The Hellish Vortex: Between Breakfast and Dinner

by Richard M Baughn

BGen Richard M. Baughn USAF (ret), who flew P-51’s with the 8th AF during WWII, has written a carefully researched historical novel that provides the reader with a graphic view of how the young USAAF airmen lived, fought and died. He also weaves relevant Anglo/American politics and American prewar interservice turf battles into the story and includes testimony by the German military and high ranking civilians to counter the detractors of the USAAF’s contribution to the war against Germany. Although the D-Day invasion of France is the centerpiece of the battle to end the Nazi occupation of Europe, the author reminds the reader that 60,000 British/American airmen were shot down or killed before D-Day. His research also reveals that 41,802 of the approximate 100,000 US Army Air Force pilots, navigators, bombardiers and aerial gunners assigned in Europe were killed in the fiercest aerial combat the world has seen. The US Navy, 3.3 million strong, lost 36,950 during WWII and 19,733 US Marines were killed from a total force of 475,604. "I started writing this book at the age of 84, because at the time, I read a best seller about a P-51 pilot in the 8th AF during WWII. It was a good read, but didn’t come close to telling the real story. My read of the best seller followed 65 years of observing how the accomplishments and sacrifices of the USAAF had been under told, ignored, or warped by stories about its mistakes. As a career air force officer, I decided to write a historical novel in an attempt to reach a broad audience--because I wanted to sing to more than just the choir."

394 pages, Paperback

First published September 14, 2006

Reviews

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

Whoever wants to read about fighter pilots in WWII should be in line to read this realistically written story of a fighter group protecting the heavy bombers as they flew from England to mainland Europe to take the war to the Germans. The characters are gripping as the author reveals their lives on the ground and in the air. The details about fighter operations add a sense of truthfulness and drama. Although a work of fiction, the story rings with the truth.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredibly great. Do not pay too much attention to the negative reviews by people who probably have not written a book or flown an aircraft in battle. Braughn offers an impressionistic view of daily life in the front lines of fighter pilot warfare in the most intense and consequential conflicts ever.
But for the contributions and incredible sacrifice of so many, we are privileged to read a book like this or make comments on line - rather than living in a world in which the allies lost.
Braughn's experience as both fighter pilot and in progressive promotions to General in the Army Air
Corps/USAF positions him to distill the spirit of the air war in WWII so that we may savor the fortunate victory while gaining insight into the ghastly loss of life suffered by the air corps - especially the bomber crews that made all the difference. A loss that is shamefully under-appreciated
by most of us, the beneficiaries.

[Dwayne Coleman · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good book as long as you're not looking for something to deep. Like a lot of military fiction written by ex-military men, this book is strong on historical and technical detail, and if you're interested in the experience of American fighter pilots in World War II England, you'll probably enjoy it. Don't expect developed characters or artistic technique, however. It's not that kind of book, and if you know that going in, you won't be disappointed. Instead, think of it as a fictionalized oral history of a fighter pilot in the ETO during World War II.

[Kevin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I love the history parts of this book but the constant flipping between history and the story was disruptive and did not seem to add much to the book. The writing is poor, character development weak and overall this was not a great read.

[Bob · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not such a good read. Sophomoric writing style and language. It had its moments but they were few and far between.