Eagle Editions

86th Fighter Group in WWII

by  Steve W. Luce

Reviewed By  Floyd S. Werner, Jr., IPMS# 26266

MSRP: $34.95 ISBN: 0-9761060-8-1 Review copy courtesy of Eagle Editions (www.eagle-editions.com) In the 1970s I remember buying a Revell 1/32nd P-47D Bubbletop with a record inside it. On the cover was some of the best box art that I have ever seen it was an 86th FG P-47D bombing a railroad yard. Its red and white tail added color and character to the dramatic scene. Eagle Editions presents this hard back book with over 144 pages on high quality paper. There are over 200 photos and color profiles from Terry Higgins. The photos are a combination of color and black and white and all of great quality and large enough to see detail. The photos will inspire diorama possibilities. The text of the book is easy to read. Written by the son of one of the unit members this book is a labor of love and it shows. Besides the normal movement stuff there are personal stories interspersed throughout the book and these add the human perspectives. Learning on A-24s and A-31 Vultee Vengeance before finally settling on the A-36 and P-51As the 86th started out WWII like most units, formed in the states and shipped out to the combat zone. The 86th started the war in North Africa and progressed to Sicily, Italy, France and finally Germany. This book follows the victories and tragedies of the unit in its deployment. The introduction of the red and white tails came about with the P-47s. Every type of P-47 is shown from the razorback to the P-47D-40s. The individual markings are great. There is even a really unique shark mouthed P-47 that looks so good that it begs to be modeled. Unique markings including code letters are just some of the interesting things you will find in this book. The nose art is previously unpublished. Some of the neat things this book contain includes celebrities that visited the 86th, such as Marlene Dietrich, Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. It would have been even more appropriate if they had visited them in North Africa or even Casablanca. One thing you don't see in most WWII history books is what happened after the war, not this one. You see how the group occupied Europe. They were given hand me down aircraft and there is one in this book that I didn't expect to see, "Tarheel Hal". There is a very nice shot of the markings around the cockpit prior to repainting. There are unlimited diorama ideas contained in this book. The quality of the pictures is well worth the price of the book. Previously unpublished photos and the great drawings are the quality that you would expect from Eagle Editions. I can only say that this is a must have book for the historian and modeler. For those of you who have the Accurate Miniatures kit of the A-36/P-51A this book will inspire you to build them. The same can be said of the many P-47 kits out there. You will enjoy this book as much as I did. There are plenty of photos for you to enjoy in various markings on various types of airplanes. I sincerely hope that Eagle Editions does at least one set of decals from this book. There is nothing to not like about this book. I enjoyed the whole book it is professionally done, unpublished photos, wonderful profiles and easy to read text. The author and profile painter should be commended for a great job. Highly recommended. Thanks to Eagle Editions for the review copy. You can obtain your copy directly from Eagle Editions at www.eagle-editions.com, or by calling them at 1-800-255-1830. When you order them tell them you saw it here.

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