An award-winning, beautifully written story, heartbreaking at times, about a young American who flew over the treacherous skies of Nazi-occupied Europe during World War II, as depicted in the Masters of the Air TV series from the book by Donald L. Miller.
Finding Bomb Boogie is a book many cannot put down. Informative, riveting, and suspense-driven as the author searches for her father’s World War II story long after he has passed away—finally bringing understanding, acceptance, and closure to a complicated but loving relationship many decades later.
This is the story of a quiet, young American, a tail gunner on a B-17 aircraft nicknamed “Bomb Boogie,” flying bombing missions over Nazi-occupied Europe, a bomber boy of twenty-one years, scared of heights, parachuting twice out of a plane to his eventual capture by the Germans, the resilient airman held in a prisoner of war camp for twenty-two months who spent his twenty-fourth birthday year on a forced march in one of the coldest winters in over fifty years, the daredevil who rolled down a hill during the march to escape captivity in another prison camp, and the tired, emaciated young man who finally made it home, to fight more battles.
Reading Finding Bomb Boogie will transport you on a journey of what it was like to enlist in the Army Air Corps during World War II, train to be part of a ten-man crew on a B-17, fly that plane from America to England, and participate in the daily “suicide” missions in 1943 before the Allies became masters of the air. The author harrowingly describes what it was like to be shot down and captured and to spend two years at the notorious Stalag 17B Nazi prisoner of war camp, battling disease, starvation, extreme cold, and uncertainty about what lay ahead.
This book vividly portrays the young Americans who fought in World War II and paid the price with their youth and often with their lives so we can enjoy our freedom today. The author painstakingly shares the details of her research, inspiring readers to learn and share their own World War II veterans’ history with future generations before these stories and the lessons learned silently slip away.
Maureen Buick is the author of "Finding Bomb Boogie: A Daughter's Search to Rediscover her Father-the World War II Bomber Boy, Prisoner of War & American Veteran." Maureen became a World War II history buff after she retired from her nursing career and had the opportunity to research her father's war story. She is a member of the 91st Bomb Group Memorial Association and serves on their board as editor of the quarterly newsletter, "The Ragged Irregular." She is also a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society. Maureen lives with her husband in San Francisco and spends most of her time traveling between Lake Tahoe and Sonoma County. She and her husband have two grown children and two grandsons, whom Maureen buys model airplanes--mostly B-17s--every chance she gets. Maureen is currently writing a book about American Prisoners of War in World War II. She also writes a blog hosted on her author website titled "Finding Your WWII Veteran," where she provides insight and resources for anyone searching to learn more about their veteran's World War II military service. Author website: maureenbuick.com
