JONATHAN BERNSTEIN is a noted historian specialising in the evolution of tactical air power throughout the 20th century. Currently an AH-64 attack helicopter pilot in the Pennsylvania National Guard, he has written two prior volumes for the Combat Aircraft series, both on US Army attack helicopters (Combat Aircraft 41 and 57) and has also published numerous articles on National Guard history. He lives in Maryland with his wife and two sons.
Artist CHRIS DAVEY has illustrated more than 3 0 titles for Osprey's Aircraft of the Aces, Combat Aircraft and Aviation Elite Units series since 1994. Based in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, and one of the last traditional airbrush artists in the business, he has become the artist of choice for both USAAF fighters and RAF subject matter.
OSPREY
COMBAT
AIRCRAFT
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P-47 THUNDERBOLT UNITS OF THE TWELFTH AIR FORCE
SERIES EDITOR: TONY HOLMES
OSPREY
COMBAT
AIRCRAFT
• 92
P-47 THUNDERBOLT UNITS OF THE TWELFTH AIR FORCE
Front Cover Lt Ray Knight of the 346th Fighter Squadron (FS)/350th Fighter Group (FG) banks sharply to avoid 20 mm flak as he streaks over Bergamo airfield, near Milan in northern Italy, in his P-47D on 25 April 1945. Leading a flight of four Thunderbolts, Knight was on his third airfield strafing mission (the second to Bergamo) in 48 hours. The principal targets during these attacks were Luftwaffe aircraft that were being readied for a counter-offensive against Allied forces that had just crossed the Po River. Over a two-day period, Knight singlehandedly destroyed 20 German aeroplanes on the ground, and his flight accounted for many more. Despite taking several hits, Knight pressed home his attack in the face of withering flak, thus ensuring the destruction of yet another Ju 88 on his final pass over Bergamo. Knowing that his unit was already facing a shortage of operational aircraft, Knight elected to fly his P-47 back to Pisa rather than bail out over friendly territory. However, crossing the Appenines, he began to lose altitude. As he made an approach to belly land his aeroplane, the P-47's wingtip clipped a tree, causing it to cartwheel and explode. For his fearless actions on 24-25 April 1945, leading a flight of four Thunderbolts against overwhelming flak to destroy a significant number of Luftwaffe aircraft in northern Italy, thus breaking up a German air counter-offensive, Lt Ray Knight was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor (Cover artwork by Mark Postlethwaite)
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