Low level B-24 bombing attack on Hitler's main oil refinery
B-24's scraping their bellies attacking Ploesti at 50 feet altitude.No need for bombsight here.
Under optimum conditions and for brief periods, the B-24 had a top speed of about 300 miles per hour, could carry 8,800 pounds of bombs 3,000 miles at altitudes of up to 30,000 feet. However, standard operational procedure in actual combat operations with the 8th and 15th Air Force in Europe called for 155 miles per hour indicated, 25000 feet altitude with a bomb load of 5500 pounds and a maximum total range of 1200 miles. In the Pacific, Liberators gradually replaced the B-17 in the heavy bomber role, largely because of the B-24's greater range. During the early part of the war, the B-24 and PB4Y were the only American heavy bombers covering the seas from Alaska to India.
In Europe's flak-filled skies, the aircraft quickly earned its reputation. The U.S. Eighth Air Force flew B-24s from England to France in 1942 and deep into Germany in 1943. B-24s also led the bombing raid that opened the decisive air battle over Berlin.
Early model of B-24
B-24J Later model used in latter stages of World War II
For hard cover book with message signed by author, veteran of 35 missions in B-17 from 9/11/44 Ludwigshafen to 2/3/45 Berlin, send check, or money order for $19.95 to AUTHOR 1010 SW 21 Ave. Gainesville, Florida 32601 FREE shipping.
New York Times Book Review:What makes this book engrossing is its evocation of the fine line between a close call and a tragedy, not to mention the way guilt is detonated by war's deadly absurdity.
Kirkus Review Flying high above Platoon-movie cliches An inspiring debut. Compelling suspense
Miami Herald:Harrowing portrait of the pitilessness of war
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel Writing this sharp is its own justification
Robert Olen Butler (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
"A Real Good War is gritty and funny and rich with authenticity. The long overdue debut of a very talented writer."
Susan Minot "Sam Halpert shines his light on a well-worn subject, war, and gives us material glowing with stoic humor and a crusty humanity. This is a wonderful, unique and moving book."
Leonard Michaels "If you want to know what World War II air war was like; the blood, fire, death and hell for American boys, A Real Good War is the book to read"
B-24 Liberator
the other heavy bomber
San Antonio Express Halpert's spellbinding novel of men in aerial combat will be compared to "Twelve O'Clock High". "The War Lover" and "Memphis Belle." It will not suffer from the comparison.
TARGET --- COLOGNE 1945 --- Bridges in the Rhine, no tracks in the train yards, no roofs on buildings. Flak barges in the river. Twin spires miraculously remain on cathedral.
Another view of the devastation of Cologne. Bombed night and day for four years by the R.A.F and the 8th Air Force, the final blow was struck by army artillery.
Bombs away! B-17s of the 457th Bomb Group dropping on target. Bombs in foreground are from ships above. Many reports of planes hit by bombs from their own squadron.
Bombs away at smoke markers from lead ships preceding .
Bomber stream. Part of 1000 ship formation of B-17's. It would take over an hour for the entire bomber stream to pass over.
.Koblenz
100th Bomb Group at bombing altitude
Contrails. Baby, it's cold outside
Not exactly how they show it in the movies.Weary crews were trucked into Interrogation after 7 to 10 hour missions on oxygen enduring below zero Freezing, Fog, Flame, Flak, Focke-Wulf Fighters and the Five Fickle Fingers of Fate. Shots of whiskey at interrogation helped jog memory of the mission.
San Antonio Express-News Halpert's spellbinding novel of men in aerial combat will be compared to Twelve O'Clock High The War Lover and Memphis Belle. It will not suffer from the comparison..
For hard cover book with message signed by author, veteran of 35 missions in B-17 from 9/6/44 Ludwigshafen to 2/3/45 Berlin, send cash, check, money order for $19.95 to AUTHOR, 1010 SW 21st Ave. Gainesville, Florida 32601. Your message. Free shipping.
Halpert's spellbinding novel of men in aerial combat will be compared to Twelve O'Clock High,.The War Lover, and Memphis Belle.
It will not suffer from the comparison
New York Times Book Review:
What makes this book engrossing is its evocation of the fine line between a close call and a tragedy, not to mention the way guilt is detonated by war's deadly absurdity.
Publishers Weekly:
Halpert's absorbing debut. Gripping fiction
Kirkus Reviews:
Flying high above Platoon-movie cliches An inspiring debut. Compelling suspense
Miami Herald:
Harrowing portrait of the pitilessness of war
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
Writing this sharp is its own justification
Robert Olen Butler (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
"A Real Good War is gritty and funny and rich with authenticity.
The long overdue debut of a very talented writer."
Susan Minot
"Sam Halpert shines his light on a well-worn subject, war,
and gives us material glowing with stoic humor and a crusty humanity. This is a wonderful, unique and moving book."
Leonard Michaels
"If you want to know what World War II air war was like;
the blood, fire, death and hell for American boys,
A Real Good War is the book to read"
For hard cover book with message signed by author, veteran of 35 missions in B-17 from 9/6/44 Ludwigshafen to 2/3/45 Berlin, send cash, check, money order for $19.95 to AUTHOR, 1010 SW 21st Ave. Gainesville, Florida 32601
Choose your own message. No charge for shipping.
Our Crew --- 91st Bomb Group, Bassingbourn, November 1944. That's me at lower right.
100th B.G. B-17 lands after another fails to land safely.
Again, not exactly the way they show it in Hollywood. This is the face of crews after a mission. No smiles here. Look at their eyes. These guys are exhausted. It may take a few hours to recuperate. After all, there's always another mission tomorrow, but those who survive the tour will never forget, nor be able to ever describe their emotion at this moment.
No prescribed uniforms here. Each man wearing his choice of clothing for comfort and warmth. Crews were under oxygen, 50 and 60 degrees below zero at 25000 feet.and no adequate heating system. Below zero degree temperatures were soon ignored when the flak came up. These are a few of the large collection of lead crew photos on the fine website of the 303rd Bomb Group
Our crew (minus 2) at the 91st B.G. in 1944. That's me lower right.
Luftwaffe Me410 attacking B-17
100th B.G. B-17 lands after
another fails to land safely.
Our crew's old ship, Mah Ideel, on her way home from Dortmund
San Antonio Express:Halpert's spell-binding novel of men in aerial combat will be compared to Twelve O'Clock High,.The War Lover, and Memphis Belle. It will not suffer from the comparison
New York Times Book Review:
What makes this book engrossing is its evocation of the fine line between a close call and a tragedy, not to men-tion the way guilt is detonated by war's deadly absurdity.
Publishers Weekly:
Halpert's absorbing debut. Gripping fiction
Kirkus Reviews:
Flying high above Platoon-movie cliches An inspiring debut. Compelling suspense
Miami Herald:
Harrowing portrait of the pitilessness of war
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
Writing this sharp is its own justification
Robert Olen Butler (Pulitzer Prize for Fiction)
"A Real Good War is gritty and funny and rich with authen-ticity. The long overdue debut of a very talented writer."
Susan Minot
"Sam Halpert shines his light on a well-worn subject, war, and gives us material glowing with stoic humor and crusty humanity. This is a wonderful, unique and moving book."
Leonard Michaels
"If you want to know what World War II air war was like; the blood, fire, death and hell for American boys, A Real Good War is the book to read"
Later, American B-24s flew in waves on D-Day, bombing the beaches of Normandy in the predawn darkness to pave the way for Allied invasion forces.
Credit has never been given for the outstanding perform-ance of the B-24 in every theater of war. This aircraft was used to haul fuel, transport VIPs, patrol for submarines, and drop supplies by parachute. It also flew for naval recon, weather flights, and even freezing ice cream for local messes. Until the B-29, the B-24 was the most modern aircraft with the latest equipment. Without de-tracting from the B-17, it should be made part of the en-during record that the B-24 did its fair share and was an outstanding success at the work for which it was created.
---- Colonel John R. Kane, leader of the 98th Bomb Group ("The Pyramiders") in the Ploesti Air Raids
In Europe's flak-filled skies, the aircraft quickly earned its reputation. The U.S. Eighth Air Force flew B-24s from England to France in 1942 and deep into Germany in 1943. B-24s also led the bombing raid that opened the decisive air battle over Berlin. 
