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 up above. There were many reports of planes hit by bombs from their own squadron.
Bombs away at smoke markers dropped from lead ships of preceding squadrons.
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
B-17 and B-24 pictures from
an 8th Air Force exhibition
100th Bomb Group at bombing altitude
100th Bomb Group over Germany
Contrails. Baby, it's cold outside
Luftwaffe Me410 attacking B-17
100th B.G. B-17 lands after
another fails to land safely.
San Antonio Express-News
Inevitably, 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..
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 WeeklyEchoes of Memphis Belle and Catch-22. Gripping fiction.
Kirkus ReviewFlying high above Platoon-movie cliches. Compelling suspense.
Miami HeraldHarrowing portrait of the pitilessness of war.
Robert Olen Butler(Pulitzer Prize for Fiction) A Real Good War is gritty, funny and rich with authenticity. The long overdue debut of a very talented writer.
A REAL GOOD WAR published by Anchor Doubleday (New York), Cassell (London), Kojin-sha (Tokyo).
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
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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
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 Reviews-Flying high above Platoon-movie cliches An inspiring debut. Compelling suspense Miami Herald-Harrowing portrait of the pitilessness of war Fort Lauderdale Sun-SentinelWriting this sharp is its own justification
All pictures on this page and on this website are available in 8 X 11" prints, suitable for
framing, Signed and inscribed with your personal message $10 each. No charge for postage Cash, check, or money order to Sam Halpert, 1010 S.W 21 Avenue. Gainesville, FL 32601
