Historic aviation's book of the month

Air Classics, May 2001

Unknown war of the Flying Fortress: Impressive volume chronicles the career of the Boeing B-17 in the Pacific

When an aviation enthusiast hears about the Boeing B- 17 Flying Fortress, it is usually in the context of that famous aircraft's career in the ETO. However, before the ETO there was the Pacific War. Flying into Hawaii at the height of Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941, the Flying Fortress was in the war from the very start of America's involvement. Fighting from the Philippines to Australia, and from Hawaii to Guadalcanal, the Flying Fortress played a significant role at Coral Sea, Midway and the Bismarck Sea. The B-17 was one of America's instrumental weapons against the rushing tide of Japanese imperialism.

Perhaps the most famous of all American WWII aircraft, the B-17 has yet to have an in-depth volume devoted to its Pacific War. That has all been changed with Fortress Against the Sun by Gene Eric Salecker (published by Combined Publishing for a very reasonable $34.95). The book not only tells the history of the B-17 in the Pacific theater but of the men who flew it, fought in it, serviced it, and lived with the B-17. Drawing extensively from primary sources, including letters, diaries, postwar memoirs, government documents and squadron histories, the author tells the history of the operations and story of the men in the air and on the ground - the strategy and tactics along with the mud, the rain, the heat, and the insects. The book also has a complete list of the Pacific Fortresses showing their serial, name if any, and final fate. Recommended. Order from Historic Aviation at 1-800-225-5575.