Military Model Scene

Title: Mediterranean Sweep
Author: Thomas McKelvey Cleaver
Publisher: Osprey
ISBN: 978-1-4728-6345-4

The USAAF in the Italian Campaign, a 320-page hardback from Osprey, and another from American author Thomas McKelvey Cleaver.
With the campaigns in North Africa and Sicily behind them, the time came for the allied assault on mainland Italy, and for the USAAF to move on, in support of these new land operations. We have the story of the fighter-bombers and medium bombers who supported the allied ground forces as they gradually progressed up the Italian mainland, from the opposed landings at Salerno, where the US troops came close to being forced to abandon their beachhead, past the various defence lines put in place by FM Kesselring, the battle at Cassino, the landings at Anzio and so on. We hear about the use of the A36, a dive-bomber variant of the Mustang, along with the P-38 and P-40 with the pilots and crews who supported them, to the point where they were worn out and gradually replaced by the P-47 Thunderbolt. While both the US 5th Army and British 8th Army advanced through each of the German defence lines, the air units also gradually moved as well. It also includes the work of the B-25 medium bombers who had various mission types to support the advance, operating from Corsica, where they could also reach France once the allies had landed there as well. In Northern Italy the task was to carry out Operation Bingo, to block the German supply route through the Brenner Pass, a job which they did do successfully, blocking supplies to the German armies along the Gothic Line. At the end of the book there is also a chapter on the Italian Air Force units, which had split in two after the Italian surrender to the allies. Some supporting the allies, and some still remaining loyal to Mussolini.
It sets out the campaign for the USAAF units, often operating from airfields where the personnel lived in tents rather than more comfortable buildings, and with weather that had a significant impact, especially over the winter of 1944. Another interesting inclusion is the references to Joseph Heller, who served on B-25s when operational tours were extended, from 50 missions to 60, then 65, then 70 and then unlimited. He went on to write the famous book, 'Catch 22', though the scenario for that was moved to the Korean War. I found this a really interesting read, as the later stages of the war in Italy are often overshadowed by events in NW Europe, and on the Eastern Front.
Thanks to Osprey for the review copy.
Robin