Clash of Eagles: USAAF 8th Air Force Bombers Versus the Luftwaffe in World War II

by Martin W. Bowman

This is the story of the air war over Western Europe, told first hand by the American and German pilots and aircrew who took part. It spans the period between 1942 and 1945 and covers the encounters between the audacious Luftwaffe fighter pilots and the Fortress and Liberator bomber crews of the American 8th Air Forces flying from East Anglia.

Many unique experiences are recounted from both the night and day bombing raids that were hurled against Hitler's war machine. What was it like to fly through the dense flak over the Ruhr and against the German Experten and to be hit by machine gun and cannon fire from Focke Wulf 190s and Bf 109s? How did so many badly damaged bombers manage to struggle back, against all odds, to their East Anglian bases?

The author has sought the experiences of German fighter pilots, who explain how they stalked their prey in the sky over the Reich and how they pounced on their four engine victims from 12 o'clock high. This book contains vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of air warfare and contains many previously unpublished action photographs.

Genres: History, Aviation, World War II, War, Military Fiction

522 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

Martin W. Bowman is one of Britain's leading aviation authors, with over 100 published books on the Second World War and post-war aviation history, and several on the landscape of East Anglia. He has also established an international reputation for his superb imagery and aerial photography. He has a passion for flying in military aircraft. He lives in Norwich, Norfolk.

Reviews

[Sandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Details! Yikes!

I love reading about the flyers in WWll. But oh my! Too many details and repetitive stories! I almost got a headache figuring out who was telling about which flight! Could have been told so much more simply and been so much more enjoyable to read!
I admire all flyers, my uncle was one of the pilots to complete over 25 missions, but this was way too much information for someone who didn’t need every tiny detail! Also I wish photos could have been inserted in the store rather than at the last page.

[Joel Ungar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting but exhaustive detail

Most interesting parts were when the author weaved stories from the American bomber pilots with the Luftwaffe fighters who opposed t hem. The straight text could get tedious.

These men were all heroes.

[Ed Richards · Rating 4 out of 5]

Exciting, frustrating, even sometimes sad about the war over Europe with good comments from both American and German airmen. What a great loss of both men and material in war. You like flying you will experience some of that as you live the narration of what it was like to be there.

[Ben Palm Beach. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fantastic Read..

[Jeff · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book a bit of a slow starter, but it's worth the read. The highlights of the book are lots of firsthand accounts, from participants on both sides of the action. While not a complete history of the daylight bomber campaign by any means, Clash of Eagles provides the "you are there" feeling that many histories lack.

[Gary Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awsome!