Zemke's Wolfpack: The 56th Fighter Group in World War II

by William N. Hess

A look into Hub Zemke's life in World War II This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0879386223
• ISBN13: 9780879386221
• Release Date: January 1992
• Publisher: Motorbooks International
• Length: 192 Pages
• Weight: 1.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 8.3" x 10.7"

Customer Reviews

A good history of the 56th FG in WWII

The author has done a good job of providing a very detailed account of the flying/fighting history of the 56th FG in WWII. This book is loaded with actual combat accounts from the pilots and general discriptions of daily sorties...actually, that's primarily all the book is. If you're looking for something on Zemke himself, this probably isn't the book for you. The author takes a more general approach, detailing each kill of this historical fighter group and never really concentrating on any one pilot to any substantive degree. The author also provides a detailed Appendix with, among other things, a complete breakdown of the kills of the 56th (including planes destroyed, buy who, and on what day). Thus it serves as both a good "read" generally as well as a handy reference source. The only complaint I have with the book is that the writing is somewhat cumbersome in that it reads like a reference manual at times.

Top Guns of USAAF

This is a very good book, but author William Hess makes one mistake: in the beginning, the American pilots are learning how to fight their inexperience in aerial gunnery and air combat; the next moment, the German pilots seem to be stupid and begin falling like flies from the sky under the guns of the 56th!!! This lead us to a point: we will never know how the outcome of the air battles over Germany would be, if the numbers were more or less equal on each side. Another thing missing in the Apendix is the number of missions flown by each pilot in the Group (at least the aces listed) and the total of casualties and prisoners of war. The good point is, as always, the reports from the pilots theirselves.

A look into Hub Zemke's life in World War II.

A wonderful look into Hub Zemke's life. One of the topaces of World War II for the Americans, was the commanderof the 56th Fighter Group, which was the most successful of the war. There are a lot of details here that make this book one of the best. Hub is a quiet and reserved man, and this book isin't here to toot his horn. Its here to give us a look into how the war was fought in the skies of Europe, where all you have is your wingman, and whats left in your ammo cans. Great book!