Patton's Eyes in the Sky: USAAF Tactical Reconnaissance Missions-North West (Air War Classics)
Superb book covering combat reports,technical descriptions of aircraft and equipment of mostly unkwoon combat of american tactical photo reconnaissance squadrons from D DAY to V DAY in western Europe A gold mine for the enthusiast and for modellers --By Georges-Bernard WescheAn excellent coverage of the little known subject of photo and tactical reconnaissance missions over the battlefield of Europe.Well written and comprehensive history. --By trevorb26During World War II, USAAF fighter pilots and bomber crews get all the publicity while their reconnaissance counterparts got table scraps. Yet the information and photographs the various recce units supplied to Allied commanders was invaluable in winning the final victory. In the ETO, the 10th Photo Reconnaissance Group performed yeoman service, utilizing its F-3A Havoc, F-5 Lightning and F-6 Mustang aircraft in a wide variety of roles. Its efforts won the Group a DUC. Tom Ivie profiles this outstanding if unsung unit in this excellent 2003 Ian Allan release. During WW II, the 10th PRG was assigned to the XIX Tactical Air Command, spending much of its combat career aiding Patton's Third Army and other Allied units pushing across France and into Germany. During its service, the Group had its various squadrons carrying out high- and low-altitude photo recce, night photo recce, front line area searches, route recces and artillery spotting along with guiding USAAF fighter-bombers to targets. Aside from accomplishing those missions, four 10th PRG pilots also found time to notch up five kills and become aces. Ivie does a wonderful job of explaining and relating the work done by those brave pilots and crews, having corresponded with many 10th PRG vets. Ivie's engaging text is complimented by over 250 b&w; and color photographs and 15 pages of drop-dead gorgeous color profiles by Tom Tullis. Visually PATTON'S EYES IN THE SKY is a delight. In short, Ivie's book is an outstanding, well-researched and well-illustrated tribute to the 10th PRG...and a great read. Military aviation history doesn't get much better than this, folks. Highly recommended. --By Michael OConnor