Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysterious Disappearance of

Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysterious Disappearance of America's WWII Strafing King

A hell-bent-for-leather fighter pilot, Elwyn G. Righetti remains one of the most unknown, yet compelling, colorful and controversial commanders of World War II.

Arriving late to the war, he led the England-based 55th Fighter Group against the Nazis during the closing months of the fight with a no-holds-barred aggressiveness that transformed the group from a middling organization of no reputation into a headline-grabbing team that had to make excuses to no one. Indeed, Righettiâ€™s boldness paid off as he quickly achieved ace status and additionally scored more strafing victoriesâ€”27â€”than any other Eighth Air Force pilot.

However, success came at a high cost in men and machines. Some of Righettiâ€™s pilots resented him as a Johnny-come-lately intent on winning a sack of medals at their expense. But most lauded their spirited new commander and his sledgehammer audacity. Indeed, he made his men most famous for â€œloco busting,â€ as they put more than six hundred enemy locomotives out of commissionâ€”170 in just two days!

Ultimately, Righettiâ€™s calculated recklessness ran full speed into the odds. His aircraft was hit while strafing an enemy airfield only four days before the 55th flew its last mission. Almost farcically aggressive to the end, he coaxed his crippled fighter through one more firing pass before making a successful crash landing. Immediately, he radioed his men that he was fine and asked that they reassure his family. Righetti was never heard from again.

Vanished Hero tells the story of this remarkable man and the air war that he and his comrades fought, while examining his possible fate.
Country USA
Manufacturer Casemate
Binding Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate 2020-01-10
UnitCount 1
Format Kindle eBook

Country	USA
Manufacturer	Casemate
Binding	Kindle Edition
ReleaseDate	2020-01-10
UnitCount	1
Format	Kindle eBook

Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysterious Disappearance of America's WWII Strafing King

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