Deadly Sky

Deadly Sky: The American Combat Airman in World War II by John C. McManus  480 pp.

This is another excellent book on World War II by Dr. McManus. This time he covers all aspects of the experiences of bomber and fighter crews in the European, African, and Pacific theaters. Every facet of this book is taken from primary sources, either interviews with the airmen, or taken from their writings, journals, and letters home. Their stories disabuse any notions created by movies and the media of flying in wartime as glamorous. The hardships most faced were real and many times horrendous. Many of the stories are heart-wrenching as crews dealt with the loss of fellow crew members and other flyers in their units. In spite of the seriousness of the topic there are the occasional amusing anecdotes as well. As always, McManus has written a readable account while still including lots of facts and information.

The Wrong Stuff

The Wrong Stuff: The Adventures & Misadventures of an 8th Air Force Aviator by Truman Smith  368 pp.

Truman Smith was just 20 years old when he was sent to England to serve as a B-17 pilot. Between April and July of 1944 he flew 35 bombing missions over Europe, including during the D-Day attack on Normandy. The missions,were arduous, many lasting 8 hours or longer, under heavy anti-aircraft fire. It was not unusual to return to the base in England with 100+ bullet holes in their plane. When not flying, Smith and the rest of the flyers tried to live as much life as possible in the belief they wouldn't survive the next mission. Smith chronicles various escapades in London and other places, usually involving an excess of alcohol and sometimes women. Every time they reached the number of missions that would allow them to be moved to duty other than bombing missions. Smith is truthful about the comrades who were injured, killed, and/or suffered mental/emotional issues from the stress of their jobs. This is a view of World War II that is not shown in most historical literature.

Ardennes: 1944, The Battle of the Bulge

Ardennes: 1944, The Battle of the Bulge by Anthony Beevor, 451 pages.
Beevor's account of Hitler's last big offensive on the Western Front during World War II.
Against the advice of his general staff, Hitler committed close to thirty divisions, including hundreds of tanks and aircraft to a counter-offensive through the Ardennes Forest in Belgium and through Luxemburg, in the hopes of splitting the Allied forces, closing the port of Antwerp, and in the hope of ultimately, causing a split between the British and American armies. While the German army fell far short of these goals, they were able to catch the Allies almost completely by surprise, and through fierce fighting, and with the help overcast weather that negated Allied air superiority, the Nazi forces were able to split the forces of the 12th Army Group and advance almost all the way to the Meuse River, throwing the Allied forces into disarray from December 16, 1944 through early January.
U.S. General Omar Bradley, commander of the 12th Army Group, was taken completely off guard and found his forces split.
Because his headquarters ended up on one side of the bulge, and communications with troops on the other side were difficult, Bradley temporarily lost command of the northern half of his forces to British Field Marshall Bernard Law Montgomery, a man he loathed. Bradley was not at his best during these crucial weeks. Beevor, in his even-handed account, considers none of the allied commander above criticism, pointing out the failings of such celebrated heroes as Bradley, George Patton, Montgomery, and Dwight Eisenhower. Beevor pulls no punches concerning Montgomery, whose ceaseless self-promotion, and complete lack of subtlety and self-awareness when dealing with the press, with his fellow generals, and with Eisenhower, caused him throw away any good will he had gained with the Americans during the Ardennes campaign. The fractures never went quite as deep as Hitler had imagined they would, and the alliance held together.
By the second week of January, the German forces were in retreat. The losses of men, arms, and armor suffered by the Germans may have been slightly smaller than those suffered by the Allies, but the German forces had far fewer replacements. While there are many accounts of this series of battles, Beevor offers detail that others missed, incisive commentary, and an even hand. Highly recommended.
Check our catalog.