Publisher Description
The very young men who flew the B24s over Germany in World War II against terrible odds were an exemplary band of brothers. In The Wild Blue, Stephen Ambrose recounts their extraordinary brand of heroism, skill, daring, and comradeship.
Stephen Ambrose describes how the Army Air Forces recruited, trained, and 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 B24s — who suffered over 50 percent casualties.
Ambrose carries us along in the crowded, uncomfortable, and dangerous B24s as their crews fought to the death through thick, black, deadly flak to reach their targets and destroy the German war machine or else went down in flames. Twenty-two-year-old George McGovern who was to become a United States senator and a presidential candidate, flew thirty-five combat missions (all the Army would allow) and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. We meet him and his mates, his co-pilot killed in action, and crews of other planes — many of whom did not come back.
As Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldiers portrayed the bravery and ultimate victory of the American soldier from Normandy on to Germany, The Wild Blue makes clear the contribution these young men of the Army Air Forces stationed in Italy made to the Allied victory.
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“Nothing like an Ambrose book. Unfortunately I think this might be one of the last he wrote. And timely for me what with the death of former Senator and Army Air Force pilot George McGovern this month. The more I read about the air war over Europe during WWII the clearer the hell that it was becomes. Can’t read these books without thinking about all the World War II veterans in my life and how fortunate I was was in having them share their stories with me. That’s what this book was like, McGovern and others sharing their experiences with Ambrose and his son, Hugh. Highly recommended.”
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Mark (5 out of 5 stars)
