by

Deniz Karacay

 

 

Title:           BLACK THURSDAY

 

Author:           Martin CAIDIN

 

Publisher:           Ballantine Publications NY

 

Pages:           288 pages

 

ISBN:           NO ISBN# Copyrighted in 1960                 

 

Price:           Bought at a trivial price at http://www.ebay.com

 

          Mission Number 115 may sound like an ordinary one, but for the 8^th Air Force the mission to Schweinfurt on October 14 1943 was anything but ordinary. In fact it was a costly disaster, which nearly stopped daylight offensive deep into Germany. It marked the low point for USAAF and high point for German fighters, a true turning point in aerial war in Europe. Ironically things would turn for better for the losers of Schweinfurt attack and get worse for the winners.

 

          Famous aviation writer Martin Caidin made extensively researched the event from both sides’ point of view, as was his custom. I especially like his books since he was able to show the human side of the story within this terrible mechanized war where in most books it seems it was machines not humans doing the fighting.

 

          The book lay out is excellent giving the picture and events before the mission, The Notes Selected At Random part contains interesting stories that you don’t want to miss. There are a few pictures and maps are provided together with all important final statistics (for 1960) and index.

 

          This book is an essential reading for aviation enthusiasts interested in Air War over Germany.