The Lucky Bastard Club: A B-17 Pilot in Training and in Combat, 1943-45/Mister Fletcher's Gang/2 Books in 1 Volume

by Eugene Fletcher

On their first mission in a war-weary B-17 named Government Issue, half the payload jammed in the bomb bay and a shorted motor threatened to ignite the fuel transfer lines. At any moment the plane could have become a 130-knot fireball. The copilot was lowered by his ankles into the gaping bay, 15,000 feet above the English Channel, to disconnect the smoking motor. They landed safely. But because pilot Eugene Fletcher and his nine crewmen had never been in combat, they thought the day had been average.
Combining the texts of Fletcher's Gang and Mister, this combination volume affords perhaps the most complete account ever of the experiences of a B-17 crew with the Eighth Air Force in WW II. From his first civilian flying lessons in a Piper J-3 Cub to the Army Air Force's Advanced Flying School, you'll follow Fletcher's education as a pilot. You'll hear what the men thought about the planes they flew and their experiences in England and what they felt toward the Army and officers who sent them there. And from the Initial Point of the bomb run (IP) and the flak-crowned targets to the Rally Point (RP) and home, you'll witness the transformation of ten men into a battle-savvy crew.
The life expectancy of a bomber and its crew was 15 missions. But Fletcher and his men survived trips to Hamburg and Berlin, Bremen, Merseburg and other targets. Crews of the 95th Bombardment Group that completed 35 missions earned membership in the exclusive Lucky Bastard Club. Eligibility was celebrated at the last mission's end with a dramatic low-level flyover of the home base at full throttle; a volley of brightly colored magnesium flares spewed from the B-17 in an exuberant display of triumph.
The Lucky Bastard Club is drawn from Fletcher's own log, his letters to home and the journal entries of Myron Doxon, copilot; Robert Work, navigator; and Frank Dimit, bombardier. It offers an unsurpassed look at a remarkable time when every mission was a roundtrip fight, and every man's lucky number was 35.

Genres: Military Fiction, History, World War II

510 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1993

Reviews

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has taken me several years to finish. I had read some then put it down and forgot about it several times. It is really 2 books in one. The first book is about training to become a B-17 pilot and it takes up 60% of the book. The second part is about his 35 combat missions over Europe in 1944. The second part is a compilation of letters sent back home by both himself and several members of his crew plus his commentary on the missions and life in England. The reason for the title doesn't come out until the last several pages of the book - that he and his crew survived and therefore were inducted into the Lucky Bastard Club. Much of his commentary was on what he was doing in England apart from flying the missions - on pass in London etc.

[Gary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book! Highly recommended! Fletch takes the reader from prior to signing up in the US Army and the Airport Corps thru the end of WWII by using his letters home to his wife and his own notes.

[Marian Hancock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was interested in reading this book so that I could better understand what my father experienced during World War II when he was a co-pilot of a B-17 bomber. The book is actually two volumes in one: the first half details the author’s flight training and other life experiences, and the second half describes each of the 35 operational missions flown by the crew over Germany and parts of France. I liked the second half of the book more than the first, which was quite technical at times. Stationed in England just a few months before my father was there, the author provides a nice chronological description of the crew’s flight experiences. With notes and observations written by others of the crew, the book gives you a pretty good idea of what kind of feelings they were experiencing as well. Flying in a heavy bomber was less deadly toward the end of the war, compared to the beginning when the life expectancy of a flight crew was not too good. Thankfully my father was there toward the latter part of the war.

[Ken Mitchell · Rating 4 out of 5]

An entertaining read by a true example of the Greatest Generation with contemporary documents and notes. The author goes from being off the farm in eastern Washington state to the European Theater of Operations. A good insight into the work and training necessary to being a successful B-17 pilot in combat.

[Eddie Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book that I have had in my “to read” box for years. I got it out recently and started reading as part of a phase I have been going through around WWII aviation. I really enjoyed this book and getting to know, really know, Eugene Fletcher. Did not realize that this was actually two books: “Mister” and “Fletcher’s Gang” under the title (liked the story of where the title originated). Was pleasantly surprised by this as “Mister” is about his aviation training and “Fletcher’s Gang” covers the 35 combat missions over Europe in a B-17 Bomber.

The first part of the book, “Mister”, I enjoyed right from the beginning. The training and his accounts of the experiences are what you would expect in regards to military reading. It is a fascinating reminder of what life was like before the age of computers, GPS and radar. I enjoyed the story of them getting lost on a training mission in Texas where he believed – had no clue - they wound up somewhere over the gulf of Mexico and had to find their way back by listening and vectoring to civilian AM, yes AM, radio stations.

The second book, Fletcher’s Gang, was mentioned in the first part (“Mister”) and I was really looking forward to it. However, was a little disappointed after reading the forward and realizing the book was going to be the letters Fletcher sent back to his wife as I enjoy the story of the “battle in the trenches” and the struggles of military non-fiction. I have no interest in reading “love letters” back his new wife which is what I perceived this to be – and it was for the most part. However, once I started reading I quickly got over the “disappointment” of reading these letters. Yes, I do enjoy the story of military action and combat, but it was fascinating to read Fletcher’s account of his missions – what he could share - in the letters back to his wife. Very interesting. Along with the letters there were comments and notes that were taken by his crew. So, on the one hand you got the story of a man who missed his wife, his newborn son that he has not seen and his overwhelming desire to be home. Then, you also got a glimpse of the missions he was on and the danger he was having to endure. It was a fascinating read and another reminder of what life was like before instant messaging, email and texting. Today, we get upset if the text does not send the first time. Fletcher was getting letters and pictures of his son that were sent over a month - A MONTH - earlier. Hard to imagine.

As I was winding down I went out on the internet to look up Eugene Fletcher. I was saddened to learn that Major Fletcher passed away last year in February (2013) at age 91. Here I was reading about this guy who at the time had not even seen his newborn son yet, and he has now passed away with over 20 Great-grandchildren. I was disappointed to learn of his passing. A true American hero.

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/spok...

All I can say is what a great story. We need more Eugene Fletcher’s in this world.

[Christopher]

This is a super little book. It starts with the author learning to fly by taking college courses, graduates to his entering the Aviation Cadet Program and putting up with the daily training and harassment of the cadet program. The book looks at his personal life, his flight and military training, and finally he goes off to war. The book is greatly detailed by his use of period letters and journals. Reading this book is like being a part of his crew as they suit up for missions with the 8th Air Force aboard the B-17s of the day. I'd recommend this book to anybody interested in military history,personal histories, World War II, and especially the details of flying and fighting. I was an Air Force historian for most of my Air Force career but I learned a lot about personal narratives from reading Fletcher's book. You will, too!

[Beth/Chuck · Rating 4 out of 5]

Relates chronological diary entries by the author during training and then all 35 combat missions. Also added are entries by the other crew members on each mission. These men were courageous & tough as they had a life expectancy that was less than the Marines in the Pacific.

[John Dorcey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Follow a World War II pilot through pilot training and then join him and his crew as they fly 35 missions in the ETO. Great read.