When the U.S. Ninth Air Force compiled a list of the best air-to-ground aviators in late 1944, five of the top nine came from the 362nd Fighter Group. Charged with destroying the enemy close to the front, often at low altitude and face to face with its german opponents, the 362nd FG was the aerial artillery for U.S. ground forces as they pushed across Europe.
The bullets and bombs of the 362nd achieved exceptional results ; they destroyed 350 tanks and 300 enemy aircraft ; breached dams ; knocked out secret facilities ; and even sank a captured battleship, all while flying the rugged P-47 Thunderbolt.
Their score came at a fearful human cost ; however, the unit's leadership-and a cadre of veteran pilots-ensured that morale remained high.
Souced from contemporary records, personnal eyewitness accounts and interviews with over 20 pilots, Thunderbolts Triumphant is the true story of how an elite fighter group helped turn the tide at Normandy, in the Battle of the Bulge, and in the final push to destroy Hitler's Germany.