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389th Bombardment Group (H)

Recommended Reading, BY CATEGORIES

From the 389th Bomb Group Historian

BOOKS BY 389TH BOMB GROUP VETERANS

Highest Mountain - Surviving the 20th Century 1925-2000 and Beyond by Bill Crum. 169 pages. Publisher: Trafford Publishing. ISBN-10: 1449041019. ISBN-13: 978-1449041014
     Memoirs of Bill Crum, nose gunner for the Alvin Berthelsen crew, 566th. They were shot down on the January 28, 1945, mission to Dortmund, Germany. In Highest Mountain - Surviving the 20th Century 1925-2000 and Beyond, Bill tells the story of his life in five acts, and he is one heckuva good storyteller.
     Act one is growing up in the Depression in Van Nuys, California. He was an adventurous kid with a nose for sniffing out the most fun places to go and things to do, as well as the most excellent opportunities for mischief. In act two, Bill recounts in absorbing detail the process that every young man who joined the service went through, from induction tests and physical exams, to basic training, to advanced training in specialist jobs. He tells about the most interesting aspects of gunnery school in Texas, the armament training in Colorado, and finally joining a heavy bomber crew and training for war. In act three, Bill chronicles his time in the UK with special memories, both good and bad, and re-flies his combat missions with the reader. His descriptions are so vivid it was almost like seeing it through his eyes. The story of the January 28, 1945, mission, Bill’s “longest day” as he calls it, is one of the most suspenseful WWII page-turners I have ever read. It was the day his crew was blasted out of the sky by flak gunners. Act four consists of Bill’s four months of hell as a prisoner of war - the brutality, misery, sickness, suffering, and terror - until the happy day when the prisoners were liberated by General Patton’s army.
     Crum’s writing style is un-flowery, unpretentious, straight forward, and modest. He doesn’t hold back, censor himself in the name of political correctness, or try to shape the reader’s impressions. He just puts it all out there with 100% genuineness.
     Bottom line - a must read and a source of pride for 389th fans. An excellent reference on the common experiences of many Army Air Force combat veterans.

Barefoot to Wings by Al Malone. 370 pages. Publisher: Infinity Publishing (2nd edition 2007; first edition ARC Press of Cane Hill, 2001). ISBN-10: 0741437848. ISBN-13: 978-0741437846.
     From the publisher: Barefoot to Wings is the story of Albert V. Malone from birth through his growing up during the Great Depression era, the droughts of 1934 and 1936, service in the Army Air Forces, and completion of studies to become a chemical engineer. The hardships and challenges of living without electrical power and water-on tap on the rural Ozark Plateau is detailed and peppered with the homilies, humor, colloquialisms, and folk tales of his family and Ozark neighbors. The fears and travail of flying 30 combat missions over Europe as a navigator of B-24 Liberator bombers during World War II are described graphically.
     When Al sent me a copy of Barefoot to Wings he wrote that he didn’t mind if I read the military section of the book first. I typically do just that, but the photos and chapter headings of part one - Al’s youth - were so intriguing I started at the beginning. It pulled me in from page one and I came to feel like I was watching a movie about a time that the Greatest Generation reflects upon with fond nostalgia. A time when life was about getting by, rather than how many luxuries one could afford.
     A more innocent and less complicated time when kids didn’t need Prozac, because they were too busy working or doing chores to get depressed. Malone’s stories of working on his family’s farm and in the family’s general store/post office in the Ozarks are fascinating and humorous. The store had everything and Malone’s job descriptions were many. One was testing the butterfat content for a number of farmers’ wives who unofficially competed for bragging rights for producing the heaviest cream in town.
     These pages of Malone’s early years are a treat to read. For those who are familiar with the popular book series, I would go so far as to characterize part one as “Chicken Soup for the Greatest Generation’s Soul”.
     In part two Malone details his military training and combat duty with honesty and realism. His recounting of 30 missions with the 389th between August 1, 1944, and February 5, 1945, are entrancing, not only for their historical value, but also because they are chock-full of the real human emotion of men at war. His accounts of daily life on the airbase at Hethel, and while on leave in London, are icing on the cake. His descriptions give you the sense that you are there experiencing the life of a 389th Bomb Group navigator.
     Valor, courage, and success seem all in a day’s work in the author’s humble and straightforward style. But he doesn’t whitewash the gut-wrenching horror of war or pull any punches about failures, screw-ups, or ignoble behavior.
     Barefoot to Wings is thoroughly enjoyable, and has everything you could want in a WWII autobiography: what it was like from the most intense moments to the mundane routines; historical accuracy; warmth and candor from the heart; unvarnished ugly truths; fear and anguish; and plenty of humor and comradeship. I highly recommend this book – it’s a must read for 389th fans and a wonderful nostalgic trip for anyone who grew up in the Great Depression.
     It’s sad to see the ranks of our WWII veterans steadily dwindling away. With them die so many unique memories of a distant time and place when ordinary young men faced incredible odds and accomplished extraordinary feats. So it is with deepest gratitude that I thank Albert Malone and other 389th veterans who have written and published their stories. That makes them heroes twice over in my view.

Looking Back: A Tail Gunner's View of WWII by Dale VanBlair. Hardback and Paperback 329 pages. Publisher: Authorhouse; Rev edition (December 2003). ISBN-10: 1414008163. ISBN-13: 978-1414008165
     Using his meticulously documented files, Dale VanBlair, chronicles his AAF service from the days as a lowly private in 1942, through gunnery school and crew training in 1943, to combat and his remarkable survival of ditching in the North Sea in 1944, and beyond. He details his 13 missions with the 448th BG, and the four missions his crew led after being assigned to the 564th Pathfinder Squadron in March 1944.
     In addition to seeing the war through VanBlair’s tail turret, the reader feels a “band of brothers” comradeship, as the author introduces us to young men that he will never forget. He writes of sadness at seeing the empty bunks of men whose planes did not return, and expresses his surpassing grief over the death of his best friend, a man as close as a brother.
     The climax is the crew’s last mission when they lead the formation to Berlin. There are many anxious moments as they brave the flak-filled skies and watch enemy fighters gang up on straggling B-24s. You’ll sweat it out with the crew as it becomes obvious they’ll run out of gas before reaching England, and have to ditch in the North Sea. The odds are against VanBlair, but he survives in the icy water twice as long as normal and is rescued. Although he recovers from most of his injuries, the loss of hearing in one ear ends his flying career.
     Ultimately, VanBlair’s youthful perspective transcends the grief and grisliness of war, as he recalls moments of humor, juvenile antics, and humanity that revive and heal the battered spirit. Written with compelling frankness and absorbing detail. A must read for 389th veterans and their fans, and researchers.
     Available from Amazon.com, or autographed copies available from the author. You may request Dale's email by emailing the webmaster. See the "About Us" tab for the webmaster's email address.

Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II by Philip Ardery. Hardback and Paperback. 233 pages. Publisher: University Press of Kentucky; Reissue edition (March 1996). ISBN-10: 0813108667. ISBN-13: 978-0813108667.
     Col Ardery was the CO of the 564th squadron and a member of the original 389th BG cadre that arrived in England June 1943. A well-written account of Ardery’s career and the earliest missions of the 389th.
     Amazon reader review: “This outstanding autobiographical recount of Ardery's WW2 experiences ranks amongst the top in this genre. Follow his career through flight training and initial assignments, trials, tribulations and finally, a combat assignment. Ardery, his crew, and their B24 participated in several critical and unprecedented bombing missions during the war, including the infamous Ploesti raid. His recount of flying into a virtual "wall of fire", which was the defensive flak being leveled at their bomber, is one of the most harrowing experiences written to date.”
     Amazon reader review: “Ardery's account of his life as a B-24 pilot is excellent. From all the training it took to simply get into the planes, to combat in the skies over the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Ardery's account is an even-handed account of what a bomber pilot's life was like.
     The chapter about Ploesti is especially fascinating. James Dugan and Carrol Stewart used Ardery as a source for their book on the subject, and the details of Ardery's part in the raid offer some really interesting stuff. Especially intriguing is the background and fate of Medal of Honor winner Lloyd Hughes, who was flying on Ardery's wing when he perished.
     This book is really good stuff; Steven Ambrose's "Wild Blue" pales in comparison. Ardery doesn't place himself on a hero pedestal, he merely tells of his experiences in a very interesting and easy-to-digest style.” Copies at reasonable prices are easy to find on Amazon and eBay.

Escape from Terror by Paul Burton, 565th Commanding Officer. Paperback: 248 pages. Publisher: Cate Media (October 1, 1995). ISBN-10: 1886130035. ISBN-13: 978-1886130036.
     Lt Col Paul Burton was shot down on April 22, 1944. Burton chronicles the mission, his capture and confinement in the Nazi Prisoner of War Camp, Stalag Luft 3, and his harrowing escape on April 4, 1945, the second day of the POW’s forced marched from the Nurnberg camp to the Mooseberg camp. When you read Burton’s description of the miserable trek, and his two desperate days of survival as he sought friendly lines, you’ll understand why he titled the book Escape from Terror. A must read for 389th veterans and researchers. Copies are easy to find on Amazon, eBay, and general Internet searches.

The Princess and the POW by Richard W. Britt, 565th navigator for the Robert O'Reilly crew. Paperback 279 Pages. Gabriel Publishing (1988). ASIN: B0006EY1UU.
     After bombing the oil refinery in Campina on August 1, 1943, navigator RICHARD BRITT and his crew [ROBERT O’REILLY crew] left the target with major battle damage, forcing them to crash-land in Rumania. Britt writes of being unconscious, trapped in the wreckage of the bomber, when he was rescued by Princess Catherine Caradja and the caretakers of her estate. He also chronicles his recovery under the watchful eye and nurturing of the Princess in defiance of his enemy captors, and the extraordinary events of Britt’s 13 months in ‘’The Gilded Cage,’’ a most unusual POW camp.
     This is the true story of Britt’s rescue and recovery from serious injuries, and the unlikely friendship that developed with his rescuer and “guardian angel”, Princess Catherine, whose ancestry goes back to a Byzantine Emperor. In her lifetime, she knew great wealth and extreme poverty. She operated a private foundation for 3,000 orphans in August 1943 when the O’Reilly crew’s B-24 crashed in the garden of her country estate.
     Britt and the Princess remained friends after the war until her death. They were so close in fact Britt’s daughter described Princess Catherine as her third grandmother.
     Copies are available from Britt’s daughter who owns a gift shop in Comfort, Texas called “The Frog and Dragonfly.” She is offering the books at half price because the binding does not hold up and pages may fall out. Don’t let that discourage you from buying a copy though, because it’s a wonderful read and an important reference in the early history of the 389th Bomb Group. Contact: Harriet Britt Kirchhoff, P.O. Box 141, Comfort, TX 78013. Phone: 830-995-5729. Fax: 830- 995-5364. The Frog and Dragonfly: http://www.froganddragonfly.com

The Winged Boot by Richard and Jean Schafer. Paperback 202 pages. Publisher: Tangleaire Press (1994). ASIN: B0006F44Q0.
     A detailed account of the lives of a 564th squadron pilot and his wife before and during WWII. The first half of the book takes the reader through Dick’s early years, school, and courtship of his wife, then Air Force training and first year marriage, and assignment overseas. The second half features the details of the day Schafer was shot down, and his remarkable story of evading capture despite a fractured ankle. He had many harrowing close calls, but with the help of the French Resistance, he evaded for six months and then escaped to England. A wonderful and inspiring story that has it all – historical accuracy, insight to the combat crew experience, romance, danger, humor – the whole gamut of emotions.
     Jean’s perspectives on all these events interspersed throughout give the reader an insight that is unique among memoirs like this: from Dick’s “fool for love” efforts to win her, to following him all over the States through his training, to the terrible day she received that MIA telegram, and finally the joyous day she learned he was on his way home. This book is hard to find, but highly worth searching for.

Certified Brave by Robert Sherwood. Paperback: 317 pages. Publisher: Trafford (July 6, 2006). ISBN-10: 1412036437. ISBN-13: 978-1412036436
     Although published as a work of fiction with no real names, and a few fictional events, Certified Brave will take you back to Hethel and you will know the missions, the people, and the experiences are very real. It is an authentic narrative of the combat crew experience, written by the flight engineer for the Duane Hall crew, 566th Squadron, 389th Bomb Group.
     TThe reader is pulled into the story immediately and will resent being interrupted by such things as dinner, sleep, work, etc., before the last page is turned. If you served in the Eighth Air Force this book will ring so true to life you’ll wonder if the author was a member of your crew. If you’re related to an Eighth Air Force combat crewman, Sherwood’s candid and intimate portrait of a semi-fictional combat crew will satisfy your gut-level desires to understand what it was like for your airman.
     TSherwood’s characters paint the whole picture for you: from the lonely routine of life on an airbase with few comforts, to death and terror in the skies, from lost friends to love in London, from the warmth of the locals to the bitter cold at 23,000 feet. Through the main character’s thoughts and realistic conversations you’ll see the camaraderie, the cynicism and humor, the naiveté of replacements, the disturbing anxiety of the battle weary, and the daily stress of swallowing your fear, doing your duty and never letting your crew down. A must read for 389th veterans and researchers.

Kriegie by Kenneth W. Simmons, 567th bombardier on the Eugene Coletti crew. Hardback 256 pages. Publisher: Nelson (1960). ASIN: B0007DWFBM
     From the jacket, quote: “Kriegie (Prisoner of War) is the exciting and inspiring story of an American airman who bailed out over Germany in October of 1944 and was liberated by General Patton in person at the end of April, 1945. For excitement, Kenneth Simmons, the young Texan bombardier in the 8th Air Force, gives us the tension of the flight to the target, Mainz, and the fearful sensations of a parachute drop to a field surrounded by murderous civilians. He narrates the rigors of an interrogation; initiates you into the amazing way the Americans ran their own prison camp under the noses of the Nazis; and makes you "sweat out" the suspense of an escape attempt. The story culminates in a death march of fiendish horror as the Russians close in from the east. But the Americans from the west reach Mooseberg first, and after a short battle, release the "kriegies." All this while, Simmons kept a diary on hidden rolls of toilet paper of his soul-racking experiences. This diary was the first draft of Kriegie but it was unfortunately lost on demobilization. Simmons' powers of recall were excellent, and the present version is a faithful expansion of the lost diary. What makes Kriegie an important and significant book -what takes it out of the class of "war books" - is the spiritual meaning its author found in the suffering, hardship, and sorrow of prison life. The Air Force fliers this book were men, wild, full of life, living every moment to the full. Then they were completely cut off as prisoners from all worldly values and from their friends and loved ones. Now they learned the meaning and appreciation of light when they were plunged into dark cells. They learned the meaning and value of food and nourishment when they were hungry; the restfulness of trees, green grass, and the beauties of Nature when they were in solitary confinement; the meaning of despair, defeat and grief when they were alone; and, above all, the meaning of love, beauty, serenity, and happiness when they found God. Going to church was popular at Stalag Luft III, and Chaplain Daniel was the great bracer of morale on the most evil days of their imprisonment.
     "Many of the kriegies," says Kenneth Simmons, "found through suffering the keys that will unlock the secret of happiness in life. Many discovered on the march of death that 'love thy neighbor' was a wonderful commandment. We had to put into practice the commandment to love our neighbors and help them to survive. It was literally a love or perish situation. Our prison column survived because we sought help from Almighty God."
     Kriegie is an outstanding true story -a new, different, and untold story-of the privations, horrors, and struggles of prison life of World War II. It is a realistic story illumined by a firm, masculine, sincere religious element-an unusual book in its combination of complete realism and inspiring idealism.” Unquote. Inexpensive copies available on Amazon.

FOR INDIVIDUAL MEMORIES, REFLECTIONS, ANECDOTES AND PERSPECTIVES FROM A
CROSS-SECTION OF 8TH AIR FORCE VETERANS WITH A VARIETY OF EXPERIENCES,
JOBS AND RANKS, THE FOLLOWING ARE ALL VERY GOOD

Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany by Donald Miller. Paperback: 688 pages. Simon & Schuster September 25, 2007. ISBN-10: 0743235452. ISBN-13: 978-0743235457.
     From Publishers Weekly Historian Miller chronicles the story of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in this sprawling, authoritative narrative of the "largest aerial striking force in the war." The Eighth arrived in England in 1942 to engage in "a new kind of warfare": unescorted "high-altitude strategic bombing." In addition to destroying Germany's war-making capacity, the Eighth hoped to validate its "extravagant claim that air power alone would bring down the Reich" and to win autonomy for the air force. As Miller demonstrates, the "hubris of the bomber barons" was misplaced, and the "record of the Eighth Air Force is mixed." Not only did victory require boots on the ground but the air war became a bloody "war of attrition." The Eighth suffered 26,000 combat deaths, a 12.3% fatality rate topped only by submarine crews. Drawing on exhaustive research in oral histories, diaries and government documents, Miller evenhandedly recounts the Eighth's successes and failures, emphasizing the stoic heroism of the crews who flew the missions. That diverse lot included celebrities like the actors Jimmy Stewart and Clark Gable and anonymous fliers like 21-year-old Lt. Chuck Yeager. This eloquent tribute to America's bomber boys should prove popular among fans of military history.

Deadly Sky by John C. McManus. Paperback: 496 pages. Publisher: Presidio Press (February 28, 2002). ISBN-10: 0891417796. ISBN-13: 978-0891417798
     In this book, WWII airmen of all ranks candidly speak on all aspects of their experiences--the missions and the planes they flew; their enemies; the places they saw and people they met; their morale, fears, and leadership; and the aerial brotherhood that sustained them.

The American Airman in Europe by Roger Freeman. Hardcover: 158 pages. Publisher: Motorbooks International (June 1991). ISBN-10: 0879385561. ISBN-13: 978-0879385569.

The Friendly Invasion by Roger Freeman. Paperback: 96 pages. Publisher: Hyperion Books (April 1994). ISBN-10: 0861381033. ISBN-13: 978-0861381036

Courage and Air Warfare by Mark K. Wells. Paperback: 256 pages. Publisher: Frank Cass; 1 edition (June 30, 1995). ISBN-10: 0714641480. ISBN-13: 978-0714641485
     Colonel Wells investigates the nature of aerial warfare and the men who took part. The book analyzes aircrew selection, reaction to combat, adaptability to stress, morale, leadership and combat effectiveness. First-hand reflections of combat flyers, published materials, reports and official documents are used to compare the efforts of the US Eighth Air Force and RAF Bomber Command.
     Although the Allied air effort involved to separate air forces, two different philosophical concepts and two distinct approaches, both organizations were committed to a common goal. Comparing the two allows insights into the nature of air combat and its effects on aviators. Aircrew attitudes and motivations are examined, as are the physical and mental hardships which affected aircrew morale, cohesion and combat effectiveness.
     The work offers an examination of the sensitive subject of "Lack of Moral Fibre" - the inability to undertake further flights because of stress. The Allied air forces took distinctly different approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and disposal of emotional casualties.

MEMOIRS AND BIOGRAPHIES WHICH ARE ESPECIALLY GOOD AT GIVING THE READER INSIGHT
INTO WHAT IT WAS LIKE TO FLY MISSIONS AND LIVE ON AN AIRBASE IN ENGLAND

Wings of Morning by Thomas Childers. Paperback: 288 pages. Publisher: Da Capo Press (April 23, 1996). ISBN-10: 0201407221. ISBN-13: 978-0201407228.
     Beautifully written with exquisite detail. A moving story about one bomber crew from their early days in training to their tragic loss. Many of my vet friends agree this captures the drama of the combat crew, although it contains some minor technical errors. This book is one of my top five all time USAAF favorites.

Reluctant Witness by Brian Mahoney and James Mahoney. Paperback: 550 pages. Publisher: Trafford Publishing (July 6, 2006). ISBN-10: 155212875X. ISBN-13: 978-1552128756
     A father-son effort of an unusual type, the son completed the unfinished book of war-stories written by the father over the last 30 years of his life.
     The late James J. Mahoney served as a bomber pilot, and at age 27 was second in command of a heavy bomb group in England during WW II. Methodical, contemplative and insightful, he wanted to distill his observations and understanding of human nature and war into a readable format that would not glorify combat or call special attention to himself, the reader\'s witness on the scene. He died in September of 1998, having brought 53 of his vignettes to a high state of refinement. Brian Mahoney, fourth of his father's five children, has taken three years from his work as an AIDS activist and program administrator in Washington, DC, to present his father's book in a thorough, comprehensible, educational text. He is motivated to honor his father and serve the historical record by seeing that this "story of stories" gets out to a wide audiences.
     His father's remaining WW II compatriots, his own generation ("the kids"), and "the grandchildren" of what Tom Brokaw has appropriately called "the greatest generation". Father and son share common values concerning the horror of war and the need to contain oppressors. Each lost hundreds of friends in their youth - James, to WW II in the 1940s, and Brian, to the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s - and as odds-beating survivors, both have used their gifts for photography and story telling to share their takes on what is heroic, comic, ironic and tragic in the human experience.
     Brian is the President of the Heritage League of the 2nd Air Division. His late father was the CO of the 467th BG at Rackheath, and he wrote this book using his father’s collection of journals, records, photos and 16 mm film. Though it’s not about the 389th BG, the experiences and emotions are universal to the 2nd Air Division bomb groups. I recommend it highly.

Byron's War: I Never Will Be Young Again by Byron Lane. Hardcover: 298 pages. Publisher: Hellgate Press; 1st edition (October 1, 1997). ISBN-10: 1555714021. ISBN-13: 978-1555714024.
     Taken from over 300 letters and journal entries, written between 1942 and 1945, this coming-of-age story vividly depicts the daily life and awesome responsibilities of one young Air Force lieutenant as he leads strategic bombing missions over Nazi Germany. Written while it was happening, Byron's War provides time-capsule-like insight into a critical period in American history.
     "The author's day to day account takes the reader through enlistment, training, combat, and finally to kissing the ground after completing his final mission. He may come across at times as a brash, cocky young kid --one of the best. But, at the same time, he admits to making his share of dumb mistakes, both in training and in combat --and the truly honest admission of being damned scared at times in combat. His writing style is reminiscent of one of the best-selling wartime books, See Here, Private Hargrove, which was also a good read." - Reprinted from the Foreword written by Glenn Houghton.
     Byron's War will be of interest to anyone involved, directly or indirectly, with the Army Air Force in WWII. And, to all those who are interested in the air war, it provides an excellent insight into what went on back then.
     Byron Lane is an international management consultant and a Professor of Management. He has authored two books on business management. He earned a Ph.D. in organizational psychology and had multiple careers that include entrepreneur, CEO of a national company, professor of management, and writer. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps on his 18th birthday and was later commissioned a 2nd lieutenant as a bombardier on a B-24 bomber. He flew over 30 missions over Germany during WW II.
     Well-written with lots of details and emotion. He reports it was extremely painful and difficult for him to write this book, but felt he had to do it for his granddaughter.

The Day We Bombed Switzerland: Flying with the US Eighth Army Air Force in World War II by Jackson Granholm. Hardcover: 256 pages. Publisher: Crowood (May 15, 2000). ISBN-10: 1840371358. ISBN-13: 978-1840371352.
     About the 392nd BG at Wendling, its accidental* bombing of Switzerland, and the resulting court-martial. Very interesting and a unique perspective. And guess who was one of the officers serving on the court, Jimmy Stewart. His role is recounted here with all the drawling, stuttering, everyman charm we’ve come to enjoy in his films.) *Accidental bombing was the official position and the court-martial was a sham. The reality of the situation is that we deliberately bombed Switzerland because they were shipping ball bearings to the Nazis. The Swiss collaborated with Hitler in many ways, and were neutral in name only.

Jimmy Stewart, Bomber Pilot by Starr Smith. Paperback: 288 pages. Publisher: Zenith Press; 1st edition (November 15, 2006). ISBN-10: 0760328242. ISBN-13: 978-0760328248.
     Stewart served with several bomb groups in the 2nd Air Division. His memory is cherished by 389th veterans because he was stationed at the Hethel airfield when he was assigned to the 2nd Combat Bomb Wing Hq, and he led the 389th as command pilot on four missions. For these reasons, many 389th vets mistakenly believe he was a CO in the 389th, but he was never assigned to this group.

SAME AS ABOVE BUT SHORTER, EASIER READS. ALSO A BIT ON THE
LIGHTER SIDE AND VERY CANDID ABOUT THE ALL TOO HUMAN
SIDE OF THE MEN WHO TODAY ARE MOSTLY HAILED AS HEROES.

Tales of a Tail Gunner - a Memoir of Seattle and World War II by Eddie S. Picardo. Paperback. Publisher: Hara Seattle 1997. ASIN: B000R4T9WY.
     Author served with the 44th BG at Shipdham in 1944.

Wing Ding: Memories of a Tail Gunner by Eugene T. Carson. Paperback: 204 pages. Publisher: Xlibris Corporation; 1 edition (April 11, 2001). ISBN-10: 0738856894. ISBN-13: 978-0738856896.
     A B-17 tail gunner, served with the 388th BG in latter part of 1943 and early 1944. This is no run-of-the-mill WWII book. It is the exciting story of a cook in the Army Air Corps. It tells of his unauthorized move from the kitchen to life as an aerial gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the unfriendly skies of Europe in 1943 to 1945. You will laugh cry and share in his life as he fights for his country while snatching moments of relief and love between missions. For those who were there it will bring back memories. For others, it will tell what it was like for grandfathers, fathers and uncles.
     Eugene T. Carson lives in Kaneohe, Hawaii. "Wing Ding", his first book tells the story of his life as an aerial gunner through sixty mission on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the 8th Air Force during the 1943 -1945 air war over Europe. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel Regular Army late November 1971 after service in Korea and Vietnam. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster.

Combat Crew: A True Story of Flying and Fighting in World War II by John Comer. Hardcover: 288 pages. Publisher: Texian Pr; Revised edition (January 1988). ISBN-10: 0688076149. ISBN-13: 978-0688076146.
     The author served as flight engineer and gunner in a B-17 crew during World War II, flying from bases in England and Italy. In this memoir he confines himself to describing the 25 missions he took part in that were launched from Ridgewell Airdrome outside of London. Although the problems and terrors from flight to flight were often similarGerman fighters and flak barrages, engine troubles and oxygen failureseach mission, as he describes it, takes on a quality of its own. Much of the drama is conveyed through Comer's reconstruction of intercom dialogue, and though some of the characters seem stereotypical (the con artist, the clown, the Brooklynite, etc.) they nevertheless come across as real people. Comer casually mentions the development of his psychic ability to discern which of his comrades were doomed. He also discusses the phenomenon of combat burnout, using his own case as an example. Despite his fatigue, he volunteered to return to combat after an interim tour of duty in the States and flew 50 more missions.

OTHER PERSPECTIVES FROM NON VETERANS

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