Author: Richard M Baughn
Born: 26 Sep 1923
Bio: Why I wrote my book “The Hellish Vortex.” 

A few years ago, I read a "Best Seller" about a World War II P-51 pilot flying combat with the British based 8th U.S. Army Air Force. It was an easy and enjoyable read, but didn't tell the story. 
Since I had flown P-51's in combat with the 8th AAF during WWII, I decided to try my hand. I wanted to present a historically accurate accounting of the air war and a realistic story about how the young airmen lived, fought and died. It took several years to finish a carefully researched historical novel that tells what a 19-year-old fighter pilot saw and felt while flying in the fiercest aerial combat the world has ever seen. 
But the story goes beyond what the young fighter pilot experienced. He learned how the U.S. Army ground forces and Navy had for years battled to stifle the development of Army airpower. It was a rivalry that started with the Army's reluctant purchase of its first aircraft in 1909 and continued until WWI. After WWI, the battle intensified and delayed the USAAF's preparedness for WWII. Following WWII the Army and Navy fought even harder to prevent the US Air Force from becoming a separate and equal service. The young fighter pilot also learned how American/British politics sometimes diverted the air effort from vital targets. Essential elements of these factors have been woven into the story to give it greater depth.
Most Americans rightfully believe the D-Day invasion of France to be the centerpiece of the battle to end the Nazi occupation of Europe. Almost forgotten are 60,000 American/British airmen who were shot down or killed during the two years preceding D-Day--battling the Luftwaffe and reducing Germany's military might to make the invasion possible. Although heavy air losses continued during the larger and more devastating air attacks that followed D-Day, much of that story has also been overlooked or downplayed. 
While flying combat, it was obvious the US Army Air Forces in Europe suffered high losses. But I never realized how high they were and was surprised to learn that 41,802 American airmen were killed from the force of approximately 100,000 pilots, navigators, bombardiers and aerial gunners who fought in Europe. By comparison, the US Navy, with a force of 3.3 million, lost 36,950 during WWII and 19,733 Marines were killed from a total force of 475,604
Despite the airpowers enormous contribution during WWII, its detractors have de-emphasized it in the war against Germany. But the Wehrmacht generals and their men, who were on the receiving end of American/British air attacks, knew the true effectiveness of their air attacks. They said that the superior American and British airpower had been a major factor in Germany's defeat. In addition, General Omar N. Bradley, who commanded American ground forces in the D-Day invasion of France and the capture of Germany, said after the war, "From the high command to the soldier in the field, German opinion has been agreed that airpower was the most striking aspect of the Allied superiority."
My book is dedicated to the airmen of the U.S. Army Air Force who served in WWI and WWII and to the millions of past, present, and future airmen of the United States Air Force.