The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45

Simply fascinating! An underexplored story of courage in the worst situations. McGovern is another representative of this age that produced men who did not think of themselves first. A rarity these days.

This seemed to be a tribute to George McGovern rather than a gripping tale like Ambrose's other books. That's no criticism of Senator McGovern. He deserves the tribute, but the book lacked the intensity I was expecting.

It was a good overview of what happened historically. It didn't have enough personal information like anecdotes and stories. Or how the characters were feeling when in combat. I felt it glossed over some situations. But it gave the general idea.

An excellent job of historical happenings in a way the is not only clear but in an interesting to those who aren't all that crazy about history. It's important for those of us who have benefited from their sacrifices. God bless them and their families. Too many today know virtually nothing about this war, or knowing little think it can't happen again, but it can. We must remain strong yet for peace.

Ambrose really takes you along with all of those brave boys as they flew in the B-24 bombers. I have a whole, new appreciation for their gallant efforts and can understand why they were described as The Greatest Generation. God bless them all.

The stories simply put, were so down to earth. The boys just get coming off the farm, out of high school entering the war, most all wanting to become pilots. The stories that led them to become men. The sad, sad, reality that only 50% of the crew would make it home. excellent reading

The stories simply put, were so down to earth. The boys just get coming off the farm, out of high school entering the war, most all wanting to become pilots. The stories that led them to become men. The sad, sad, reality that only 50% of the crew would make it home. excellent reading

Ambrose seems to have taken up right where he left off in "Nothing like it in the World" slow and boring, considering the topic that's no small trick either. But if you have an interest in the living arrangements made by Mrs. McGovern through the war by all means pick this book up that and numerous other mundane tidbits are covered in great detail here.

Horrible read. Ambrose writes like a reporter with his superfluous fact after superfluous fact. It read like a 350 page New York Times article. Maybe some people would find it interesting to hear what the pilot ate and drank the morning of April 27th - I for one an not interested.

This was a very, very, very boring book!!! After enumerable pages of how the AAF trained their pilots in WWII (going over the individual training each flight crew member got for several different crews) we finally got down to some actual combat flying. The combat flying was totally lacking any detail in most cases (ie, on such and such date they flew a 12 plane raid on Remagen and dropped x tons of bombs: whoppee). Other than being boring the book was obiviously written to idolize George McGovern. According to Ambrose he walked on water and lept tall buildings at a single bound. There was soo much material available on soo many different B-24 pilots and crew and yet Ambrose spent most of his time writing only about McGovern. I could not believe that this was the same author who wrote Band of Brothers. I would not recommend this book.

I'm only giving this one star because the store says I have to give something cause I dont feel they deserve even one star, I ordered this product May 4th, its now June 4th, and I still have not received my book. I have emailed the seller 3 times with no reply from them at all. This is my first bad experience on the store, but it wont stop me from buying off of the store again . the store is working with me to help me resolve the issue. I don't even really want my money back I would rather have my book, but only if its in the condition advertised----like new. I don't know whether to order from someone else as its part of a series or just keep waiting this out or what. But I will never buy from this person again.

The Wild Blue

Stephen E. Ambrose has written many books on history. He lives in Mississippi and Montana. This 2001 book of 299 pages has a ‘Contents’, eleven chapters, ‘Note’, ‘Bibliography’, and ‘Index’. It tells about the Army Air Force airmen who flew the B-24 bombers over Europe and suffered a high casualty rate of 50%. The AAF were well trained before being sent into combat. The flyers were either officers or sergeants, with better pay and status than corporals or privates. The ‘Prologue’ describes the features and drawbacks of the B-24. The pilots and crews came from everywhere in America (Chapter 1). The Civilian Pilot Training program prepared pilots. Chapter 2 describes their training to become pilots, bombardiers, or navigators. The B-24 was the hardest plane to fly (Chapter 3). It tells about their learning experience.

Formation flying allowed the bombs to land in the same place. Airpower made WW II the greatest catastrophe in history (Chapter 4). Bomb damage was quickly repaired by the enemy (p.109). The Ploesti oil fields were attacked to reduce Axis oil production (p.119). Chapter 5 describes the air field at Cerignola Italy. The experiences of flying in combat is listed in Chapter 6. Ground crew mechanics kept the B-24's functioning. Chapter 7 tells about operations in December 1944. The big danger was from anti-aircraft gunfire. George McGovern was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his safe landing after a bombing mission. Chapter 8 tells what they did on leave. The bombing of oil refineries and marshaling yards continued (Chapter 9). They attacked ME 262 jet fighters on the ground.

Long-range P-51 fighters escorted the bombers. The Germans used a captured and repaired B-24 to report on Air Force bombing missions. The Air Force targeted oil refineries and marshaling yards in March 1945 (Chapter 10). By April their bombing was tactical, against the German front lines (Chapter 11). Their attacks ceased at the end of the month, two weeks before V-E day. The enemy generals said airpower was the decisive element in defeating Germany (p.248). The most significant was the destruction of oil refineries (p.249). The attacks on marshaling yards choked transportation. The ‘Epilogue’ says nearly all of the B-24's were salvaged or scrapped after the war (obsolescence).

The Consolidated Aircraft Company designed the B-24 “Liberator” and it was built by other companies (like Ford). It was designed to carry a 50% bigger bomb load than the B-17 “Flying Fortress” and could fly higher and further than the B-17. But the B-17 was easier to take off, fly, and land. It would not break up if crash landed at sea. The B-24 had a tendency for its wing to fold and break when hit by shells. Strategic bombing of enemy industry and oil fields caused shortages. The German Army reverted to horse-drawn vehicles. Enemy pilots had less training and effectiveness. They depended on anti-aircraft cannon for defense. There is a discussion on strategic bombing on pages 247-251. Was it an unnecessary waste? The accuracy of bombs was far below the accuracy of artillery fire, but it was the most decisive factor in wrecking oil refineries and marshaling yards for train traffic. The bombing of ball bearing plants wasn’t as effective.

This is Stephen Ambrose’s tribute to the bomber crews of the US airforce in Europe in WW2. Here, like in ‘Band of Brothers’, his famous book on Easy Company of the 506 Parachute Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, he conveys the experience of bomber crews through looking at a crew in the 731st Bomber squadron. As with BOB, there is a lead participant, in this case pilot George McGovern (the latter presidential candidate). Ambrose gives the background of McGovern, his officers and crew and takes the reader through their extensive training and battles.

The interesting and at first surprising aspect of this book, was that the 741st was based in Italy. I guess, when the bomber campaign is thought of, it is usually in terms of B17s and the Eighth Airforce. Here we see B24s and the Fifteenth Airforce. Also, given McGovern and crew only started operations in late 1944, I expected their tour to be an easier one than those of the Eighth in 1943/44. I was therefore surprised to find that casualties were still severe and this far from a soft option. It has to be said though, that the German Airforce was barely seen by McGovern, it having been broken early in 1944. (There were a couple of notable exceptions here) The flak though was incredible and the daunting nature of flying into the black cloud of shrapnel is made very clear. There were also the incredibly deadly accidents. The collisions, being hit by other craft’s bombs and simple take-off and landing crashes. What is particularly sobering, is these accidents started in training and several thousand men died before even leaving the States. The thought of such large aircraft being stricken fills me with horror.

McGovern survived to be interviewed years later. He certainly has some gripping stories to tell of his 35 flight tour. Several of his men contribute their recollections too. To fill the gaps, the experiences and observations of other members of the Fifteenth are given but the main story is that of McGovern’s. It is astonishing what he and the other extremely young men endured. Part of their success I think, was the extensive training they received – far more than that given to their allies or their opponents. It took time but it strongly increased their chance of survival.

Aside from the aircrew, there is fascinating information about the B24 and the formation of the Fifteenth. Fighter escorts are mentioned too as well as the business of bailing out and capture. There are a few strange mistakes – the Stalag Luft 3 escapers were not shot in front of the other prisoners and German Airforce monthly casualty figures are off the chart! These quibbles aside, this is an informative and important book. It gives a view of a lesser known theatre and strongly conveys the danger those in such large aircraft faced. Recommended. 3 1/2 stars

In this book, Ambrose accurately depicts the many trials faced by thousands of airmen flying in WWII. The bravery of the B-24 crews certainly cannot be denied. Once assigned an objective, they flew through freezing weather and incessant flak to ensure its destruction. However, several claims that Ambrose makes throughout the book seem hard to believe. As mentioned previously, Ambrose claims that all airmen were volunteers. Yet, it is widely accepted that this was not the case at all. There were men who enlisted for one position, but were essentially forced into the role of airman. This practice still takes place today in various branches of the military. Ambrose’s primary thesis is that the bombers greatly swayed the war in favor of the Allies. Yet, for every bombing run that was successful, Ambrose recounts a run that resulted in staggering casualties. In one case he writes, “Thirty-four B-24s dropped sixty-six tons of bombs on the refinery.” (189) He fails to mention if the refinery was actually destroyed or if production was halted. In several instances he notes that the bombing of refineries was completely nullified due to the quick repair and rebuilding of the structure by the Germans. He also quotes German officers who comment that the bombing of the ball bearing plants were essentially useless and did not slow the Germans in the slightest. While Ambrose has produced some high-quality work, The Wild Blue does not measure up. Fraught with contradicting evidence, unbelievable statements, and even accusations of plagiarism, Ambrose has only succeeded in producing a work which will be forever hidden in the shadows of Band of Brothers and D-Day.

I've always been an admirer of Stephen Ambrose and a not a fan of George McGovern, the 1972 Democrat presidential candidate. Wild Blue did diminish my respect for Ambrose a bit but I was surprised to find that it actually mollified my negative opinion of McGovern.

The book was originally intended to be about McGovern but he insisted it be about his unit, the 741st Bomb Squadron of the 455th Bomb Group. One has to respect the humility of any man who insists on sharing his legacy with his war buddies.

While Ambrose expanded the scope of his research to include many other members of McGovern's crew, make no mistake this is still a book about George McGovern and the quirky B-24 Liberator Bomber.

McGovern is portrayed by his crewmates as an excellent leader and an extraordinary pilot. He entered combat late in the war, late 1944, but managed to complete 35 missions out of Cerignola, Italy by war's end. It is clear he was a serious young man mature beyond his years who was unselfish, highly motivated and extremely patriotic. Ambrose missed the opportunity to close the loop and explain how and why a World War II bomber pilot with 35 missions wound up a "dove" running as a "peace candidate" 30 years later. That would have been an interesting revelation.

Of additional interest are the daily lives of the crews that flew these bombing missions in the B-24 and the risks and hardships they had to deal with. The average age of the pilots was about 23 years old and the crew about 19. They suffered enormous casualties of dead, wounded and captured and the Army Air Forces decided to make all crewmembers sergeants because NCOs received better treatment in prison camps. The odds of surviving 35 missions (which allowed the men to be transferred back to the States) were slim.

Ambrose does a decent job of describing the B-24 and all of its eccentricities. The Liberator with its twin tails and high wing design was a distinctive aircraft. Its bubble nose gave it a profile of an angry, ugly bulldog. It was a tough plane to fly and a bombing platform with no creature comforts whatsoever. Crewmembers were always cold at 30,000 feet and their workspaces were just barely sufficient for them to do their jobs. However, it had a longer range than its more celebrated sister, the B-17 Flying Fortress, and carried a heavier bomb load. More Liberators were built than any other American plane in history.

Wild Blue is reasonably well compiled. Interjecting the interviews at random points has the book bouncing around at times. It is modestly sourced with some pictures and interviews organized into a herky-jerky story of young men, especially one in particular and his plane. While not on a par with other Ambrose works, it succeeded in elevating my opinion of both the B-24 Liberator bomber and it's pilot, George McGovern.

John E. Nevola - Author of The last Jump - A Novel of World War II

While I do not share George McGovern's political philosophy, I do respect his courage and the fact he is a war hero. Flying the B-24 was no easy feat, and completing the full complement of 25 missions is indeed worthy of praise.

While this book is chiefly about the crew headed by McGovern, it gives insight into the lives and struggles of the bomber crews flying the planes that helped win the war. The aspects I most liked were those that dealt with the attacks on the Ploesti Oil Fields in Romania. While I had been an amateur historian on World War II for most of my life, I had never really understood the importance of the Air War. While many criticized its importance, Albert Speer himself credited Allied bombing of energy resources for the eventual defeat of Germany.

I also credit George McGovern. While I don't agree that the Soviet Union could have been dealt with like any other nation, our involvement in Vietnam was out of the ordinary. He had an insight into the effects of bombing on people. George McGovern had really gone through the horrors of war, and did not want to visit those horrors on others. While I am generally no dove, I do appreciate much of the rationale behind McGovern's stance, and this book helps bring those points into relief.

I hope you read this book for what it is. It is a good firsthand account of the trials and tribulations of people who fought hard for their country. These men truly were the best and the brightest. They took their lives into their own hands to win a war that needed to be won. I hope all read this book with an open mind and understand that since George McGovern died recently, he truly was a national hero and a man who helped his nation in a period of great turmoil.