During World War II some 500 Congressional Medals of Honor were bestowed to members of the Armed Services. I was very disappointed, because only 23 soldiers and airmen were listed in this book and several of them were very known winners, like James Howard and Audie Murphy.
In the color plate "C", about Colonel Leon Johnson, "Killer" Kane is mentioned but nothing had been said about his CMH and the other Medal of Honor given posthumously for the Ploesti raid to Lt/Col.Addison Baker. Mention could have been made of 31st Infantry Division's PFC Rodger Young, cited in JFK's "Profiles in Courage".
I think I'll have to think twice before buying the volume 1.

having never got hold of the hardback original (and probably never will :( )
This was an excellent surprise after the rather average efforts from some previous luftwaffe centered titles.
Though a light coverage its a fantastic read and easily enjoyable while still getting all the details and numbers out.

Also the profiles paintings are the finest I've seen in any osprey Luftwaffe title,
including the most accurate versions of the 4 known protection flight Doras I know of.

If anyone is cautious of Osprey titles from past experiences...leave that behind and BUY this book.

It has been 12 years since the inaugural Classic hard back on JV 44 was published and 14 years since author Robert Forsyth wrote it, so as the author himself said to me recently - over a pint - " it was nice to 'revisit' the unit..". This new Osprey book is a slimmed-down version of that original work, containing the essential 'hardcore' information, and should hold appeal to those who don't have/can't get the original. That said the author was fortunate enough to be put into contact with a previously 'lost' member of JV 44 (a rarity in itself) who has related some interesting 'new' stories about the unit and provided a number of previously unpublished photos (two of Galland and Steinhoff) and a very rare unit photo taken at Briest in February 1945.
All told this lastest Osprey Elite comes highly recommended- which is more than can usually be said for Osprey's Luftwaffe titles - being an extremely well-written excursion into territory that will be unfamiliar to most. A special word for the superb profile artwork - some of the best I've seen in this series...