Association
Bibliography: BOOKS Page 3
One man's story of flying with the 456th - he happened to be the first 456th Bomb Group pilot to reach 50 missions. Published by Manor House, Alexandria, Virginia. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 96-78457, ISBN 0-9640665-1-3.
An amazing collection of stories from one of the more prolific writers of the 456th, this book was a lifetime in the making. Robert W. (Bob) Reichard served in or with all four branches of the Services, shoulder to shoulder, during combat operations over a career that stretched three decades. He is an avid writer and has written many stories about his very unusual military career which included serving during World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War. The subtitle "A Collection of War Stories" is something of a misnomer since the reader will learn about Bob's history in Pennsylvania as well as his experiences in the military. Written in straight-forward conversational tone, Bob provides vivid snapshots of history in a no-nonsense approach that includes numerous photos. Highly recommended reading. Published by Word Association Publishers; Library of Congress Control Number 2003114459; ISBN 1-932205-80-2 Contact the 456th webmaster for ordering details.
This is one book that should be required reading in any high school history class. The author has used the extraordinary collection of letters from the original crew members and their families, along with exhaustive research and trips to Germany, to write a day to day account of how this crew lived - and died. Published by Perseus Printing, 1996
This is an excellent recounting of flying non-stop strenuous missions from Italy with the 450th Bomb Group - the "Cottontails". The reader learns clearly about what it was like to be a POW too, as 2nd Lt. Cubbins was interned in Rumania. Highly recommended. Published by Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina,1989.
Here in harrowing detail is the story of a 389th Bomb Group Liberator pilot that flew from North Africa on some of the most remarkable and devastating bomber missions of the war - Ploesti, Wiener Neustadt, and more. The author provides tremendous detail and insight into his experience, albeit from a narrow perspective given some of the historical inaccuracies. Published by the University Press of Kentucky, 1978.
Here is another book from Mr. Birdsall, this one providing detailed descriptions of numerous missions performed by the Liberator and her crews. From its inception through production, its use in every theater of the war, to its combat record in the history of the war, this book covers the B-24 and the men that flew it with passion and determination. Includes some stories from Bob Carlin of the 456th, quoted elsewhere on this site. Published by Doubleday and Company, Inc., 1973.
From Fred Riley, 456th Bomb Group Association historian: As a bombardier I found it to be accurate from the bombing standpoint as well as from the Ploesti information. It is published by Presido Press, 31 Pamaron Way, Novato, CA 94947. It may be available through some libraries but probably the publisher may have to be contacted. (An excellent book with heartfelt detail and comment. Watch for it to pop up on eBay occasionally. Highly recommended - webmaster)
A second book by Leroy Newby goes deep into the details of the fight for Hitler's oil, examining everything about the area, the combatants, the mission and the aftermath. Whereas his "Target Ploesti" book was a first hand account of his own experiences, this book covers the broad human drama of the conflict. It is an excellent resource and very well done, in Mr. Newby's "to the point" style. Published in 1991 by Motorbooks International Publishers, Osceola, WI ISBN 0-87938-494-8
Leon Wolff describes the low level Ploesti mission of 1 August 1943 with grim intensity. He examines virtually every facet of the mission, from planning to execution to fallout, using maps and personal recollections of many of the participants. This is a rare book, not to be missed by the serious historian. Copyrighted in 1957 and published in Great Britain by Longmans, Green and Company, Ltd.
Here's a very interesting book that is a cross between a history of the aircrews and a guide to actually flying the B-24. Bill Carigan was a co-pilot in the 15th Air Force, and completed 50 missions before returning home in January, 1945. He remained in the Air Force after the war and became a Lt. Col., finally retiring in 1965. There was obviously a lot of time put into this book, and while it draws heavily on the flight manuals from the period, it also has a lot of sidebar information that can only come from experience. Published in 1988 by Sunflower University press, Manhattan, KS.
A personal accounting of a young airman, from recruitment and training to flying for the Fifteenth Air Force out of Italy, and eventually surviving being shot down to become a POW. A very detailed and at times quite moving account of one man's trials and tribulations during the worst of the war. And yet frequently parts are written with tongue firmly in cheek. A page turner for those interested in first hand accounts. Published 1990 by Sunflower Press, Manhattan, KS ISBN 0-89745-129-5
From the back cover: Old Man in a Baseball Cap A Memoir by Fred Rochlin "In 1942 Fred Rochlin joined the Army Air Corps. After eight months of training, he was stationed in Italy, serving as the navigator on a B-24 bomber flying missions over Germany. Fifty such missions were required for a successful tour of duty. This was the first time Fred Rochlin had been away from home. He was nineteen years old." Very down to earth and grounded in reality, this book is actually based on fred's one man play by the same name. Not to be missed. (HarperCollins, 1999) ISBN 0-06-019426-X.
Ellis was a 30 mission lead crew pilot in the 8th Air Force, and as might be expected, has numerous tales to tell of his time. His prose reads easily while the tales themselves wind from simple stories to sheer terror. As a personal memoir Ellis has done a good job of painting a clear picture of what training - don't forget over 15,000 men died in training accidents - was really like, and how difficult missions to deep in Germany were for the boys on the crew. (American Literary Press, Inc., 1998) ISBN 1-56167-409-5. For copies, write to this link.
Here's another book that focuses on the rigors of combat flight training, this one from a slightly different perspective. Eugene flew B-17s from England after his training, the missions of which are detailed in his book "Fletcher's Gang". This book, Mister, details the year of training in such detail that nothing seems to be missed. The exhilaration of flying in the open cockpit trainers, all the way through the massive four engine bombers, comes through with his concise text. (University of Washington Press, 1992) ISBN 0-295-97181-9
Here is a self-published book by the pilot of "The Sandman", the B-24 that was photographed flying through the smoke and flame of the infamous 1 August 1943 Ploesti raid. Subtitled "An expose on the most infamous raid in US Air Force History!" with a further header page title of "New, never before revealed facts about Ploesti" and "Why the wrong turn by the lead navigator 'In His Own Words' ", this simple format book provides facts and thoughts from many who were there and survived it all. It includes an interview with Jacob Smart, the mission architect, and the memoirs of Colonel Harold A. Wicklund, mission lead navigator for the 376th bomb group. Very highly recommended reading if you want to hear the story straight from one who was in the Ploesti raid. On the left is the original cover of the book, and the new cover is seen to the right. Visit www.OperationTidalWave.com to learn more.
This book tells the story of the 8th's mission against Friedrichshafen, Germany of March 18, 1944, and of the author's Navigator dad's last fateful day with the 392nd BG, which would lose 14 Liberators on this trip. In a parallel contemporary narrative, the book also tells the story of how the author first came to learn these details in the mid 1990s, met with survivors, secured records and went to Europe for the first time, to his father's old base in East Anglia, his burial place in St. Avold France, and the crash site(s) in southwest Germany of his plane and two other heavies. (Parkway Publishers Inc., 1999) ISBN# 1-887905-19-7. (Provided by Wm. McGuire II)
This is the highly anticipated book on the Fifteenth Air Force by the acclaimed WWII historian and author, Stephen Ambrose. His previous works have won many accolades. This book, however, misses the mark. While it does provide some insight into the title as given, there is a narrow focus on one veteran, George McGovern. And many of the so-called facts are not, and in other areas there are simply numerous errors. Lastly, there is an obvious 'candy-coat' to much of what is told. The veterans and other historians reviewing this book have expressed disappointment, but it still tells a tale and allows many veterans an opportunity to speak their piece. Several 456th veterans, like Bob Capps, Bob Reichard and Bill Hallstead were quoted and/or assisted in the book research. (Simon and Schuster, 2001) ISBN 0-7432-0339-9.
Written by a retired history teacher, this book is the result of five years of research into the Office of Strategic Services (forerunner of the CIA) DAWES mission, which was sent into Slovakia in 1944 to help rescue downed American B-17 and B-24 bombing crews. The human drama portrayed in this book will leave the reader shocked at the brutality of the oppressive regime and invaders, and amazed at the ingenuity and fortitude of the Americans and British that had to fight every minute just to survive. (Liefrinck Publishers, Oceanside, California) ISBN 0-971-7482-0-9
A former navigator with the 463rd Bomb Group gives an exciting description of aerial combat in Italy during World War II. In “My Life, A Novel,” Gene Cowen describes flying through the “great dirty cube of smoke and fire” over Linz where his squadron had four planes knocked out of formation. He goes on to describe life on the ground. In one comic episode he turns down a free offer from a Rome prostitute because he had scheduled a trans-Atlantic phone call to his girl friend at home – who later became his wife. There is a strong flavor of American-occupied Italy in the book and Cowen’s work, after he stayed on for occupation duty, as editor of a base newspaper in Foggia. The book, which evokes the feel and emotions of World War II, then follows Cowen back to the States where he later became Deputy Assistant to President Nixon and then Washington Vice President of ABC. “My Life, A Novel” is published by 1stBooks Library. ISBN 1-4107-3826-4 (paperback). Available through Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com, or by phone directly from the publisher at 1-888-280-7715. (Text provided by author. The book has a 'novel' approach in its content, reading as a memoir and novel simultaneously. While the portion of the book that speaks of Gene's WWII experiences is small, it is proportionate time-wise to its place in his life. Well done... ed.)
Bibliography Section Links:
BOOKS, Page 1: 456th Bomb Group
BOOKS, Page 2: B-24 and Fifteenth Air Force
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