The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, located in Pooler, GA, will host its monthly Author Talk on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m., featuring Jay Stout, author of Hell’s Angels: The True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group in World War II. The program is free and open to the public, with registration available at https://forms.gle/6zDPK4zJwHRCpvjo7. An optional lunch will follow, priced at $10/$12 (cash/credit) for members and $15/$17 (cash/credit) for non-members.
Although the United States entered World War II in December 1941, the first successful operations against Nazi-occupied Europe required crippling Germany’s industrial and military power. The Luftwaffe, the world’s most powerful air force at the time, became an early focus of the strategic air campaign, led by the United States Army Air Forces in coordination with Britain’s Royal Air Force. One of the most distinguished units in this campaign was the 303rd Bomb Group, known as Hell’s Angels. Named after their B-17 bomber, the group earned a reputation for courage and skill, participating in some of the most pivotal air battles of the war. Stout’s book tells the story of the 303rd through the eyes of the men who served, capturing both the drama and the sacrifices that helped shape the course of history.
Lieutenant Colonel (ret.) Jay A. Stout is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot and recognized military subject matter expert. A native of Indiana and a graduate of Purdue University, Stout was commissioned in 1981 and designated a naval aviator in 1983. He flew F-4S Phantoms and F/A-18 Hornets from bases on both coasts and completed more than 4,500 flight hours, including 37 combat missions during Operation Desert Storm. His career included operational and staff roles such as executive officer of the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company. Stout has written extensively on military aviation and policy, contributing to national journals and newspapers, and his work has been read on the floor of the U.S. Senate. He is the author of eight books, several award-winning, and has appeared on Fox News, Al Jazeera, NPR, and numerous regional networks. Following his military service, Stout worked briefly as an airline pilot, flew F/A-18s for the Kuwait Air Force, and now serves as a senior analyst for a leading defense contractor.
The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force preserves the history of the Eighth Air Force and honors the courage, valor, and patriotism of its airmen. The Museum’s exhibits include a fully restored B-17 Flying Fortress and the immersive Mission Experience, a simulated bombing mission using actual combat footage. The Museum is located at 175 Bourne Avenue in Pooler, Georgia, and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call (912) 748-8888 or visit www.mightyeighth.org.
