The Wild Blue

By Stephen E. Ambrose

Subjects: Bomber pilots, Biography, United states, army, biography, Large type books, World war, 1939-1945, aerial operations, american, World War, 1939-1945, Air pilots, biography, B-24 (Bomber), B-twenty-four bomber, Flight crews, United states, army air forces, Dakota Queen (B-24 bomber), Aerial Bombing, Air forces & warfare, United States, B-24 bomber, Mcgovern, george s. (george stanley), 1922-2012, United States. Army Air Forces, Regimental histories, Bombing, aerial, United States. Army Air Forces. Squadron, 741st, American Aerial operations, History, United States. Army Air Forces. Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 741st, World war, 1939-1945, regimental histories

Description: The very young men who flew the B-24s over Germany in World War II against terrible odds were yet another exceptional band of brothers, and, in The Wild Blue, Ambrose recounts their extraordinary brand of heroism, skill, daring, and comradeship with vivid detail and affection. Ambrose describes how the Army Air Forces recruited, trained, and then chose those few who would undertake the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the war. These are the boys -- turned pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and gunners of the B-24s -- who suffered over 50 percent casualties. With his remarkable gift for bringing alive the action and tension of combat, Ambrose carries us along in the crowded, uncomfortable, and dangerous B-24s as their crews fought to the death through thick black smoke and deadly flak to reach their targets and destroy the German war machine. The Wild Blue makes clear the contribution these young men of the Army Air Forces stationed in Italy made to the Allied victory. - Jacket flap.