Hell Hawks Book

Thunderbolts of the Hell Hawks

The 365th Fighter Group in Photos, Stories and Profiles

39.99 Hell Hawks Book

Product Article by Don Barnes on Nov 5 2019

      

Ninth Air Force P-47 units have long deserved recognition for their significant contribution to victory in WWII. Their war was close to the ground, dive-bombing and strafing in support of the US Army on D-Day in Normandy, and through France, Belgium and Germany. “Thunderbolts of the Hell Hawks” offers a personal view of one of the most decorated and effective P-47 units in the Ninth Air Force. This rich, visual account of the 365th Fighter-Bomber Group, the “Hell Hawks”, is presented in 320 pages with over 500 photos, most published for the first time. The book also features 98 thoroughly researched and detailed color profiles of their Thunderbolts, illustrated by Don Barnes. All but three of the aircraft profiled have languished in obscurity for the past 65 years, brought to light for the first time here.

 

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Published with full cooperation of the 365th FG Association, and with the kind help of the men and families who shared memories and personal photos, this book is a testament to their strength, courage and sacrifice helping bring an end to the war in Europe. 

“There can be no doubting the importance of the U.S. Ninth Air Force in the liberation of Europe and specifically the crippling of German transport and military infastructure in Northern Europe, but its essential role has been traditionally under-represented in print and other media.

62 pages near the back of the book are dedicated to colour profiles by Don Barnes. These are large, attractive and detailed. 98 profiles are included, some with scrap views of nose art or starboard side profiles where the details differed. Each profile is accompanied by a description of the aircraft, with some including a more detailed account of operations. The profile section would be worthy of a standalone book by itself. 

Book reviews here on HyperScale will often categorise a title as either best suited to the armchair historian or as a good reference for modellers. Thunderbolts of the Hell Hawks” has managed the tricky balancing act of catering to both groups without compromise.

"If you have the slightest interest in the Thunderbolt as a modelling subject, or the operational history of the P-47D Thunderbolt, this book is for you”.
—Brett Green
Hyperscale

Available at hellhawksbook.com

Don Barnes

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Photos and text © by Don Barnes