Warbird Information Exchange

Many years ago I saw an episode of Battle Stations on the P-51 and it had many WWII pilots on it including Blakeslee. All the pilots interviewed were very interesting, but Blakeslee seemed in a class by himself.

So ever since then I keep an eye out for other videos or books about Blakeslee. Don't seem to be many. There's a "video" of a radio interview with him.

Recently I read a book: "Tumult In The Clouds" by James Goodson.

This is a good book and different from other WWII Fighter Pilot books I've read in that you don't get a dry recitation of hours in primary, hours in basic, what instructors were like etc.

Goodson was in 4th Group and talks a lot about Blakeslee. Interesting stuff. Personality type stuff.

I'd like to read and see more about Blakeslee. Can anyone recommend books or videos?

Thanks!

I'm currently reviewing a book, "Wings of War," by David Fairbank White and Margaret Starback White (I assume his wife) that will be published on 6 December. It is already available on Amazon for prepurchase. It is essentially a meaty account of the ins and outs of the development and use of the P-51, and a good part of it is devoted to Blakeslee as the most spectacular "user" of the Mustang.

I think you'd enjoy the book even apart from its Blakeslee material.

I have several books I would recommend..

1000 Destroyed, The Life and Times of the 4th Fighter Group by Grover Cleveland Hall

The Debden Warbirds: The 4th Fighter Group in World War II (Schiffer Military History) by Frank E. Speer

Escort to Berlin: The 4th Fighter Group in World War II by Jeffrey L. Ethell and Garry L. Fry

I always hoped that Blakeslee would publish his story, but alas..

The aviation artist Wade Meyers at one point was selling the complete combat reports of all 3 squadrons of the 4th FG in pdf format. You might check with him or elsewhere online if they are still available.

Cheers