23rd Fighter Group

Chennault’s Sharks

23rd Fighter Group cover

23rd Fighter Group

Chennault’s Sharks

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Description

Staffed with inexperienced USAAF pilots and led by a handful of seasoned veterans of the American Volunteer Group (AVG), the 23rd FG was formed in the field at Kunming, in China, on July 4, 1942 and flew combat missions that same day. The group's three squadrons - the 74th, 75th and 76th Fighter Squadrons - were initially equipped with war-weary P-40s handed down from the AVG. These were supplemented by the attached 16th FS, flying new P-40Es, and all squadrons adorned the noses of their airplanes with fearsome and iconic sharksmouth designs.

The 23rd FG fought a guerrilla war against the Japanese, steadily moving pilots and aircraft from one remote air base to another to keep the enemy off balance. Because China could only be supplied by air from India, there were constant shortages of aircraft, fuel and ammunition with which to contend. The 23rd FG met these challenges head-on and by the end of the war its pilots had compiled a score of 594 aerial victories and nearly 400 ground kills. Among the 47 aces who flew in the 23rd were colorful characters such as David L 'Tex' Hill, Robert L 'Bob' Scott and Clinton D 'Casey'. The human cost was high, however - 126 pilots lost their lives in China while serving in the 23rd.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE
AVG PASSES THE BATON

CHAPTER TWO
CHINA AIR TASK FORCE

CHAPTER THREE
ACTION IN THE EAST

CHAPTER FOUR
MUSTANGS JOIN THE BATTLE

CHAPTER FIVE
BATTLING ICHI-GO

CHAPTER SIX
LONG HAUL TO VICTORY

Appendices
Colour plates commentary
Bibliography
Index

Product details

Published May 19 2009
Format Paperback
Edition 1st
Extent 128
ISBN 9781846034213
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Illustrations 126 b/w
Dimensions 248 x 184 mm
Series Aviation Elite Units
Short code AEU 31
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Carl Molesworth

Carl Molesworth is a former newspaper and magazine…

Illustrator

Jim Laurier

Jim Laurier is a native of New England and lives i…

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