Bringing the Thunder: The Missions of a World War II B-29 Pilot in the Pacific by Gordon Bennett Robertson Jr. is exactly what it says in the title, detailing the author's own experiences as a bomber pilot, free courtesy of publisher Stackpole's Military History series.
Free @
Amazon (not available to Canadians). Unlikely to show up elsewhere, because previous Stackpole freebies have been Amazon-only.
Description
- Features dozens of never-before-seen photos of the B-29 in action
- A fast-paced, riveting account that puts the reader in the cockpit of a four-engine bomber over enemy territory
- Detailed account of combat, mission by mission
The B-29 bomber was made to soar in thin, cold air, dropping its massive bomb load from heights so great that the crews might never see their targets through the clouds below. That was just fine with Ben Robertson, pilot in command of one of the big four engine bombers hammering Japan to its knees in a nonstop bombing campaign in the Pacific. When General LeMay ordered the B-29s to switch tactics from daylight, high-altitude bombing runs to nighttime, low-level runs, Ben's attitude changed. What was once seen as simply dangerous--bombing Japan--now seemed a whole lot more like suicide.
About the Author: Gordon Bennett Robertson, Jr., flew B-29s in World War II and is president of the 29th Bomb Group Association. He lives in California.