britain and America’s military growth, and a key part of their strategy. However, the weather was becoming a constraint, and American pilots had a better chance of survival than any other air combatants.

#3 American fighter pilots had plenty of high-octane aviation fuel, and with just one operational mission every few days, they had plenty of time to hone their skills. New pilots arriving to join the 56th Fighter Group were now entering an increasingly combat-experienced outfit.

#4 Gabreski was sent to England in 1942 to join the Eighth Air Force. He was assigned to the 61st Fighter Squadron, and was given command of B Flight. The American fighter group was much larger than the German or British equivalent, with about forty aircraft and four times the number of pilots.