Two-Man Air Force: Don Gentile and John Godfrey: World War II Flying Legends

by Philip Kaplan

American volunteers Don Gentile and John Godfrey flew together as leader and wingman respectively, with the USAAF 4th Fighter Group based at Debden near Cambridge. At the end of their missions with the 4th the two of them had accounted for over 58 enemy aircraft destroyed. Major Gentile had scored 22 air and 6 ground kills before he was returned to the USA to help raise money for the war effort. Major Godfrey was credited with 18 air and 12 ground kills before he was shot down and taken prisoner of war.

This is the story of their amazing adventures and wartime partnership from their basic training in Canada and then onto England where they first flew the Supermarine Spitfire. It continues with their transfer to the USAAF 4th Fighter Group when the US entered the war.

These two ace pilots loved life as much as flying - and as well as being hell-bent on destroying the enemy in the skies of Europe they also lived life to the full in their off-duty time in England.

224 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've always been interested in the flying aces of the world and Don Gentile was an Ohioan as am I so I was really interested to read a book about the incredible combat flying team of Don Gentile and John Godfrey. I found "Two-Man Air Force: Don Gentile & John Godfrey World War Two Flying Aces" and bought it. I have to say that it was a major disappointment. Very little of the book was actually about the two pilots. It I mostly a collection of after action reports in which the author merely segues and the book is poorly put together. For instance, in the chapter entitled "Thunderbolt" the author adds reports involving Mustangs into which, in the book, the squadron had not yet transitioned. If you like to read mission reports but don't care if they're in chronological order, this is a good book for you. Otherwise, pass on it.

[Paul Browne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting and informative. Although it is fairly technical and there are long extracts from various Pilots' Flying Logs.