Lai

1945 · réf. 78751 — New York: Harper and Brothers 1945. First Edition stated. Hardcover. Good/Fair. 6 141 3 pages. Ink notation on title page. The DJ has wear tears soiling and chips. Bookseller sticker inside back cover. The author was formerly Commanding Officer 487th Bombardment Group H. Portions of this work were previously published serially under the title of Down in Flames Out by Underground. Beirne Lay Jr. September 1 1909 - May 26 1982 was an American author aviation writer Hollywood screenwriter and combat veteran of World War II with the U.S. Army Air Forces. He is best known for his collaboration with Sy Bartlett in authoring the novel Twelve O'Clock High and adapting it into a major film. In January 1942 General Eaker was deployed to England to create the Eighth Air Force. Lay was made part of Eaker's staff cadre as Eighth Air Force Historian and Film Unit commander. In the first half of 1943 he commanded Hollywood director William Wyler then a Major while Wyler and his team were in England making the promotional movie Memphis Belle. On February 28 1944 Lay was given command of the 487th Bombardment Group at Alamogordo New Mexico. The 487th Bombardment Group was a heavy bomber unit of the Eighth Air Force based at Lavenham Suffolk from August 1944 until the end of the war in Europe. The group entered combat in May 1944 operating the B-24 Liberator against targets in France. Before the D-Day landings it attacked German airfields while during the invasion it attacked German coastal defenses and transport links. During July the group attacked German positions around Caen during the British attacks while in August it flew missions to support the attack on Brest. In August the group converted to the B-17 Flying Fortress and began to take part in the strategic bombing campaign attacking targets in Germany from then until March 1945. It also took part in Operation Market Garden supporting the group troops during the Battle of the Bulge and again during the crossing of the Rhine in March 1945. Harper and Brothers hardcover