Original 1948 first-edition hardcover of The 56th Fighter Group in World War II, edited by Albert H. Davis II, Russell J. Coffin, and Robert B. Woodward and published in Washington, D.C., by Infantry Journal Press.
This copy is hand-signed in bold blue ink by Colonel Hubert A. “Hub” Zemke directly beneath his printed portrait on the page depicting the 56th Fighter Group’s overseas commanding officers. Zemke added the rank notation “Col USAF Ret.” The autograph is on the original book page rather than a bookplate, tipped-in card, or facsimile. Zemke is the only signer shown or claimed; Francis “Gabby” Gabreski, Robert S. Johnson, David C. Schilling, Walker “Bud” Mahurin, and the other aces are subjects of the volume, not additional signers.
Zemke commanded the 56th Fighter Group in England and developed tactics that helped make the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt a formidable air-combat weapon. Credited with 17¾ aerial victories, he became one of America’s leading WWII fighter commanders. The 56th—widely remembered as “Zemke’s Wolfpack”—recorded more air-to-air victories than any other Eighth Air Force fighter group and produced 39 aces, including Gabreski and Johnson.
The book is itself an important near-contemporary history rather than a later commercial reprint. Its editors described it as a record of operational incidents assembled from wartime material prepared by numerous contributors associated with the group. The acknowledgments also record that Republic Aviation Corporation helped make it possible to provide copies to the next of kin of 56th Fighter Group personnel killed in action. This particular copy is not identified as one of those presentation copies.
The large-format volume contains 222 numbered pages plus preliminary matter, pictorial P-47 endpapers, extensive wartime photographs, maps, operational tables, aircraft images, pilot portraits, and mission accounts. Coverage includes the diary of operations from April 1943 through April 1945, Victory in Europe, the aces of the 56th, aircraft, prisoners of war, ground crews and support personnel, allied units, statistics, Distinguished Unit Citations, and extensive personnel rosters. The rosters encompass Headquarters 56th Fighter Group; the 61st, 62d, and 63d Fighter Squadrons; Headquarters 33d Service Group; and associated ordnance, service, signal, quartermaster, weather, military-police, and aviation-engineering units.
The blue-gray publisher’s cloth shows light rubbing, faint surface marks, and modest wear at the corners, edges, and spine ends. Interior pages show expected light age toning. The volume was issued without a dust jacket, so no jacket is missing. The Zemke signature remains bold and highly visible. Please review all photographs for exact condition and contents.
Title: The 56th Fighter Group in World War II
Editors: Albert H. Davis II; Russell J. Coffin; Robert B. Woodward
Publisher: Infantry Journal Press
Publication Place: Washington, D.C.
Publication Year: 1948
Edition: First Edition
Format: Large-Format Hardcover
Binding: Publisher’s Blue-Gray Cloth
Pages: 222 numbered pages plus preliminary matter
Illustrated: Yes — photographs, maps, portraits, tables, and pictorial endpapers
Signed: Yes
Signed By: Colonel Hubert A. “Hub” Zemke
Signature Location: Beneath Zemke’s portrait on the commanding-officers page
Signature Notation: “Col USAF Ret”
Exact Signing Date: Unknown; notation identifies Zemke as a retired USAF colonel
Third-Party Authentication: None stated
Personalized: No named recipient
Dust Jacket: Issued without dust jacket
Conflict: WWII (1939–1945)
Military Branch: U.S. Army Air Forces
Unit: 56th Fighter Group, Eighth Air Force
Squadrons: 61st, 62d, and 63d Fighter Squadrons
Aircraft: Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Theme: WWII Aviation / Fighter Aces / Unit History
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
Language: English
ISBN: None
Condition: Used; light exterior wear and page toning as photographed
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