The 8th fought the best Zero pilots, and took the war to the enemy with P-38s over Rabaul and Hollandia.

Beginning operations in April 1942 with a shoestring flight of four Lockheed F-4 Lightnings (the photo-recon version of the famed P-38), the 8th Photo Squadron gave the American Army Air Forces its only aerial reconnaissance coverage of the Southwest Pacific during the first part of the war. From the first days over New Guinea until the final sweeps over Japan the squadron struggled with the world's most treacherous weather and faulty equipment as well as a resolute Japanese enemy to write an astounding record of keeping the 5th Air Force pictorially informed. The 8th Photo Squadron participated in every campaign from Buna to Hollandia, Lae to Rabaul, the Philippines to the invasion of Okinawa. The squadron played a part in such famous battles as the Coral Sea and Bismarck Sea. Its first commander was Karl Polifka, who went on to be listed in the first rank of American reconnaissance. This book is comprised of over 500 photos - most of which have never been published before - many from the archives of squadron veterans. Many new facts are added to the annotated squadron diary that was kept when the 8th operated almost singlehandedly during 1942 and 1943.

The epic story of one of the highest scoring fighter units in the southwest Pacific. Aces included McGuire, Loisel, MacDonald, Roberts and Bong.

The P-38 Lockheed Lightning was produced in response to the requirement for a long range, high speed and high altitude fighter to escort the USAAF's expanding B-17 bomber fleet. Powered by supercharged Allison engines, the type went into action both in Europe and the Pacific. This volume deals with the aces of the latter theatre of war who used the P-38 to accrue some of the highest scores achieved by any Allied fighter pilots in World War II. Pilots like Dick Bong (40 kills) and Tom McGuire (38 kills) led the kill listings for over 50 pilots who made aces whilst serving with the Fifth and Thirteenth Air Forces.