Wolfpack Warriors: The Story of World War II's Most Successful Fighter Outfit

Flight Journal, Apr 2005

Wolfpack Warriors: The Story of World War II's Most Successful Fighter Outfit by Roger Freeman. Grub Street; 244 pages; $37.95.

The "Mighty 8th," as it was known, was one of the most powerful organizations the world had ever known. Based in England, its fighter units swept the Continent almost daily as the air war over Europe intensified-hunting German aircraft in the air and on the ground. For those on the Axis side, it must have been quite demoralizing.

Naturally, some of those 8th Air Force fighter units were more proficient than others. Reasons for that might include the effect of highly skilled veterans, time in the theater, having the proper equipment for the job at hand, a certain level of confidence in their abilities and the innate qualities of their leaders. One of those now legendary units was the 56th Fighter Group, known as "Zemke's Wolfpack."

The name reflected the respect they held for their charismatic leader, Hubert "Hub" Zemke. He was also surrounded by some of the best: Gabreski, Mahurin, Johnson and Shilling come to mind. They flew the huge Republic P-47 Thunderbolt with its devastating firepower and shot down more enemy aircraft than any other unit in the 8th.

The new book "Wolfpack Warriors: The Story of World War IFs Most Successful Fighter Outfit" might at first seem to be just another unit history. Eighth Air Force authority Roger Freeman has, however, compiled a volume of first-person accounts based on his interviews with these veterans through the years. The book is both informative and enthralling as the pilots describe their experiences. This one is definitely hard to put down.