What do you think?
Rate this book
Fighter Group: The 352nd "Blue-Nosed Bastards" in World War II by Jay A. Stout
Jay Stout breaks new ground in World War II aviation history with this gripping account of one of the war's most highly decorated American fighter groups. Vivid descriptions of aerial combat in P-47 Thunderbolts and P-51 Mustangs, along with veteran interviews and after-action reports. The 352nd was part of the famed Eighth Air Force and fought in the European theater. The group's nickname comes from the noses of the unit's planes, which were painted blue.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
63 people are currently reading
92 people want to read
About the author
Jay A. Stout
23 books32 followersJay A. Stout is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot. An Indiana native and graduate of Purdue University, he was commissioned during June 1981 and was designated a naval aviator on 13 May 1983. His first fleet assignment was to F-4S Phantoms at MCAS Beaufort, South Carolina. Following a stint as an instructor pilot at NAS Chase Field Texas from 1986 to 1989, he transitioned to the F/A-18 Hornet. He flew the Hornet from bases on both coasts and ultimately retired from MCAS Miramar during 2001.
Aside from his flying assignments, he served as the executive officer of 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, and in a variety of additional assignments with various staffs around the world. During his twenty-year career he flew more than 4,500 flight hours, including 37 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm.
Following his military career Stout worked for a very short time as an airline pilot before being furloughed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He subsequently flew for the Kuwait Air Force for a year before returning to the States where he now works for as a senior analyst for a leading defense contractor.
Lieutenant Colonel Stout's writing has been read on the floor of the U.S. Senate and has been published in various professional journals and newspapers around the nation. Works published while he was on active duty addressed controversial topics (women in the military, the MV-22 Osprey, effectiveness of the AV-8B Harrier, etc.) and took viewpoints that were often at odds with senior military leadership. Nevertheless, his cogent arguments and forthrightness contributed considerably to his credibility. Indeed, his expertise is widely recognized and he has made many appearances as a combat aviation expert on news networks such as Fox, Al Jazeera and National Public Radio.
Aside from his flying assignments, he served as the executive officer of 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company, and in a variety of additional assignments with various staffs around the world. During his twenty-year career he flew more than 4,500 flight hours, including 37 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm.
Following his military career Stout worked for a very short time as an airline pilot before being furloughed after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. He subsequently flew for the Kuwait Air Force for a year before returning to the States where he now works for as a senior analyst for a leading defense contractor.
Lieutenant Colonel Stout's writing has been read on the floor of the U.S. Senate and has been published in various professional journals and newspapers around the nation. Works published while he was on active duty addressed controversial topics (women in the military, the MV-22 Osprey, effectiveness of the AV-8B Harrier, etc.) and took viewpoints that were often at odds with senior military leadership. Nevertheless, his cogent arguments and forthrightness contributed considerably to his credibility. Indeed, his expertise is widely recognized and he has made many appearances as a combat aviation expert on news networks such as Fox, Al Jazeera and National Public Radio.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
June 9, 2013
This is an excellent look at a USAAF fighter group at war. LTC Stout has done has done a superb job of conveying the feelings and activities of both the pilots and ground support people who made the pilots feats possible. This account is well researched and full of first person stories and accounts. While he mainly follows the leading aces, including George Preddy and John Meyer, he has accounts and stories from many, many members of the group. He recounts not just the combat the pilots experienced, but their daily lives as well – trips to London, daily life at Bodney, the group’s station in England, and later in the war an advanced field Belgium
The author follows the 352nd from it activation at Bradley Field Conn, thru to the end of the war in Europe. He looks at the personalities of its leaders and how they affected the performance of the various squadrons. In addition to the people who made up the group, LTC Stout looks at the evolving tactics employed by the 8th’s fighter groups. He also looks at some of the moral choices the pilots had to make while in combat, tells of pilots shot down and who evaded capture and those who spent the rest of the war in Stalags.
The author has produced a very readable telling of men at war and the stresses they face. I highly recommend it. If Goodreads allowed partial stars - 4.5
The author follows the 352nd from it activation at Bradley Field Conn, thru to the end of the war in Europe. He looks at the personalities of its leaders and how they affected the performance of the various squadrons. In addition to the people who made up the group, LTC Stout looks at the evolving tactics employed by the 8th’s fighter groups. He also looks at some of the moral choices the pilots had to make while in combat, tells of pilots shot down and who evaded capture and those who spent the rest of the war in Stalags.
The author has produced a very readable telling of men at war and the stresses they face. I highly recommend it. If Goodreads allowed partial stars - 4.5
May 6, 2015
Wouldn’t it be nice if everyone were perfect? But the fact is: Everyone has failures and faults.
The men from the 352nd Fighter Group might not have been perfect. They were ordinary guys, who became heroes, and they got the job done under horrific circumstances. On one day alone, the 352nd claimed 21 enemy kills. I wish I could say that all of them came back safely from their combat missions, but sadly enough some were killed.
The author doesn’t forget the ground crews, who were responsible for keeping the planes airworthy. It is not often that ground crews get the attention and respect they rightfully deserve.
The author is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot, and he knows his stuff. This is an interesting, albeit sad book at times. War is not a happy tune, but there were some fun times for these men, thank God. I have learned World War Two veterans aren’t run-of-the-mill people. Each one is remarkable and extraordinary in different ways. Most don’t think they were heroes - but they were just that!
I believe this is a book that is well worth taking the time to read.
Fighter Group: The 352nd "Blue-Nosed Bastards" in World War II is not an ordinary book - it is an exceptional one.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
I Saw the Light - A True Story of a Near-Death Experience
Forever in My Heart - A True Story of Coincidence and Destiny
Thomas, The Friendly Ghost - A True Story of Ghostly Encounters
The Rain Snake: A Children's Color Illustrated Book of the miracles of prayer and love
The men from the 352nd Fighter Group might not have been perfect. They were ordinary guys, who became heroes, and they got the job done under horrific circumstances. On one day alone, the 352nd claimed 21 enemy kills. I wish I could say that all of them came back safely from their combat missions, but sadly enough some were killed.
The author doesn’t forget the ground crews, who were responsible for keeping the planes airworthy. It is not often that ground crews get the attention and respect they rightfully deserve.
The author is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot, and he knows his stuff. This is an interesting, albeit sad book at times. War is not a happy tune, but there were some fun times for these men, thank God. I have learned World War Two veterans aren’t run-of-the-mill people. Each one is remarkable and extraordinary in different ways. Most don’t think they were heroes - but they were just that!
I believe this is a book that is well worth taking the time to read.
Fighter Group: The 352nd "Blue-Nosed Bastards" in World War II is not an ordinary book - it is an exceptional one.
Jeannie Walker (Award-Winning Author)
Fighting the Devil: A True Story of Consuming Passion, Deadly Poison, and Murder
I Saw the Light - A True Story of a Near-Death Experience
Forever in My Heart - A True Story of Coincidence and Destiny
Thomas, The Friendly Ghost - A True Story of Ghostly Encounters
The Rain Snake: A Children's Color Illustrated Book of the miracles of prayer and love
August 18, 2021
Audible.com 17 hours and 13 min. Narrated by Donald Corren (A+ Exceptional He even made motor descriptions sound interesting.)
One problem in reviewing an audiobook is that it is almost impossible to pick out a sentence or passage for use as quotations. Thus a sentence in the Epilogue which I can still remember might be noteworthy. The pilots of the most highly decorated fighter group of the USAAF experienced luck whether it be "the luck they made or the luck that tapped them on the shoulder." After listening to Jay A. Stout's "Unsung Eagles," I decided to listen to another of his highly-rated WW II books "Fighter Group." I didn't notice the length of the book (over 17 hours)before selecting it, but every single second was essential to the story including two chapters describing the different planes and engines. Every bit of information including all about cigarettes added to total image painted. By the conclusion I had a clear picture of the ordinary men that I think of as the Greatest Generation.
I must agree with GR reviewer Jeannie Walker that "this book is not ordinary; it is exceptional." If you are interested in WW II, this book is for you. Yes, this one I'm buying for my 12 year-old grandson for his future library.
I just wish there was a way to include illustrations, maps, and photographs with audiobooks. I did check Google for help.
One problem in reviewing an audiobook is that it is almost impossible to pick out a sentence or passage for use as quotations. Thus a sentence in the Epilogue which I can still remember might be noteworthy. The pilots of the most highly decorated fighter group of the USAAF experienced luck whether it be "the luck they made or the luck that tapped them on the shoulder." After listening to Jay A. Stout's "Unsung Eagles," I decided to listen to another of his highly-rated WW II books "Fighter Group." I didn't notice the length of the book (over 17 hours)before selecting it, but every single second was essential to the story including two chapters describing the different planes and engines. Every bit of information including all about cigarettes added to total image painted. By the conclusion I had a clear picture of the ordinary men that I think of as the Greatest Generation.
I must agree with GR reviewer Jeannie Walker that "this book is not ordinary; it is exceptional." If you are interested in WW II, this book is for you. Yes, this one I'm buying for my 12 year-old grandson for his future library.
I just wish there was a way to include illustrations, maps, and photographs with audiobooks. I did check Google for help.
February 20, 2015
Great book. Puts into perspective the fighter pilots point of view and you see how George Preddy was such a big part of it all. The transition from P-47 to P-51 is outstanding.
November 26, 2020
An absolutely outstanding book! This is a book about a fighter group and it is evident that in his writing the author (who was a fighter pilot himself) understands that the primary purpose for its existence was to fly and fight, not drink and carouse. I say that because SO MANY of the military aviation histories that I've read treat the flying as an afterthought or a side show and spend the majority of the pages on either trips to the nearest city to get drunk and find a woman or long drawn out folksy stories about growing up on the farm. This is not one of those books! The author does a wonderful job of blending veteran's accounts and recollections with official documents and even recollections from the adversaries. And while the focus is certainly on the flying he doesn't ignore the crew chiefs and the armorers and the staff personnel that made getting the aviators off the ground and into the fight possible. Others might certainly disagree, but for me this was the perfect balance and the right focus. It was one of those books I hated to see come to a close.
June 19, 2022
Very well researched, well written, and a lens into a part of WWII history that doesn't get much attention. Lots of technical information on USAAF (P-47, P-51) and Luftwaffe (BF-109, FW-190) aircraft as they compare to each other, since these were the primary matchups the 352nd faced. We meet and get to know a few of the key players and hear less about a host of others.
This work is about the day-to-day lives of the airmen who fought the battles in the skies over the channel and later over Europe. It is not a telling or analysis of strategy except in the barest sense. If one is looking for blow-by-blow accounts of aerial fights and the circumstances that surround them, however, then this book is for you.
This work is about the day-to-day lives of the airmen who fought the battles in the skies over the channel and later over Europe. It is not a telling or analysis of strategy except in the barest sense. If one is looking for blow-by-blow accounts of aerial fights and the circumstances that surround them, however, then this book is for you.
April 26, 2022
This is a really good chronicle of one of the most successful fighter groups in WWII. Lots of detail on their training, their missions, victories and losses. Heroism and tragedy were commonplace in the war, but it seems that the 352nd had more than its share of both. The only problem with the book is that it’s a bit long. Lots to cover, and it seems like not much was left out. If you like first hand accounts of the war, this is as good as it gets. I recommend it as an audiobook, but I’m sure it’s just as good as a hard copy.
August 5, 2019
Best Unit History
A comprehensive look at the men, airplanes and war of the 352nd Fighter Group. Pulls no punches while delivering a great story about a outstanding bunch of pilots and ground crew.
A comprehensive look at the men, airplanes and war of the 352nd Fighter Group. Pulls no punches while delivering a great story about a outstanding bunch of pilots and ground crew.
December 18, 2024
This is the same author as "JayHawk" and "Air Apaches" I liked both of books better, but this one was good. He used the documentation made during the war as well as more personal information (diary, letters, etc) to weave together a good picture.
August 29, 2021
A good history of a famous fighter group in WWII. Learned a great deal from their history.
February 4, 2022
Cool and crazy stories and this fighter Group through WW2. If you are into history and Aircraft, this a book for you.
October 4, 2022
What a fantastic account of aerial combat during WW2. I really enjoyed this book.
May 13, 2024
Audiobook
August 25, 2014
A long read. Started reading occasionally since summer 2013. It's bland, but has lots of good information about what it was like to be in a WWII fighter group.
Read
September 14, 2023An engrossing story for those interested in the European air war.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews