ROORD: To War in a Rubber Duck: Book II - The Land War

Reconnoitering, observation, opposition resources, destruction--ROORD. In an off-book agreement between Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill, a squadron of B-25 Mitchells was created and placed under the authority of Churchill to give him creative latitude in facing the Nazi threat. Manned by American personnel and funded by the American black budget, ROORD was a way of bypassing America’s official noninvolvement in the European war.

When the first American crews arrived in England, they immediately redefined the ROORD acronym. They declared that the letters no longer defined a job description but rather heralded the existence of an ancient and honorable society--"The Royal Order of Rubber Ducks.” The planes were suitably named: Rubber Ducky, Duck Butt, Duck Soup, Duck and Cover, Just Ducky, Pluck-a Duck, and Lucky Duck. The squadron’s logo was a rubber duck silhouette transiting a full moon. The unit motto was, “When all else fails, Duck!”

In volume one of this trilogy, ROORD: The Air War, the Ducks joined the British air war. Their presence made significant contributions to the Battle of Britain, the submarine threat, the Battle of the North Atlantic, and the Battle of Britain. Now, in volume two, the Ducks support the American entry into the war, acting as high-powered gunships. Again, they participate in the major events: North Africa, D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, the push to Berlin.

Grounded in historical action, reflecting combat realities, respectful of the humor and pathos of war, ROORD: The Land War is, as one reader put it, “an intelligent adventure.” So far, the biggest fans of the ROORD series are those who have been there and done that. A high recommendation indeed.