Flying In World War II

About the Book

Although the author’s story is mainly about the 1942-1945 period, he tells how he was involved in aviation from 1927 to the 1970’s. He was driven to fl y everything that he could during those years. His love of the Bell P-39 and the North American P-51 variants is quite evident. Th e majority of his wartime fl ying involved tactical reconnaissance, which can best be described as “aerial espionage.” He cites a German Army statement from after the war that credits the Allies superior intelligence gathering as being the deciding factor.

About the Author

Elden Williams was a pilot with the 107th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, 67th Tactical Reconnaissance Group, 9th Tactical Air Force, 9th Air Force, in the European Th eater of Operations, in World War II. He fl ew the F-6C, D and K variants of the North American P-51 Mustang in combat from December 1944 to the end of the war. Although this period of time is the basis for his story, his love of aviation, and his career in it, actually started during his fi rst airplane fl ight in 1927, and continued until the mid 1970’s. He retired from the USAF in 1966.