Publisher Description

Soon after the United States entered World War II, American ground and air forces were on their way to the European theater of operations. Among that offensive buildup was the 15th Air Force, consisting of four-engine heavy bombers - the B-17 and B-24 - as well as twin-engine medium bombers and several types of fighter aircraft. The 15th was first stationed in North Africa and then in southern Italy, where pilots could strike at any military target within a 700 mile radius. After ferrying a B-17 to England with the 8th Air Force, Lt. Edward Logan was transferred to the 15th Air Force, Fifth Wing, 483rd Bomb Group, 817th Bomb Squadron in Italy. Logan and members of his unit were assigned to use American air power to destroy the German military's manufacturing and petroleum complexes as well as its intricate transportation system.This gripping memoir gives a detailed account of Logan's experiences throughout his Army Air Corps career. It outlines the progression of a determined would-be pilot through two years of training, his 1944 journey to the war's theater and advent into actual combat. While other missions are summarized, the work's main focus is the author's thirty-fourth combat mission, which took place in March 1945. During this operation, his B-17 bomber sustained damage so severe that he and nine crewmen were forced to bail out over enemy territory. Aided by Slovenian partisans, Logan and his crew evaded the German troops who were searching for them and returned safely to their base. This firsthand account includes insider details, technical specifications of the B-17 bomber and previously classified information. An epilogue provides additional information on the partisans and the composition of the 15th Air Force.This entry refers to the Large Print edition.

Author Biography

Retired airline pilot and aviation administrator Edward F. Logan, Jr., lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Acknowledgments vi Preface 1 Introduction 4 1. The Training Story 6 2. Our "Ferry Flight" to England and Its Preparation 30 3. Our First Taste of England 42 4. A Journey to a New Air Force 47 5. Our New Home Away from Home 51 6. Our War--A Flying Start 60 7. The Tuskegee Airmen--A Bond of Friendship 73 8. A Salute to My Crew 78 9. Missions 90 10. The Thirty-Fourth Mission 94 11. Dressing for the Occasion 116 12. Armed and Ready for the Day Ahead 120 13. The First Wave (Red Force) 123 14. The Takeoff 125 15. The Bomb Run 138 16. Day Number 1--Friday, March 9, 1945 155 17. Day Number 2--Saturday, March 10, 1945 198 18. Day Number 3--Sunday, March 11, 1945 223 19. Day Number 4--Monday, March 12, 1945 231 20. Day Number 5--Tuesday, March 13, 1945 250 21. The Return 255 Epilogue 270 Appendix A: Citations Received by Edward F. Logan, Jr. 274 Appendix B: Ferry Crews 275 Appendix C: About the Fifteenth Air Force 278 Index 287

Description for Library

"This gripping memoir's main focus is the author's 34th combat mission, which took place in March 1945. Forced to bail out, and aided by Slovenian partisans, he evaded German troops and managed to return to his base"--Provided by publisher.

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