The Wild Blue

While this book is subtitled "The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s over Germany," the focus is actually one Bomb Group in the 15th Air Force stationed in Italy--and to a considerable extent, one crew headed by former Senator George E. McGovern (then a 22-year-old aircraft commander). The book is an excellent account of the nature of WWII flying in an American heavy bomber. Jeffrey DeMunn's forthright reading beautifully conveys McGovern's long and difficult route from civilian to pilot to leader in aerial combat. He is particularly adept at not losing the listener when he's reading Ambrose's many statistical asides (number of planes constructed, lost in training, lost in combat, etc.). A very interesting listen. R.E.K. (c) AudioFile 2002, Portland, Maine