The Wild Blue

The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

Narrated by: Jeffrey DeMunn

Stephen E. Ambrose, acclaimed author of Band of Brothers and Undaunted Courage, carries us into the skies of World War II aviation, flying aboard the crowded and dangerous B-24 bombers as their crews fought to destroy the German war machine and secured Allied victory.

The young men who flew the B-24s over Germany in World War II fought against horrific odds, and, in The Wild Blue, Ambrose recounts their extraordinary heroism, skill, daring, and comradeship with vivid detail and affection.

Ambrose describes how the Army Air Forces recruited, trained, and selected the elite few who would undertake the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the war. These are the boys—turned pilots, bombardiers, navigators, and gunners of the B-24s—who suffered over fifty percent casualties.

With his remarkable gift for bringing alive the action and tension of combat, Ambrose carries us along in the crowded, uncomfortable, and dangerous B-24s as their crews fought to the death through thick black smoke and deadly flak to reach their targets and destroy the German war machine. Twenty-two-year-old George McGovern, who was to become a United States senator and a presidential candidate, flew thirty-five combat missions (all the Army would allow) and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. We meet him and his mates, his co-pilot killed in action, and crews of other planes. Many went down in flames.

As Band of Brothers and Citizen Soldiers portrayed the bravery and ultimate victory of the American soldiers from Normandy on to Germany, The Wild Blue illustrates the enormous contribution that these young men of the Army Air Forces made to the Allied victory.

Ambrose Fan Disappointed

This was the last of Ambrose WW2 books I purcahsed, owning all the others. Every other book was engaging and increased my thanks, empathy and understanding of the soldiers who gave their all for our nation and our allies. This book is lacking in every aspect that makes the other Ambrose WW2 books so important and engaging. The entire first half of this book is devoid of anything relevant to B24 combat and presents no specifics about the plane, mission, tactics and strategies that made the B24 so important to Allies success. This is more than 4 hours of relationships and character studies of the crews. That's terrific to know but not at all what I have come to expect from Ambrose WW2 histories. If you want deep character development of pre combat airmen, you will not be disappointed. If you are expecting an Army Air Force Band of Brothers, you will be very disappointed.