Howell Press

Before Centuries USAFE Fighters 1948-1959

by  MSG David Menard, USAF (Ret.)

Reviewed By  Jim Pearsall, IPMS# 2209

MSRP: $34.95 ISBN: 1-57427-079-6 Available from Amazon.com (www.amazon.com then search for "David Menard") The basics: Hardbound, 228 pages, A4 (11 ¼ w X 8 ¾ h). Over 250 photographs, most color. NOTICE: This book is no longer available as a "new" book. The publisher has gone out of business. There are still like new and new copies available. I want to thank Brian Baker for making me aware of this book, and lending me the review copy. The Book: USAFE was created in August of 1945 to bring some sort of order to post-WW2 Germany, and evolved into the air arm for NATO. Its' first missions were to disarm the Luftwaffe, assist in the occupation of Germany, and to dispose of surplus property. As the Cold War began, this mission changed, with the Berlin Airlift and standing alert as interceptors and nuclear strikers. This book is the story of the first days of USAFE, and it carries on through to just before the arrival of the F-100, F-101, F-102 and F-104. These last aircraft are the "Centuries" referred to in the title. The book covers each Wing equipped with fighter aircraft in USAFE. Each wing is covered by a full page of text, followed by several pages of really great photos. The early ones are black & white, but the 50s jets are all in glorious color, with an eye for showing serials and unit markings. 10th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 20 Fighter-Bomber Wing 21st Fighter-Bomber Wing 39th Fighter-Bomber Wing / Fighter Day Wing 48th Fighter-Bomber Wing 50th Fighter-Bomber Wing 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing 81st Fighter Interceptor Wing / Fighter-Bomber Wing 86th Fighter-Bomber Wing / Fighter Interceptor Wing 388th Fighter-Bomber Wing 406th Fighter-Bomber Wing/ Fighter Interceptor Wing 45th Fighter Interceptor Squadron / Fighter Day Squadron 324th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 357th Fighter Interceptor Squadron 431st Fighter Interceptor Squadron I found the text to be a pretty good synopsis of each unit's history, plus a few gems of marking information which you can't get from the photos. But it's the photos that make this book a worthwhile reference. The Aircraft The aircraft aren't all jets, if that's what you expected. The P-47 (F-47 after 1947) soldiered on until 1950, when they were replaced by F-84Gs. Obviously the little girls in the picture have a pretty good idea of what Daddy does when he goes to work. Aircraft featured are P-47D / F-47D P-80 / RF-80 F-84E/G F-84F / RF-84F F-86D / F-86F / F-86H Notice that there aren't any P-51 / F-51s in there! Not a one! I found this particular photo to be of particular interest. Not much was said (Secrets, you know) about the F-86 as a nuclear bomber. And I suspect that there are NO photos of either F-86s or F-84s standing alert with "special weapons" loaded. Probably anyone caught taking such a photo, or possessing one would be shot immediately, and shot again, just in case. There were Soviet Spies around. And just because you're paranoid doesn't mean your fears are groundless. Overall Evaluation This book pulls together a lot of information about a time in the US Air Force's history that has been pretty much ignored. This was USAFE's "between the Wars" period, between WW2 and Vietnam, when the equipment was in flux, and the missions were changed, and the whole mission was ignored, or at least not talked about in public. Dave Menard has brought together a lot of information in one book. I found the photos fascinating, and I really like this book. How much do I like it? I bought a copy for my reference library.

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