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32 CoPilots

by Charles R. Bastien

293 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); catalogue #03-2106; ISBN 1-4120-1729-7; US$32.00, C$41.00, EUR26.65, £18.47

A gripping tale of a US air force group that suffered enormous losses during WWII. Full of incredible stories of perseverance and triumph that will engross the reader.

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About the Book      About the Author      Reader Responses      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

With a primary wartime goal to weaken the enemy through strategic bombing key assets, the England based 8^th Air Force, nevertheless, flew tactical missions against troop concentrations as well as bridges, rail lines and canals to interdict supply. With the Allies in France after D-Day, the 8^th flew low-level missions to re-supply paratroops dropped behind enemy lines, to supply our own troops on the Continent with fuel, munitions and supplies, and, the local populace with food. The story includes over 100 photos, charts, etc. plus the names of over 700 men and women involved, many of whom tell their own personal tales of accomplishment to defeat the enemy, to keep the planes flying or to just survive, plus, interesting sketches of life both on and off the base in wartime England, Ireland and Scotland.

While the book covers parts of Spring, Summer and Fall of 1944, the 492^nd Bomb Group ceased operations after August 7^th due to high losses. "No bomb group in World War II lost as many aircraft and crew members in a three month period"* The remaining crews were dispersed and the survivors tell their stories from their new stations. Some wre shot down and returned; others became prisoners, some of which escaped. Many of the 700 men and women tell their own personal, often incredible, histories. Once you start reading, you'll have to finish the story. It's just that engrossing.

*December 14^th, 1994 letter to U.S. Senator Bob Dole from Lt. Col. Beth A. Unklesbay USAF, Office to the Secretary, Department of the Air Force.

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About the Author

A wartime warrior only, the author waited five years after retiring to work on the history. Despite this, the story includes the names and deeds of over 700 men and women, many of whom tell their own personal tales of accomplishment to defeat the enemy, keep the planes flying and to survive both war and life in wartime England.

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Reader Responses

Reed Hammans: "I would rank ' 32 Co Pilots' in the top 5% of the 300 or so books I've read on WWII Aviation... the ground crews are seldom recognized to the extent your book does; [also] I've never [before] seen first-person accounts of the base MPs. The 2nd Politz [mission] accounts are very powerful. I've read many, many books on the airwar: this is one of the best."

Lt.Col. Robert Dubowsky Ret.: "I've enjoyed reading 32 Co Pilots immensely and still read parts over again. I can visualize clearly the terrble experiences the flyer went through." (Dubowsky flew in the 8th AF during the war.)

Mrs. C.L. Swartout: "I found it very difficult to put the book down. You made it possible to understand the excitement, dread and courage it took to (fly) the missions, the appreciation and support of the British and the contribution of the WAC's. This had to be documented."

Russell Ives (British Author):"32 Co Pilots is your best. It has a lot of personal qualities which only someone who has actually been there can put over. Alamogordo was called 'Alamagoo' by the boys; similarly in the RAF Waddington became ' Waddo'. It's the inside stuff that makes the book. You are right about the ground crews, they are the salt of the earth. If we had been off on a long sortie, the boys would be waiting at the hardstand. Scott Hilliard's photos of Politz [2nd mission] are remarkable."

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Excerpts

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Catalogue Information

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