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Published to glowing reviews, The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys tells the riveting story of a nine-man American bomber crew after they were forced to bail out over Germany in August, 1944. Quickly taken prisoner by a mob of angry farmers, shopkeepers, railroad workers, women, and children, the soldiers were marched into the nearby town of R�sselsheim and assaulted with stones, bricks, and wooden clubs before being left for dead at the nearby cemetery. Drawing from trial records, government archives, interviews with family members, and personal letters, author Gregory A. Freeman follows two army officers charged with investigating the murders, and brings to life the dramatic story of how the depravations of war led the citizens of a sleepy German village to commit horrific acts.
"Lucid account of a terrible war crime"--"The Washington Post"
"A riveting narrative bolstered by frequent, helpful citations."--"Kirkus Reviews"
"The book's greatest strength is its ability to convey the simple pain, uncertainty, and raw emotion experienced by the crew's stateside families, who for so long held out the hope that their loved ones were still alive. Three crewmembers survived - and Freeman tells their stories in a particularly effective manner."--"Military Review"
"Freeman has once again crafted a gripping, cinematic narrative - one that raises important questions about justice and morality in a time of industrial annihilation of civilian populations. A timely and riveting story of heroism and horror."--Alex Kershaw, author of "The Longest Winter" and "The Bedford Boys"
"With "The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys," Gregory A. Freeman delivers a thorough, artful, and absolutely riveting account of a fascinating yet tragic story of war, humanity, and justice. Freeman again proves that he ranks among today's finest historical storytellers."--Alvin Townley, author of "Fly Navy" and "Legacy of Honor"
""The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys" is the gripping and insightful story of the Wham Bam crews first and last combat mission. Meticulously researched and masterfully written, Gregory Freeman expertly weaves the history of the crew with the historic events that followed after they were shot down and captured. This is a fascinating and engrossing book that will be read for many decades."--Brigadier General Don Harvel, Deputy Commander, Texas Air National Guard
"Gregory A. Freeman's "The Last Mission of the Wham Bam Boys" is a compelling, thought-provoking, and harrowing account of how a seemingly minor, brutal incident during World War II touched, and devastated, countless lives. It's a well-written, exhaustively researched, and thoroughly human story that shows how war can bring out the worst, and the best, in combatants and noncombatants a
ISBN: 9780230341166
ISBN-10: 0230341160
Audience:
General
Format:
Paperback
Language:
English
Number Of Pages: 256
Published: 6th July 2012
Dimensions (cm): 24.4 x 16.2
x 2.3
Weight (kg): 0.281
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