Masters of the Air

This long book is the definitive single-volume history of the American air war in Europe. The air war was brutal. An American bomber crewman in 1943 had only a one in five chance of surviving to the end of his tour of duty. The bomber command suffered more casualties in WW2 than the Marine Corps.
The book is centered on the 8th Air Force, but ranges far and wide covering the USA's daylight bombing campaign, the British night bombing campaign, fighter development and deployment, internal politics both civilian and military, the “bomber barons”, the experience of civilians on the receiving end, German defensive tactics, the experience of prisoners of war, the development of air medicine, and much much more.
All in all, this is an impressive book. It is well written and well researched, it does not shy away from the ugly side of the war, it brings out a wealth of new information, and it illuminates some relatively unknown aspects of the war. Recommended.