Widow Maker: A Novel of World War II

by E.R. Johnson

"Widow Maker" is a story about World War II as seen from the perspective of six very young men in the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) who are given the job of flying the highly controversial Martin B-26 bomber into combat over Europe.

Genres: Military Fiction, History

274 pages, Paperback

First published February 21, 2012

Reviews

[KOMET · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here is a novel that sheds an interesting perspective on the lives of a Second World War bomber crew from the time each man was brought together during training in the U.S. to its deployment in Britain for operations over German-occupied Europe. On average, it took roughly 15 months to train a bomber crew, for each member of the crew was a specialist in his own particular job, be he a pilot, bombardier, navigator, gunner, radio operator, and co-pilot. Sometimes, there were personality clashes, and this novel shows how the crew learns to persevere and become a winning team. For combat can sober a person up real fast, and in the air war over Europe, if a bomber crew were to stand a chance of surviving its tour, it was vital that each crew member did their job well and was supportive of the other men with whom he flew. Otherwise, the crew was not likely to survive. Therein lies the value of this novel. It doesn't sugar-coat but shows both the direct and indirect costs of war on both a squadron and the individuals within it who hazard their lives each day they go up against the enemy.

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and I'm impressed someone born after the war could write it almost like a diary. He used actual battles for the group and did a great job showing the bonding of the men in the flight crew. The only thing more I would like is a bit of what they did after the war. You end up caring for these people.

[James Currin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I appreciated the historical notes at the end of this book. They explained a little of the way it came together, including how an author born in 1948 was able to tell a story as if he had lived through it. It seems that his interest in flying along with considerable historical research enabled him to weave this very realistic tale. I have read many other books in this genre (aircraft, adventure), but none have equaled this one in riveting believability. As with some other Kindle editions, for some reason there was a lack of editing/proofing, but it didn't detract too much from the reading quality.

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh

Seems to have been written at a junior high school reading level. Plot is weak and the characters are stereotyped.

[Mark W R Wilson · Rating 2 out of 5]

Longing for a competent editor

The description of combat flying is gripping, and partially overcomes the pathetic lack of proofreading and clumsy, stereotypical characters and plot line. Some racial/ethnic references are needlessly included. Cries out for an editor!

[Fred M · Rating 3 out of 5]

The author, E. R. Johnson, may have been born in 1948; but after reading the book, you could easily think he really did fly B-26s in Europe during WW II. With the author’s familiarity with flying and knowledge of the B-26s (and the types of missions flown by those aircraft), realism permeated the pages whenever the crew was in flight training or subsequently fighting in the skies over Europe.

But the writing struck me as somewhat simplistic (especially in the beginning). For example, up to a point, the individual B-26 crewmembers simply didn’t get along well; but after that point, suddenly they were a cohesive crew. It was a very abrupt transition. One other example is that the author described the enemy fighters as “diving through the bombers like barracuda through a school of tuna” one time and “zoomed through the tightly-packed B-26s like minnows through a shoal of larger fish” another time. So the book describes being under attack, but I’ve read non-fiction books that have conveyed these experiences so much more viscerally.

The result is a book that does a great job getting the reader to know what flying B-26 missions over Europe during WW II was like, but it doesn’t do as good a job at storytelling or at getting the reader to really connect with the characters.

Being curious, I checked Amazon’s author page. Johnson has written six aviation-related non-fiction books. I wasn’t surprised. I also noticed that Widow Maker was his only effort at aviation-related fiction (for sale on Amazon, anyway).
One final note: This book has more Kindle goofs than most Kindle books.

[Guy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good reading

When I started reading this book I didn't realize it was fiction
I had read a non fiction written by someone I know
Personally who was a B17 pilot during WW2. It's called.God's
Hand on my shoulder and is an excellent read

Even though I realized this was a novel it had.a very authentic
Feel to it. I read later that most of the events mentioned were
Factual and the fictional story woven around them
At the end when it talked about the airplane graveyard. My friend's co-pilot went there and found their plane which had
carried them.over Germany . They auctioned off many of them very cheaply compared to their cost.
It was a sad thing to see most of them scrapped.

I enjoyed this book and the authors writing style
I would recommend it as a good WW2 read

[Willis S. Cole Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent writing by an author who included a forgotten WWII fact.

I was trapped, when the flyer pulled a smoke from a green Lucky Strike pack. Did he know, or just threw it in. Later, the proof of the pudding of a book by someone I want to read his other books now was pulling a smoke from a white Lucky Strike package. Among our collection is a mounting of a green package of Lucky Strikes with most of the new smokes still in the package. The green ink required a vital war material ingredient, so the company switched to red ink on a white package and never went back after the war. To me, it proved this
author does his research, explaining why I recommend this book!

[Robert Dannheim · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Compelling Narrative

A surprising glimpse into both the crews that flew B-26 bombers deep into German territory ,and the technology of the aircraft under murderous bombing runs with dozens of enemy fighters swarming over them in head to head conflict. The reader will gain first hand knowledge of what each member of the crew contributed as well as how do many faced their loss of life while delivering their lethal packages to the German homela
nd. Not G
od the faint of heart. at God bless the courageous airmen who conquered a formidable enemy.

[Mark Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

My father was Bombardier/Navigator on the B-26 Marauders with the 344th BG and 496BS. He flew 51 missions starting from Stanstead then on to Belgium, France and Germany. His group was the first in on D-Day and my father was the only Bombardier that was placed as commander of an airbase at end of war. He also had under his command 757 SS officers as POWs. All this and he was 23. This book followed much of what I learned about my father's war experiences as he talked little. I was surprised the route the took over as they left our Iceland. But the realism and off time seems pretty accurate. My father was hit by flak in the nose of the plane and they crashed on take off destroying the nose. He flew the Maxwell House II "good to the last drop" the one that crashed on take off and it became Maxwell House II1/2. Queen of Hearts and Patches, given that name due to all the flak and bullet holes that needed patching with different colored metals. This is a goo read. Give it a chance.

[Jerry Mercer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding Tale

The author has captured the grim realities of the Air War in Europe. The venerable B-26 is rightfully featured as a rugged and reliable aircraft. The crew imagined by the author were depicted realistically and with various personal traits that brought the story to life.

[Bob McCullough · Rating 4 out of 5]

B26. Widow Maker

Very good WWII book which not only highlights the shakey start to the B26 medium bomber, but recreates what it was like to be in the Army Air Corps from the perspective of the enlisted and officer ranks and the fear they had to somehow manage to control and the close relationships developed in those life and death scenarios over Europe. Nice read.

[bob mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

...While filled with fictional characters, the depictions of flying in war a very well done. Enjoyed the whole read particularly the character transitions while facing their possible demise

. Tie this read with some about the fighters flying in the war over Europe and you get an honest feeling for the air crews of the war.

[Alex J Tschirhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

Being a flying enthusiasts I enjoyed this book very much. Starting the story from the love of flying of Shaw as a youth and then continue through his entire life. I really liked the development of the story thru training and then into combat flying.

How it spelled out the perils of combat flying and the closeness of the crews is well done.

[Charlie Parker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spellbinding

This is a must read for WWII aviation buffs. A great mix of flying and fighting with a crew that made it right. Just enuf personal input to make it believable, the story weaves it’s way from high school to WWII missions for the main character in a very believable fashion. An enjoyable read!

[Lawrence Wilkerson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely compelling read

I spent five nights riveted to this story. The author, Johnson, knows his ETO geography, battle and defensive tactics, with the right amount of human interest to compel me to start just one more chapter before turning the light out. The B-26 has become one of my top 3 bombers.

[Terry Gardner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well written,made you feel it was real

I was impressed with the writing I had to remind myself it was a novel.used actual history of the B26 along with the fictional characters. One of my favorite WWII Bombers, very little has been written about their exploits. This novel comes close to telling it like it was.

[James Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good read

I liked this book. The air combat and training command scenes were very good, but I really liked the manner in which the author developed the central characters. Though clearly a book of fiction, there was enough “real” stuff to make the story believable. And, I thought the ending was sad!

[Charles W Black · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great fiction this writer must have been there or researched diligently.

I enjoyed this book, couldn't put it down! The air battle sequences were thrilling.
A recommended read for all ww2 buffs.

[Gregory T. Haugan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great airplane. I am an ex Martin engineer. Also great story.

Liked the factual timeline and technical descriptions of the B-26 performance and crew members. Recommend to anyone interested in WWII flight operations.

[Sholcomb · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read even if you like non fiction

Entertaining and technically interesting. I normally read WWII aviation autobiographies but on a lark, thought I would give this a try , well worth the read

[Dixie Bousman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good job

You did a great job of capturing life during the war for our young men. There were times I felt that I was with the crew looking at incoming boggles. Loved the book. Thanks, Larry B.

[Allan Hendry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stirring Story

Good read kept you alert and reading during the action, the most tragic time in young men’s lives, but for them exciting if they do not become a casualty
They reflect on the experience for the rest of there lives

[Timothy Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

True heroes of the Widow Maker

Outstanding reading.it will keep you thinking of the hardships the crews had to make. I thought I was actually there with them. I could hardly put the book down.
The first several chapters are not very interesting, but once they transferred to England. I was hooked.

[Fred L Rigotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book

Well written not only detailing the problems with the aircraft but how they were overcome and the plane with her crews went on to do a job no other aircraft was able to do.

[Donald N Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

It wasn't until near the end that realized that this was an historical novel. Very interesting read. As a veteran, I realize the dynamic of putting guys together from all walks of life toward a single goal.

[Jerry Rogerson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good Read

Enjoyed reading and learning about the men and planes during ww 2.
These were exceptional people and planes.
Cars in the thirties had not been around all that long but you had the option of getting out and walking.
There plane's were a whole different issue.

[thomas gale grantham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book

I was completely wrapped up in this book from start to finish.although fictional the story had me feeling as though I was in the cockpit right along with them.outstanding book

[Chuck Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author wrote brilliantly up until the last, where it seemed to run out of steam, time or? Whatever the cause, a one star ending took much away, primarily in terms of what he could have done. I won't give away the ending, but simply mourn what this book could have been.

[James P. Conard · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story B26 Bombers

Started off slow building the back ground but gets you in the end. I do recommend this book to WWII and adventure junkies