The book, USAAF Fighter Units MTO 1942-45 chronicles the development, deployment and operational history of the United States Army Air Force in the Mediterranean Theater Operations (MTO) between 1942 and the end of World War II in Europe in May 1945.  As is pointed out early on in "USAAF Fighter Units MTO 1942-45", the American military was never that keen on fighting the European Axis forces from what British Prime Minister Winston Churchill referred to as the "soft underbelly" of Europe.  The American's felt that fighting in the MTO was a distraction and would draw-off resources from what they saw as the necessity of invading "Fortress Europe" in the West.  Despite their reluctance, the American's soon began to make plans to invade North Africa and once victory there was assured, make the long march through Sicily to Italy advancing from south to north until victory over the Italians was assured and then on to Germany.  In order to capture North Africa, securing local air superiority was a necessity, which lead to deploying air assets in North Africa and ultimately to the formation of both the 9th and 15th Air Forces.  "USAAF Fighter Units MTO 1942-45" includes the following major sections: 1) North Africa; 2) On Into Europe; 3) Aegean Division; 4) Birth Of The 15th; 5) Strategic Operations Jan-Sept 1944; 6) Italian Front and 7) Strategic Operations Oct 1944 - April 1945.  In addition to an informative narrative, "USAAF Fighter Units MTO 1942-45" includes the following features: 1) Approximately 29 black and white photographs; 2) 9 color illustrations; 3) 4 three-view color aircraft profiles and 4) 1 six-view color aircraft profile illustration of a North American P-51 D Mustang (44-15459) as operated by the 308th Fighter Squadron, 31st Fighter Group in late 1944.  This book is 48 pages and is in excellent condition.  The author is Christopher Shores with Tom Brittain and Gerry Embleton (color plates).  Edition published in 1978.