If you'd rather place an order by talking to one of our cheerful order desk clerks, please call 1-888-232-4444 (USA and Canada only) or 250-383-6864. From Europe, ring our UK order desk clerk at local rate number 0845 230 9601 (UK only) or 44 (0)1865 722 113.

World War II: A Pilot's Experience

by Robert R. Burch MD Pilot

130 pages; quality trade paperback (softcover); black and white photographs; catalogue #04-1770; ISBN 1-4120-3963-0; US$15.00, C$19.00, EUR12.35, £8.56

A story of a young B-17 pilot and his experiences leading up to military service, training, combat and after service. Anecdotes, stories, photographs included.

Read more!

About the Book      About the Author      Excerpts      Catalogue Information

About the Book

The men and women who were young adults in WWII have been called "The Greatest Generation". Although they were ordinary people, they accomplished extraordinary things. WW II: A Pilot's Experience tells one such story, the story of an 18 year-old boy from rural Louisiana who volunteered for service, like million of others who responded at their country's time of need. His choice was the US Army Air Force. His story provides an up-close and personal look at the details and rigors of pilot training and preparation for combat.

Like so many of his generation, Lt. Burch was thrust into a position of command and leadership at a tender age. The reader discovers the challenge he experienced as pilot of a crew of 10 young men on a B-17 as it flew into the heat of combat. Strong bonds form between the young men in the face of such challenge.

The adjustments young people made at the time of war are great, yet the book illustrates the remarkable ability of young people to adapt at the time of their nation's need. This book illustrates the adaptations of young civilians to military life, the excellent and intensive training the young military personnel receive prior to combat, and their adjustments to civilian life after military service. WW II: A Pilot's Experience rekindles memories of those who served and is a vivid personal account of WW II for others. Pictures of many aspects of the lives of military airmen enhance the story.

---

About the Author

Robert R. Burch was born in Edgard, Louisiana. He was attending Southwestern Louisiana Institute prior to joining the US Army Air Force during WW II. He served in combat as a B-17 pilot. After WW II he received an MD degree from Tulane University and advanced medical training at Philadelphia General Hospital, Duke University and Tulane. He practiced Internal Medicine and Cardiology in New Orleans for 46 years. He served on the Clinical Faculty at Tulane School of Medicine and retired as Clinical Professor of Medicine. Only after his retirement did he begin non-medical writing.

---

Excerpts

Page 2: "Dr. Rhiel met the group as it approached the main gates of the campus, stopped us and gave an effective speech. He praised everyone's patriotism, emphasized the significance of the attack on Pearl Harbor told us that our downtown march was really pretty insignificant, and informed us that the recruiting stations would be open the next morning (Monday, December 8, 1941) and stated that, if we were really interested in making a contribution, we should report there."

Page 75: "Those bomber crews who were assigned to fly a mission the next day would go back to their tents to check the equipment in their flight bags to be sure it was all there and in good condition. The next couple of hours were free. Some used the time to write letters, some went to chapel, some read, and others played cribbage or cards."

Page 79: For a few brief seconds we knew that we were going to crash into the stack of steel matting at the end of the runway and that we could do nothing to prevent the accident except to hope there would be no explosion or fire."

Page 80: Prior to boarding the airplane, I told the crew, "This what we have been training for. Remember to do the things we were trained to do, and we will be OK."

---

Catalogue Information

---