Thunderbolt!: The Extraordinary Story of a World War II Ace

Co-authored by Army Air Corps Captain Robert S. Johnson who eloquently shares his experiences of becoming and being a warrior aviator. Flying was his passion: "It was love at first sight. Somehow I just knew that this machine [Thunderbolt fighter] and I were meant for each other.... Everything I had ever flown was a toy compared to the Thunderbolt" (pp. 71-72). Rivals the initial blockbuster "Top Gun" film -- the thrill of dodging enemy bullets during dogfights -- one feels the myriad emotions of joy, fear, exultation, dread. Captain Johnson was so uniquely dedicated that he asked and received permission to prolong his committed duty tour: "I marched to [superior] Hub Zemke's office and requested an extension of twenty-five hours' additional combat time.... [I]mportant as simply staying in the fight" (p. 182). A powerful and compelling testimony.

As a kid, in an era when I was already dog-earing my copy of Ray Wagner's "American Combat Planes" and other titles indispensable to a young aviation history enthusiast, I read this book in a borrowed paperback. I recently discovered the Kindle edition as an accident and decided to relive this slice of my early education.Briefly as to the Kindle-ization of the original: This version is a fairly good transcription, with only a few of the typos, mainly hyphenation issues, that seem to be part of the genre. They won't be in your way. The text is quite clean overall.Now as to the book itself: I notice things now that I didn't see thirty-five years ago. This is clearly a book from a far more innocent time, laced with comic-book prose, a straightforward and automatic patriotism, lots of exclamation points, and a chirpy let's-go-get-em enthusiasm for tearing into huge formations of enemy fighters piloted by confident veterans. A mission missed by dint of a mechanical problem brings not secret relief but great disappointment, as if Johnson were the school's star quarterback hoping to shine on homecoming night; and friends who go down in action elicit a gosh-darn-it curse and a gritted-teeth resolution to get the better of Jerry next time. Martin Caidin, the hired-gun wordsmith, was a competent author of many books; I have to think he was transcribing Johnson's notes and perhaps verbal stories as faithfully as he could. It really was a more innocent time, after all.But Johnson really flew the missions, he really did bring back a Thunderbolt absolutely shot to hell, his bloody face swollen by spraying hydraulic fluid, and he really did go right back in to become an ace five times over and beyond -- and all this in an early period of the war, when the USAAF wasn't necessarily winning. Johnson was one of the pioneers of the 8th Air Force fighter presence in England, when the Thunderbolt was untried, numbers were pathetically small, and tactics were trial-and-error; in fact the entire Air Force was green, overconfident, and vulnerable -- and losses were high. His book may read like Captain America, but his physical courage, moral dedication, and sustained combat record are facts. He puts us in mind of another of Martin Caidin's "customers," the Japanese ace Saburo Sakai: In both cases, the written story may or may not be freighted with purple prose and artistic license, but we are certainly reading history, not fiction.What's more, between the exclamation points, the man and the story ring true. Some reviewers may be put off by Johnson's game-day enthusiasm for deadly combat, but there is surely no such thing as a successful fighter pilot who isn't stupendously aggressive, hyper-confident, and activated by a superhuman competitive instinct. If anything, Johnson comes across as a modest and humble example of the breed, giving every possible credit to his leaders, his teammates, and, frankly, to God. As to technical details, his descriptions of the Thunderbolt's strengths and weaknesses, of how to survive and win against enemy airplanes having wholly different characteristics, are entirely sensible and plausible, not gratuitous. There is more than enough detail to assure the enthusiast that these were real combats, flown this way. If the reader is not a student of military aviation, the story is still worthwhile; but if he is, it is still better.

I loved this auto biography of Robert Johnson. I never really truly understood the challenges of a fighter pilot in WW2 escorting bombers. It was interesting to understand the learning curve of pilots to the real world of war against German pilots. If you survived the first 10 or 20 missions, then you were an experienced pilot. The chapter dealing with his flight home in a beat up plane and constant harassment by an enemy pilot was inspiring. All of the men who faught in this war are heros. The Thunderbolt was an amazing aircraft to be able the absorb punishment, protect the pilot and deliver a punch. Great book!

This is a terrific and true story of one of America's leading World War Two European theater aces. Robert Johnson shot down 28 German planes, mainly Luftwaffe fighters, exceeding by one kill the number shot down in the previous war by the great Eddie Rickenbacker. This is a detailed and fascinating story of aerial combat and excellent airmanship.The thing I really learned from this book is the sheer difficulty of the flying conditions during this war campaign. Besides the highly competent and deadly Luftwaffe fighters, the pilots had to contend with often dreadful weather and tough navigation conditions which even without combat would have made their flying often difficult and dangerous. The combat itself was highly dangerous and losses were constant and significant. While other services often had the notion that combat pilots fought a "gentleman's war" where the pilots always had hot food and a warm bunk, it was also a fact that these men suffered losses greater than other branches, and often faced dangerous landings or ditching due to either mechanical failure or combat damage. This was a deadly campaign involving tough living and hard dying.Also of interest were the author's observations concerning the American P-47 Thunderbolt fighter. When the Eighth Air Force deployed this fighter in the European theater both the British and the Germans initially assumed that the plane was too large and unmaneuverable to cut the mustard in European fighting as compared to the British Spitfire as well as the German Focke-Wulfs and Messerschmidts. . The plane soon proved its worth against the Germans, however. It could take far more damage than its adversaries and still bring its pilot home. At higher altitudes (where it largely fought since it was protecting high-altitude daylight bombers) it could largely outfly the German planes in many respects, while also out-gunning them with its eight fifty-caliber machine guns. In truth the P47 reflected America's preference for powerful armored aircraft that, while less nimble than European planes (or for that matter Japanese ones) outgunned them, and were designed to bring the pilots home alive. It worked.This is a fine story of war that many will enjoy. RJB.

This was a very well written book and accurate. My uncle flew a P47 in WWII and was put in prison camp after being shot down strafing a train. This book gave a better idea of what he actually went through and what it was like training and flying the P47. Very much enjoyed reading it. I’m about to read it a second time!

I have read many many fighter plane books and this is the best one.. It will blow your socks off and really put you in the Pilots seat for real when Bob Johnson is being attacked... You have to read this book if you want to get a real feeling of what it is like to fly a fighter plane... and almost die in a fighter plane...

Fantastic well written book about life as a thunderbolt pilot. I find american world war 2 aviation books hard to come by this been my first. Tells a wonderful story with a good non rushed ending.Really recommended this book.

A truly authentic and well written book. Exciting stuff. Those interested in air combat must read it. Enjoyable and arguably a great book.

.....on the Air War in Europe so far. I was sad when it was over. It could have more details on everyday life on an Air Base then.

From a dreaming kid to a calm thinking warrior tumbling through the heavens battling, always flying always fighting. Victory after victory with humility, descriptive and sometimes gut wrenching. Unbelievable scenes of destruction and saddening waste of lives. A fighter pilots story, truthful, brutal glory and freedom. A price paid in full by so many, victory for all those who came home and those who never returned home. We will never forget their sacrifices in those dark days.