USAS 1st Pursuit Group: No. 28 (Aviation Elite Units) - Softcover

"Guttman describes the group's operations from its arrival in Europe to its demobilization in 1919 and includes accounts from more recent reunions. Readers interested in the history of the U.S. Army Air Service will find rich detail about a unit that remains in service with the U.S. Air Force as the 1st Operations Group, still inspired by its old motto, Aut Vincere Aut Mori ('Conquer or Die')." --Thomas Zacharis, Military History (May 2009) "Author Jon Guttman takes us through the faltering starts and later the more intense battles against some of the best that the German Fliegerkorps had to offer. Chock full of superb period photos of both the men and their machines, this is further enhanced by the quality profiles of artist Harry Demspsey, who specializes in WWI fighter aircraft. This all equates to the best book on the subject that I have read. A riveting account of the early days of US aerial combat and a book that I can most highly recommend to you." --Scott Van Aken, modelingmadness.com (June 2008).

Starting operations in the relatively quiet Toul sector in March 1918, the 1st Pursuit Group initially flew Nieuport 28s, given to the Americans because the French did not want them. Expanded by the arrival of additional squadrons, the 1st Pursuit Group went to war in earnest over Château Thierry in July, initially suffering heavy losses. Re-equipped with Spad XIIIs, the battle-seasoned group went on to fame over St. Mihiel and the Argonne, claiming the most enemy kills by any group in the USAS partly thanks to the American 'ace of aces', Eddie Rickenbacker, and balloon-busting ace, Frank Luke, both of whom were also awarded the Medal of Honour. Discover the history of America's first fighter aces in this book as first-hand accounts, rare photographs and a wide variety of accurate, full-colour profiles reveal their thrilling combat experiences.