Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer: An American Fighter Pilot Over Europe

by Philip D. Caine

Overview

In 1941, before America entered World War II, determined young LeRoy Gover signed on with Britain’s Royal Air Force to fly the plane of his dreams, the fast, sleek Spitfire. When America joined the fight, he transitioned to the powerful P-47 Thunderbolt. Former USAF pilot and aviation historian Philip D. Caine has skillfully selected from the young flyer’s letters and diary entries to create a vivid portrait of the kind of man who helped win the war. A story of great courage, Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer is a testament to the many other brave men who served.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781574888447
Publisher:	Potomac Books
Publication date:	09/01/2005
Series:	The Warriors
Pages:	430
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x (d)
Age Range:	13 Years

About the Author

Brig. Gen. Philip D. Caine, USAF (Ret.), has more than 4,500 hours of flight time, taught military history at the U.S. Air Force Academy, and is the author of American Pilots in the RAF (Brassey’s, Inc., 1993) and Aircraft Down! Evading Capture in WWII Europe (Brassey’s, Inc., 1997). He lives in Monument, Colorado.

Editorial Reviews

"Aviation buffs will smell the gunpowder."

"An enthralling account of courage, humor, and a bit of luck."

"A wonderful tale of one man’s love of flying . . . a remarkable story."

"Spitfires, Thunderbolts, and Warm Beer is one of the most important books to emerge on World War II air combat, for while it deals with the gripping dogfights, it also paints a marvelous picture of a young American fighter pilot’s life in wartime Britain. Philip Caine has excerpted the diary of a great combat leader to paint a true picture that is filled with rarely noted details of life on the ground as well as in the air. It is undoubtedly one of the best personal accounts of the war."

"Philip Caine has constructed a spellbinding account of an American fighter pilot’s life ‘over there’ in war-torn Britain. His unobtrusive commentary enhances the dramatic contents of LeRoy Gover’s diaries and letters. They portray the triumphs and tragedies of aerial combat as well as the pleasures and constraints of life in blacked-out but defiant London. This is an outstanding addition to the best books on World War II."

From the Publisher