High Honour: Recollections by Men and Women of World War II Aviation

Thirty-eight men and women involved in aviation during World War II tell their personal stories of the war

In this collection of thoughtful reminiscences, 26 men and two women look back on their WW II experiences in military aviation and briefly review their subsequent careers. Former pilots have their say, along with a bombardier, a ball-turret gunner, a navigator, a carrier landing-signals officer, a flight surgeon and a crew chief. Many of the participants in this oral history project remained in aviation after the war, some as pilots on active duty in Korea and Vietnam, others as test pilots, aerospace engineers, airline mechanics. Melodrama has a low priority here; most of these veterans are more interested in recalling the good times than the bad, their fascination with airplanes and their personal sense of fulfillment at having taken part in the air war. Photos.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

The eyewitness anthology is especially well suited to teach us of large events of the scope of World War II. Here 24 narrators recount their experiences in aviation during that war. Participants include names well known to aviation readers, like the late Tom Lanphier (who adds information to the shooting down of Admiral Yamamoto), as well as a flight surgeon, two women who did pivotal jobs in aviation, and a less-publicized contributor, one of a handful of black fighter pilots. They take us through the 8th Air Force's assault on Germany, over long stretches of sea on anti-sub patrol, through the perils of pilot training, and into combat. Their combined insight works well to describe both that time and their responses to it. A strong wartime history from remarkable personalities.
- Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.