Marauder: Memoir of a B-26 Pilot in Europe in World War II - Hardcover

Rehr, Louis S.; Rehr, Carleton R.; Allen, Trevor J.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0786416645 ISBN 13: 9780786416646

Publisher: McFarland & Company, 2003

Synopsis

Under the leadership of a dedicated pilot, the B-26 Marauder was a formidable weapon in the campaign to defeat Hitler's armies, and, in the words of his first copilot, "Lou was the best there was. He created a spirit among the crew that made us really want to fly the mission and be disappointed if we had to abort." This memoir begins with Captain Rehr's arrival in pre-invasion England in May 1944 and ends with the completion of Major Rehr's aircraft disarmament duties in postwar Germany in July 1945. Rehr, a squadron commander with the 323rd Bombardment Group, earned 12 air medals, five battle stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. He describes his experiences, including five night-bombing missions he volunteered to fly in 1944 and accounts of attacks by Me-262 jets in late April of 1945. The narrative also recollects two summers in 1936 and 1938, when, as a teenager touring Germany, he observed the influence of Nazism. This memoir is the result of forty years of research on the combat history of the B-26, contributions from comrades, an extensive collection of rare photographs, artifacts including newspaper articles and letters, and all military records and documents relating to Rehr's part in World War II. One appendix describes where readers can find images and restorations of the B-26. A second gives brief follow-ups on the men described in the narrative, often with their remembrances of the events outlined.

About this title

From the Back Cover:

The B-26 Marauder was a formidable weapon in the campaign to defeat Hitler's armies, and, in the words of his first copilot, "Louis Rehr "was the best there was" flying it. This memoir, which benefits from forty years of research on the combat history of the B-26, contributions from comrades, and an extensive collection of rare photographs, describes Rehr's experiences, including five night-bombing missions he volunteered to fly in 1944 and accounts of attacks by Me-262 jets in late April of 1945. Rehr, a squadron commander with the 323rd Bombardment Group, earned 12 air medals, five battle stars, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, and the Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. This entry refers to the LARGE PRINT edition.

About the Author:

Louis S. Rehr served with the Air Force reserves until 1958, when he was discharged with the rank of lieutenant colonel. He now lives with his wife Carleton in Makaha, Hawaii.

About this edition

• Publisher: McFarland & Company
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0786416645
• ISBN 13: 9780786416646
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 230