Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior
Liberando: Reflections of a Reluctant Warrior

Author: John E. Horn

Publisher: Lulu.com

Published: 2019-06-21

Total Pages: 182

ISBN-13: 0359743889

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Merriam Press World War 2 Memoir Series. John H. Horn's wartime experiences as a B-24 pilot in the famous "Liberandos" bomb group, the 376th, are recounted in this work by his son, John E. Horn. Horn was one of millions in World War II who did their jobs. He was mighty lucky and blessed to have come home unscathed. Most of the real learning about air combat was on the job. Military schools and training don't really produce combat-ready men and women. They produce attitudes as well as thinking and re-acting skills. Actual combat is the real teacher. John was forever grateful to his crew and the leaders of the 376th Bomb Group who suffered his inexperience and naiveté. Without their patience, he would not have developed into a competent, safe, and living combat pilot. 31 photos, illustrations, maps.

The Liberandos
The Liberandos

Author: James W. Walker

Publisher:

Published: 1994

Total Pages: 650

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This story is about the men of the 376th Heavy Bombardment Group, one of the most famous and heavily decorated units of World War II. It is derived from the personal documents, letters, and words of its veterans, as well as from official records. The Group was unique in that itwas the only American heavy bomb group activated in overseas combat, the first American unit to bomb "Fortress Europe", and the first group to be based on the European continent.

Ten Men, a Flying Boxcar, and a War
Ten Men, a Flying Boxcar, and a War

Author: Emmett Mackenzie

Publisher:

Published: 2005-04

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9780595347384

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"...the simple fact is that ten men, boy's really, came together out of nowhere... did what was asked of them, and returned to their nowhere". These are the no-nonsense words of Crew 313's navigator, Mike Ozckus, that hint at the camaraderie, skill, danger, and sacrifice required for missions over Nazi-occupied Europe in the B-24 heavy bomber, known not-so-affectionately as the "Flying Boxcar". Nose gunner, Emmett (Mac) MacKenzie weaves the memories of his crewmembers with historical accounts about air combat during the Second World War. Every daunting mission demanded heroism, yet Ozckus modestly wrote that their actions wouldn't warrant even a "footnote in history". Crew 313 is the story of ordinary Americans who answered their county's call to do the extraordinary. Mackenzie brings their history alive in this testament to courage.

Low Level Gods
Low Level Gods

Author: John E. Horn

Publisher:

Published: 2021-06-27

Total Pages: 224

ISBN-13: 9781312318632

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

This account of the war in Vietnam is based exclusively on personal experience. It is not a chronological narrative but is written as a series of memories that stand out among many over my 22-month combat tour from March 1969-December 1970. Each chapter stands alone. My goal for this book is to disclose the reality of my life as a combat "Huey" helicopter pilot and to illustrate how the "combat experience" affected me. Overall, my experiences were probably average. I tried to avoid writing a wall-to-wall, shoot-em-up narrative of unrelenting battles and my prominent place in them as a badass pilot and warrior. Ego and poor memory occasionally made this difficult. To be true, I had to write myself out of some of the best stories. War is a formative experience. The permanency of the experience is indisputable and never far from consciousness. Unless you have been there, you will never completely understand the imprint that war makes on a warrior's psyche. Flying a helicopter low level over the earth at 120 knots gives the aviator a sense of power, splendor, freedom, mastery, and control. Being just a little closer to the heavens, a little faster and cooler than anyone else in the Army, all contributed to the aviator's self-regard. The infantrymen we fought side by side with viewed Army pilots as their protectors, champions, and liberators. They continually heaped appreciation, gratitude, and admiration on us and made us feel indispensable. We were masters of the sky over the battlefield, gods in our own eyes. Not that any of the god-like aspirations were necessarily warranted, but they served to keep esprit de corps and morale high, motivating Army aviators as young as 19 years old, to get into their machines to fly and fight every day. The title Low Level Gods is a recognition of the hubris and self-regard of aviators, the appreciation of others, and honestly how we felt about ourselves. 28 photos/illustrations. A Merriam Press Vietnam War Memoir.

Full Circle
Full Circle

Author: John "Jack" W. Oliver

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Published: 2011-11-21

Total Pages: 172

ISBN-13: 9781466323766

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

FULL CIRCLE is the fascinating story of Colonel John "Jack" Oliver, who was not only a highly decorated aviator but also a scientist and Missile Launch Officer who played a huge role in the early successes of the US space and nuclear deterrent programs.Colonel Oliver spent thirty years in the Army Air Corps/USAF. He was a WWII Bombardier-Navigator, flying 53 missions. His 376th Bomb Group flew B24s in low-level raids over the Ploesti oil fields plus numerous missions over Germany, Austria, and northern Italy. Jack received two Purple Hearts, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and several Group Commendation Medals. Later he was awarded the Legion of Merit and the Air Force Commendation Medal.Returning home, Jack attended pilot training and was selected as one of only ten to fly the new P-80. He continued to fly the T-33 (P-80 variant) throughout his career. In addition to the B-24 and B-29, he also flew the famous P-51. (P-51 cover image courtesy of Doug Fisher). As Base Adjutant at Albrook Field in the Canal Zone, Jack flew the DC-3 throughout Central and South America. He escorted Chuck Yeager on the Good Will Tour in those Countries.Later, Jack was assigned to Vandenberg AFB in the Discoverer Program, becoming a Satellite Master Controller, Test Director, Ops Officer, Commander of the Hawaiian Kaena Point Satellite Tracking Station, and eventually Chief of Staff for Plans & Operations for Space and Missiles and Satellite Operations. Despite his thirty-year military career, he served as County Commissioner for twelve years before "retiring." Jack lives with his wife, Miriam, near Belton, Texas.

Consolidated Mess
Consolidated Mess

Author: Alan Griffith

Publisher: Casemate Publishers

Published: 2012-03-26

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13: 9788361421160

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The B-24 Liberator was built in greater numbers than any other US WW2 aircraft, and served in every theater of WW2, as heavy bomber, anti-submarine aircraft, reconnaissance and transport. Produced in several factories, there were many variations, both minor and major, and existing literature is confusing and inaccurate. This book describes the development of nose-turreted versions of the B-24 as used by the USAAF, from field modification of early variants through to the many production versions built by Consolidated, Ford, and others, up to the definitive single-tailed B-24N. All aspects of the airframe are covered, from nose to tail, and the bewildering variety of turrets, guns, windows and other areas are described and illustrated. Much of this information has never been published before, and much that has been published is incomplete or inaccurate. Profusely illustrated with photos and detailed scale drawings, this book provides aviation enthusiasts and modelers the first complete guide to this major warplane. Future volumes will cover early versions without nose turrets, transport and anti-submarine versions, and non-USAAF variants.