The Bomber Boys

The Bomber Boys

In World War II, there were many ways to die. But nothing offered more fatal choices than being inside a B-17 bomber above Nazi-occupied Europe. From the hellish storms of enemy flak and strafing of Luftwaffe fighters, to mid-air collisions and mechanical failure, it’s a wonder any man would volunteer for such dangerous duty. But many did. Tens of thousands did not survive. Those who did survive, wondered how as they landed at their bases in Flying Fortresses riddled with flak holes. But in the end, all would achieve victory, as the B-17s played a major role in the Allied bombing campaign against Hitler’s Third Reich. In The Bomber Boys, Travis L. Ayres, a U.S. Navy and Vietnam War veteran, has gathered a collection of previously untold personal accounts of combat and camaraderie aboard the B-17 bombers that flew countless sorties against the enemy. From waist gunner Sergeant Peter Seniawesky, whose plane went down behind enemy lines, to navigator Art Frechette, whose Flying Fortress was hit by German flak over the Italian Alps on his last mission, these stories stand as powerful illustrations of heroism, courage—and the determination to survive against some of World War II’s longest odds.

Hardcover: 288 pages

Publisher: New American Library ( October 06, 2009 )

Item #: 26-7479

ISBN: 9781615237586

Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 8.25 x 0.68 inches

Product Weight: 12.0 ounces