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Soon after the United States entered World War II, American ground and air forces were on their way to the European theater of operations. Among that offensive buildup was the 15th Air Force, consisting of four-engine heavy bombers--the B-17 and B-24--as well as twin-engine medium bombers and several types of fighter aircraft. The 15th was first stationed in North Africa and then in southern Italy, where pilots could strike at any military target within a 700 mile radius. After ferrying a B-17 to England with the 8th Air Force, Lt. Edward Logan was transferred to the 15th Air Force, Fifth Wing, 483rd Bomb Group, 817th Bomb Squadron in Italy. Logan and members of his unit were assigned to use American air power to destroy the German military's manufacturing and petroleum complexes as well as its intricate transportation system.
This gripping memoir gives a detailed account of Logan's experiences throughout his Army Air Corps career. It outlines the progression of a determined would-be pilot through two years of training, his 1944 journey to the war's theater and advent into actual combat. While other missions are summarized, the work's main focus is the author's thirty-fourth combat mission, which took place in March 1945. During this operation, his B-17 bomber sustained damage so severe that he and nine crewmen were forced to bail out over enemy territory. Aided by Slovenian partisans, Logan and his crew evaded the German troops who were searching for them and returned safely to their base. This firsthand account includes insider details, technical specifications of the B-17 bomber and previously classified information. An epilogue provides additional information on the partisans andthe composition of the 15th Air Force.
This entry refers to the LARGE PRINT edition. For the standard edition please see ISBN 978-0-7864-2572-3.
| Acknowledgments | p. vi |
| Preface | p. 1 |
| Introduction | p. 4 |
| The Training Story | p. 6 |
| Our "Ferry Flight" to England and Its Preparation | p. 30 |
| Our First Taste of England | p. 42 |
| A Journey to a New Air Force | p. 47 |
| Our New Home Away from Home | p. 51 |
| Our War - A Flying Start | p. 60 |
| The Tuskegee Airmen - A Bond of Friendship | p. 73 |
| A Salute to My Crew | p. 78 |
| Missions | p. 90 |
| The Thirty-Fourth Mission | p. 94 |
| Dressing for the Occasion | p. 116 |
| Armed and Ready for the Day Ahead | p. 120 |
| The First Wave (Red Force) | p. 123 |
| The Takeoff | p. 125 |
| The Bomb Run | p. 138 |
| Day Number 1-Friday, March 9, 1945 | p. 155 |
| Day Number 2-Saturday, March 10, 1945 | p. 198 |
| Day Number 3-Sunday, March 11, 1945 | p. 223 |
| Day Number 4-Monday, March 12, 1945 | p. 231 |
| Day Number 5-Tuesday, March 13, 1945 | p. 250 |
| The Return | p. 255 |
| Epilogue | p. 270 |
| Citations Received by Edward F. Logan, Jr. | p. 274 |
| Ferry Crews | p. 275 |
| About the Fifteenth Air Force | p. 278 |
| Index | p. 287 |
| Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved. |
ISBN: 9780786439409
ISBN-10: 0786439408
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 290
Published: 20th November 2008
Dimensions (cm): 24.9 x 17.5
x 2.5
Weight (kg): 0.544
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