What do you think?
Rate this book
Blood and Fears: How America's Bomber Boys of the 8th Air Force Saved World War II
The US 8th Air Force came of age in 1944. With a fresh commander, it was ready to demonstrate its true power: from Operation Argument in February—targeting German aircraft production plants—to bringing the Luftwaffe to battle over Berlin, the combined US Air Force-Royal Air Force forces’ round-the clock campaign bottled up the German army in Normandy.
Day after day, the American bomber boys watched their comrades burn to death in blazing bombers, or observed their comrades being thrown out of exploding aircraft without parachutes and sink with their crippled aircraft in the freezing North Sea. But by the following spring they had destroyed the Nazi’s fighting spirit and saw Germany broken in two.
In this authoritative history, Kevin Wilson reveals the blood and heroism of the 8th Air Force. At the same time, he opens up the lives of the Women's Army Corps and Red Cross girls who served in England with them and feared for the men in the skies, and he hasn't flinched from recounting the devastation of bombing or the testimony of shocked German civilians.
Drawing on first-hand accounts from diaries, letters, and his personal audio recordings, the author has brought to life the ebullient Americans' interaction with their British counterparts, unveiling stories of humanity and heartbreak. Thanks to America's bomber boys and girls, the tide of World War II shifted forever.
Day after day, the American bomber boys watched their comrades burn to death in blazing bombers, or observed their comrades being thrown out of exploding aircraft without parachutes and sink with their crippled aircraft in the freezing North Sea. But by the following spring they had destroyed the Nazi’s fighting spirit and saw Germany broken in two.
In this authoritative history, Kevin Wilson reveals the blood and heroism of the 8th Air Force. At the same time, he opens up the lives of the Women's Army Corps and Red Cross girls who served in England with them and feared for the men in the skies, and he hasn't flinched from recounting the devastation of bombing or the testimony of shocked German civilians.
Drawing on first-hand accounts from diaries, letters, and his personal audio recordings, the author has brought to life the ebullient Americans' interaction with their British counterparts, unveiling stories of humanity and heartbreak. Thanks to America's bomber boys and girls, the tide of World War II shifted forever.
560 pages, Hardcover
First published May 12, 2016
34 people are currently reading
768 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Wilson
5 books8 followersKevin Wilson has spent most of his working life as a staff journalist on British national newspapers, including the Daily Mail and latterly the Daily and Sunday Express. He is married with three grown-up sons and a daughter.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
September 16, 2017
A fresh perspective on the latter history of the Mighty Eighth?
This was nearly an effectively done by Mr Wilson, in the words of the Air and Ground Crew and support staff of the Eighth Air Force. The horror of exploding cannon shells, aircraft falling apart and crewmen ejected into space without parachute is rendered all the more immediate by the lack of hyperbole. The many Calvaries of the 'Bloody Hundredth' occasionally make for chilling reading.
This concentrates on the Americans in England in 1944 and '45, dealing with both Bomber and Fighter commands, the Red Cross girls who helped them get back in those planes with smiles and kind words and the English people whose world changed forever when help came from overseas.
I thought the passages dealing with bomber crashes in England were fascinating, a point of view not often acknowledged in full. Mr Wilson has created an excellent companion to his trilogy on R.A.F. Bomber Command. Highly recommended.
This was nearly an effectively done by Mr Wilson, in the words of the Air and Ground Crew and support staff of the Eighth Air Force. The horror of exploding cannon shells, aircraft falling apart and crewmen ejected into space without parachute is rendered all the more immediate by the lack of hyperbole. The many Calvaries of the 'Bloody Hundredth' occasionally make for chilling reading.
This concentrates on the Americans in England in 1944 and '45, dealing with both Bomber and Fighter commands, the Red Cross girls who helped them get back in those planes with smiles and kind words and the English people whose world changed forever when help came from overseas.
I thought the passages dealing with bomber crashes in England were fascinating, a point of view not often acknowledged in full. Mr Wilson has created an excellent companion to his trilogy on R.A.F. Bomber Command. Highly recommended.
September 2, 2020
As he's done with RAF Bomber Command, author Kevin Wilson has written a book about the experiences of American servicemen and women in England during the last 18 months of World War II. Although not as expansive as the author's trilogy on Bomber Command, this book is similar in that it's loaded with personal experiences of those who were there: pilots, aircrew, support personnel, Red Cross workers and others who served and/or supported the American 8th Air Force. Most of the book centers around the crews of the B-17 and B-24 bombers, but there are a few fighter pilots thrown in here and there, along with the occasional RAF mention and a few Luftwaffe mentions.
This is not a comprehensive book on the 8th AF's war in the last 18 months of the war, but it gives a good glimpse into many of the difficulties the men and women had to deal with on the road to final victory over Germany. There are a few editing details which could have been cleaned up, but overall, a good read on the American experience in the bombing war over Germany.
This is not a comprehensive book on the 8th AF's war in the last 18 months of the war, but it gives a good glimpse into many of the difficulties the men and women had to deal with on the road to final victory over Germany. There are a few editing details which could have been cleaned up, but overall, a good read on the American experience in the bombing war over Germany.
September 12, 2020
Excellent recollection of part of American WWII flying experiences, including D-Day. Cried, laughed, and reminded myself what they fought for and what this day added to America’s history. They would’ve been proud of us that day! ❤️🇺🇸❤️
Clear and entertainingly narrated by David Marantz.
Clear and entertainingly narrated by David Marantz.
August 12, 2020
As a fan reading anything and everything about World War II, I was impressed with the personal stories included in Blood and Fears: How America's Bomber Boys of the 8th Air Force Saved World War II by Kevin Wilson. I've read a number of accounts of the air war in Europe but this one has details of daily activities, missions, and captures the mood among the flight crews as they are chased by enemy fighter planes and flying through walls of flack thrown up in their paths. The author gathered facts and personal accounts from diaries, letters, and audio recordings to bring to life these stories of life in war conducting 24-hours a day bombing missions. He also adds details of Women's Army Corps and Red Cross nurses caring for the returning wounded airmen and stories of those shot down who were captured or those lucky enough to evade the search teams and making their way back to safety aided by partisans. Other books I have read have been very good although they mostly were focused on some other aspects of WWII that included parts of the Air War in Europe or a specific mission in more detail. The author's writing style puts you right in the middle of the action. Definitely recommended for WWII buffs as well as war in the air.
June 27, 2017
" Blood and Fears" is a history of the Mighty 8th Air Force based in England during WWII. The book does not cover the entire war years, but only form the winter of 1944, when the 8th. began massive deep penetration raids into Germany to the spring of 1945 and the end of hostilities.
It is not a military history of strategy and tactics. There is some of that, just enough for the reader to understand the mission of the USAAF in Europe. Mostly it is about the men, those young pilots and gunners and crewmen captured forever young in the pictures of them posed under the Plexi-glass noses of their B-17's or B-24's for the photographer.
Despite their youth, or because of it, the men looked poised and confident, even a bit cocky. But that was before the deep missions into Germany where they faced death or maiming in ways they could not then imagine.
Their personal stories are what set "Blood and Fears" apart from other histories of the air war in Europe, Nearly every page contains their own stories, in their own words, taken from private diaries or from the author's interviews. They testify to seeing friends mangled, burned, speared by flak and torn apart by cannon fire. Of watching horrified as aircraft nest to them in the combat boxes they flew in for protection colliding in the fog, or disappearing in a flash of firey smoke. or spinning down in flames. Sometimes there were parachutes, often not.
And the next morning, they got up to prepare for another mission.
To us , in these pampered, safe times, it is hard to overstate their courage. These were 18 to maybe 25 year- old men who grew up fast and fought hard. the phrase " the greatest generation" is almost trite now, but if you read this book, you will agree that it is well deserved.
It is not a military history of strategy and tactics. There is some of that, just enough for the reader to understand the mission of the USAAF in Europe. Mostly it is about the men, those young pilots and gunners and crewmen captured forever young in the pictures of them posed under the Plexi-glass noses of their B-17's or B-24's for the photographer.
Despite their youth, or because of it, the men looked poised and confident, even a bit cocky. But that was before the deep missions into Germany where they faced death or maiming in ways they could not then imagine.
Their personal stories are what set "Blood and Fears" apart from other histories of the air war in Europe, Nearly every page contains their own stories, in their own words, taken from private diaries or from the author's interviews. They testify to seeing friends mangled, burned, speared by flak and torn apart by cannon fire. Of watching horrified as aircraft nest to them in the combat boxes they flew in for protection colliding in the fog, or disappearing in a flash of firey smoke. or spinning down in flames. Sometimes there were parachutes, often not.
And the next morning, they got up to prepare for another mission.
To us , in these pampered, safe times, it is hard to overstate their courage. These were 18 to maybe 25 year- old men who grew up fast and fought hard. the phrase " the greatest generation" is almost trite now, but if you read this book, you will agree that it is well deserved.
April 17, 2021
This was an awesome history of first persona accounts of the 8th Air Force in Britain during WWII. It derived content mostly from bomber crews but also included fighter pilots, maintenance men, admin staff, and even red cross workers. I haven’t read a book with this many first person accounts derived from interviews, letters, and diaries. So that was awesome. However, I had to give it 2 stars because it was written so poorly.
The book was written so poorly that it was hard for me to keep track of what was going on/pay attention. It had really awkward sentences riddled in passive voice, ex:
“The concerted and prolonged battle over Germany the US Army Air Force was to win over the next five days had been a long time in coming.”
Some sentences also were soooo long and scattered that I had to re-read them a few times to figure out wtf was going on. Ex:
The few veterans now coming to the end of tours which had begun in late summer remembered with horror the dreadful mauling the Groups had suffered in attempts to neutralize the Liftwaffe in the double-strike missions to Regensburg and Schweinfurt on 17 August, a running battle in the sun across the skies of Germany costing the USAAF sixty of the 370 aircraft it dispatched and which Lt. Col. Beirne Lay Jr, an observer from 8th Bomber Command headquarters, described as ‘a sight that surpassed fiction.’”
While the research was great, the writing and editing itself was horrendous. This book took me so much longer to get through than it should have just because I had to re-read a lot of portions/read them super slow. It’s such a shame.
The book was written so poorly that it was hard for me to keep track of what was going on/pay attention. It had really awkward sentences riddled in passive voice, ex:
“The concerted and prolonged battle over Germany the US Army Air Force was to win over the next five days had been a long time in coming.”
Some sentences also were soooo long and scattered that I had to re-read them a few times to figure out wtf was going on. Ex:
The few veterans now coming to the end of tours which had begun in late summer remembered with horror the dreadful mauling the Groups had suffered in attempts to neutralize the Liftwaffe in the double-strike missions to Regensburg and Schweinfurt on 17 August, a running battle in the sun across the skies of Germany costing the USAAF sixty of the 370 aircraft it dispatched and which Lt. Col. Beirne Lay Jr, an observer from 8th Bomber Command headquarters, described as ‘a sight that surpassed fiction.’”
While the research was great, the writing and editing itself was horrendous. This book took me so much longer to get through than it should have just because I had to re-read a lot of portions/read them super slow. It’s such a shame.
July 8, 2018
We were just doing our job. And what a job it was by the boys, men and women serving in the US 8th Air Force in England in 1943-1945. Kevin Wilson does a masterful and complete job in bringing the sights, sounds, and statistics to us over 70 years later. For example, did you realize that "by 1944 the US Air Forces had 2.4 million flyers and support personnel?" And, furthermore, "at its peak in 1945, the 8th in England had 200,000 men?" And, finally,"More than 26,000 men were killed flying with the 8th Air Force?" What a force! What a price!
Wilson gives us a taste for the terror of combat by relying on first person accounts from the guys who flew through the flak, fought through the Sturmboks and nursed the big bombers back to the English countryside. We also follow the story of Kay Brainard, the sister of two US airmen who served and were shot down over Germany. Kay volunteered with the American Red Cross to bring sandwiches, coffee, and a shoulder to the fliers as they returned from their missions. Kay was determined to learn what became of both brothers - and by the end of the book we learn the fate of both brothers.
This book is a wonderful story told at multiple levels. We get a glimpse of the strategy that the US 8th Air Force was trying to achieve throughout their brief involvement in the ETO. We learn about the machines that were used to deliver the strategy: B-24 and B-17 heavy bombers along with B-47 and B-51 fighters. We experience the terrors of air battles and the thrill of a flyer sitting next to a musical icon, Glenn Miller.
We had a job to do. That is what the survivors said on their return home. Such a understated reply to a proclamation of thanks. And, thanks to the job that Mr. Wilson did in pulling together his research and giving us a view into the life of these brave men and women. Finally, we have a job to do to never forget the sacrifice and attitude of service of these warriors.
It is impossible not to be moved by this book. Well done, Mr. Wilson!
Wilson gives us a taste for the terror of combat by relying on first person accounts from the guys who flew through the flak, fought through the Sturmboks and nursed the big bombers back to the English countryside. We also follow the story of Kay Brainard, the sister of two US airmen who served and were shot down over Germany. Kay volunteered with the American Red Cross to bring sandwiches, coffee, and a shoulder to the fliers as they returned from their missions. Kay was determined to learn what became of both brothers - and by the end of the book we learn the fate of both brothers.
This book is a wonderful story told at multiple levels. We get a glimpse of the strategy that the US 8th Air Force was trying to achieve throughout their brief involvement in the ETO. We learn about the machines that were used to deliver the strategy: B-24 and B-17 heavy bombers along with B-47 and B-51 fighters. We experience the terrors of air battles and the thrill of a flyer sitting next to a musical icon, Glenn Miller.
We had a job to do. That is what the survivors said on their return home. Such a understated reply to a proclamation of thanks. And, thanks to the job that Mr. Wilson did in pulling together his research and giving us a view into the life of these brave men and women. Finally, we have a job to do to never forget the sacrifice and attitude of service of these warriors.
It is impossible not to be moved by this book. Well done, Mr. Wilson!
February 17, 2025
In 2017's "Blood and Fears," author Kevin Wilson takes readers into the skies of war-torn Europe as the U.S. Army Air Force's 8th Air Force mounts a strategic bombing campaign against Germany.
Taken from interviews and diaries of the combatants, these chapters begin in the winter of 1944 and highlight the bomber crews as they venture into Germany. The crews bombed aircraft production factories and later, oil facilities to gain air superiority prior to the D-Day invasion. Bomber gunners whittled down German fighters during numerous air battles.
"It was a brutal way to begin the last day of your life," Wilson begins. "The torch beam in the eyes, the cold hand on the shoulder and the chilling enlightenment: 'you're flying a mission today, breakfast in half an hour, briefing at 0515', by which many of the USAAF's young airmen were wakened at the English bases was guaranteed to concentrate the mind in a moment ... It wasn't just the cold of billet concrete which started limbs shaking and the mind racing as feet hit the floor, but knowledge of what had already been witnessed happening to others. The swift departure of a crew in a flak burst, the slowly spinning fall from formation of a fighter-crippled bomber ..."
The author covers all bases, including bases the airmen called home, the English girls who were attracted to the air fighters, what the airmen did on their off time, the American Red Cross girls who boosted morale at the bases, and the generals' tactics in America's first concentrated bombardment efforts.
"Blood and Fears" is an excellent read for students of military history as well as those less familiar with the air war in World War II.
Taken from interviews and diaries of the combatants, these chapters begin in the winter of 1944 and highlight the bomber crews as they venture into Germany. The crews bombed aircraft production factories and later, oil facilities to gain air superiority prior to the D-Day invasion. Bomber gunners whittled down German fighters during numerous air battles.
"It was a brutal way to begin the last day of your life," Wilson begins. "The torch beam in the eyes, the cold hand on the shoulder and the chilling enlightenment: 'you're flying a mission today, breakfast in half an hour, briefing at 0515', by which many of the USAAF's young airmen were wakened at the English bases was guaranteed to concentrate the mind in a moment ... It wasn't just the cold of billet concrete which started limbs shaking and the mind racing as feet hit the floor, but knowledge of what had already been witnessed happening to others. The swift departure of a crew in a flak burst, the slowly spinning fall from formation of a fighter-crippled bomber ..."
The author covers all bases, including bases the airmen called home, the English girls who were attracted to the air fighters, what the airmen did on their off time, the American Red Cross girls who boosted morale at the bases, and the generals' tactics in America's first concentrated bombardment efforts.
"Blood and Fears" is an excellent read for students of military history as well as those less familiar with the air war in World War II.
August 2, 2020
My uncle, my mother's brother, was a pilot in WWII. My mother said that when he returned home, as he slept he would relive some of the missions he had completed. She said that he would scream out in terror. After reading this book, I more fully understand what he went through. Freedom certainly does come at a price. This was an excellent depiction of the air battle over Western Europe as the Air Force aided in the defeat of Hitler. Highly recommend it.
November 8, 2020
I found this to be an incredibly fascinating historical account of the European Theatre of Operations (ETO) during WW II. The book goes into details the daily life of the bomber crews and the fighter pilots who flew in support of them, as well as covering the ground operations and life in England during this period. I have always admired this unique chapter in the history of this world, and this book does not disappoint.
March 19, 2023
It was certainly a long read, but enjoyable most of the time. Seemed to bounce a bit or back track. Maybe it was me, but didn't flow in some places. But loved the stories of the brave folks, and what they went through and how bad this war, or any war, really is to those in it, or affected by it. This is one more vote for have 1/2 star voting options too. This isn't a 5, and not really as low as a 4.
December 28, 2019
A highly detailed account of the 8th Air Force’s campaign during WWII in Europe. Kevin Wilson describes the various missions with specificity at the level of individual names. You can imagine the highs and lows of bombing missions across Europe. I enjoyed the personal nature; tragically, sometimes the stories blur together due to the indiscriminate and repetitious nature of war.
July 6, 2020
It was a very good book, very enlightening. I learned a lot, from first hand accounts, such as the Swiss had an internment camp where they held downed British and American fighter pilots, and the Brits' fighter planed used 303 instead of the 50 call Americans used, which accounted for a higher loss as they needed to get in closer to be effective.
December 15, 2017
A really good read, particularly for a war buff...but it lacks a real defined flow and sort of wanders from story to story, air raid to air raid. For this reason the book had portions that dragged a bit...but overall this was a really engaging and well written piece.
August 24, 2020
Informative but not in a dry way. I learned a lot about the brave soldiers and the auxiliary personnel needed to fly these daring raids across Europe. I recommend to anyone interested in WWII, especially in air warfare and how it played out in the European campaign.
December 21, 2022
I searched, in vain, for any reference to my uncle John Mayfield, who flew his B17 back from Germany with his pilot dead at the controls next to him, and his one leg nearly severed from the same flak hit
August 5, 2017
And interesting book.
December 1, 2018
Excellent book.
May 14, 2023
Great book
A very detailed account of the of the air war in Europe. Highly recommend. One of the best books on this subject.
A very detailed account of the of the air war in Europe. Highly recommend. One of the best books on this subject.
February 18, 2017
Blood and Fears: How America's Bomber Boys of the 8th Air Force Saved World War II by Kevin Wilson is a stunning recounting of the horrors and heroism of the pilots during WWII. With a sparsity of words to describe the bloodshed of the wounded and dying, the pain and misery seem that much more poignant. The author does not dwell on the bloodshed, but if he did, it would destroy the impact of the words he uses.
This is a powerful contribution to show the tremendous sacrifices that were made under the worst circumstances and not always incidentally as a result of war, but with men very willfully advancing to their deaths, often saving others and sometimes making it out themselves. Readers will be less generous in using the word "hero" after reading this.
You won't find a drama-infused, gory thriller here, but will find a concise and true portrayal of of men and boys who risked all and often gave everything, and somehow, looking onto the mouth of Hell, made a dramatic difference in the tide of WWII so the civilized world would not fall to the Third Reich.
This is a powerful contribution to show the tremendous sacrifices that were made under the worst circumstances and not always incidentally as a result of war, but with men very willfully advancing to their deaths, often saving others and sometimes making it out themselves. Readers will be less generous in using the word "hero" after reading this.
You won't find a drama-infused, gory thriller here, but will find a concise and true portrayal of of men and boys who risked all and often gave everything, and somehow, looking onto the mouth of Hell, made a dramatic difference in the tide of WWII so the civilized world would not fall to the Third Reich.
February 7, 2017
***Honest Review, Book Acquired from a Goodreads giveaway***
It was great. Right up my ally. WWII and Aviation all in one. It is a match made in heaven.
Blood and Fears is a book about the 8th Air Force. The American Bomber boys did save World War II. This book explained how.
The thing I really loved about this book is that it was not written like a non-fiction book. It was not an overload of stats. It was a great mixture of stats, facts and first hand accounts from the Airman who where there.
The 8th Air Force was a group with many back stories. Many people coming from many different parts of the US. All there for one common goal. Their goal was to defeat Hermann Göring who was the leader of the Luftwaffe. Ultimately their main goal was to make the German forces and people helpless and give them a sense of defeatism. The 8th turned the tied of war.
The 8th used daylight bombing to pound targets while the Royal Air Force did daylight raids. They would nail targets day in and day out. The crews of the B-17's and B-24's would fly log mission in a unpressurized plane. In subfreezing conditions. It was was not glamorous up there. The crews would have to not only fight the Nazi pilots but would have to fight low moral and home sickness. When the war started 25 missions was what a crew member would need to fly to get sent home. Moral hit the fan when that 25 mission number was pushed to 35. The mortality rate was high. Many man would be hit or see their friends hit.
War may have been hard but the mental images of what the men saw is something you can never erase.
If you like history, WWII, and aviation. You will like this book.
It was great. Right up my ally. WWII and Aviation all in one. It is a match made in heaven.
Blood and Fears is a book about the 8th Air Force. The American Bomber boys did save World War II. This book explained how.
The thing I really loved about this book is that it was not written like a non-fiction book. It was not an overload of stats. It was a great mixture of stats, facts and first hand accounts from the Airman who where there.
The 8th Air Force was a group with many back stories. Many people coming from many different parts of the US. All there for one common goal. Their goal was to defeat Hermann Göring who was the leader of the Luftwaffe. Ultimately their main goal was to make the German forces and people helpless and give them a sense of defeatism. The 8th turned the tied of war.
The 8th used daylight bombing to pound targets while the Royal Air Force did daylight raids. They would nail targets day in and day out. The crews of the B-17's and B-24's would fly log mission in a unpressurized plane. In subfreezing conditions. It was was not glamorous up there. The crews would have to not only fight the Nazi pilots but would have to fight low moral and home sickness. When the war started 25 missions was what a crew member would need to fly to get sent home. Moral hit the fan when that 25 mission number was pushed to 35. The mortality rate was high. Many man would be hit or see their friends hit.
War may have been hard but the mental images of what the men saw is something you can never erase.
If you like history, WWII, and aviation. You will like this book.
June 12, 2016
Fascinating view of a much told story
Easy to read informative and a interesting in site into the lives of US Airmen serving in the 8th Air Force
Easy to read informative and a interesting in site into the lives of US Airmen serving in the 8th Air Force
March 28, 2017
I am always humbled and awed when I read accounts of the 8th Air Force and what young men (many of them just kids barely out of high school) did to preserve our freedom. It is not much of a stretch to say they saved World War II. This book is filled with first hand accounts. The author also provides background information on the conditions at the bases and in England during that period plus how the locals and the Americans got along.
From a personal level, I read it while consulting the mission list of my uncle who served as a navigator on a B17 and was able to place him flying on several of the important missions during the crucial period of April through June 1944.
From a personal level, I read it while consulting the mission list of my uncle who served as a navigator on a B17 and was able to place him flying on several of the important missions during the crucial period of April through June 1944.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews