WITH A COLOR PHOTOGRAPH SIGNED BY RENOWNED WWII ACE DONALD BLAKESLEE

BERNSTEIN, Jonathan. P-47 Thunderbolt Combat Missions. New York: Metro Books, (2015). Quarto, original pictorial boards, original dust jacket. $300.

First edition of this comprehensive photo-illustrated work on P-47 combat missions, with photographs of the era and line drawings, many in color. With a tipped-in 8 by 10 color photograph of 15.5 victory ace Donald Blakeslee, boldly signed by him.

"The P-47 Thunderbolt was a true workhorse fighter in World War II, an aircraft respected as much for its toughness as is combat power… The P-47 flew and fought across Europe, the Mediterranean, the China-Burma-India Theater and the Pacific." Don Blakeslee flew more combat missions against the Luftwaffe than any other American fighter pilot. By the end of the war he had racked up 15.5 aerial victories to his credit.

Fine condition.