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CASTLES IN THE SKY: a novel of the Black Monday B-17 Bombing Raid Against Berlin
From every corner of America, they crossed the Atlantic to destroy the Nazi war machine on its own the B-17 bomber crews flying bloody bombing missions over northern Europe. On March 6, 1944, General Doolittle launched a massive operation he believed would change the air war. The largest air armada the Eighth Army Air Force had ever launched. The first full-scale daylight bombing of Berlin, capital of the Third Reich.
This horrifying battle would become known by the men who survived it as Black Monday.
From Craig DiLouie, the creator of Hell’s Eden, Strike!, and the bestselling Crash Dive and Armor series, Castles in The Sky tells the story of one such Flying Fortress crew. It’s a story of courage and grit in the face of impossible odds and the search for meaning in the madness of war. The 250th mission of the Eighth Army Air Force and the last for Pop’s Flying Circus.
This horrifying battle would become known by the men who survived it as Black Monday.
From Craig DiLouie, the creator of Hell’s Eden, Strike!, and the bestselling Crash Dive and Armor series, Castles in The Sky tells the story of one such Flying Fortress crew. It’s a story of courage and grit in the face of impossible odds and the search for meaning in the madness of war. The 250th mission of the Eighth Army Air Force and the last for Pop’s Flying Circus.
244 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 28, 2025
205 people are currently reading
12 people want to read
About the author
Craig DiLouie
62 books1,521 followersCraig DiLouie is an author of popular thriller, apocalyptic/horror, and sci-fi/fantasy fiction.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
In hundreds of reviews, Craig’s novels have been praised for their strong characters, action, and gritty realism. Each book promises an exciting experience with people you’ll care about in a world that feels real.
These works have been nominated for major literary awards such as the Bram Stoker Award and Audie Award, translated into multiple languages, and optioned for film. He is a member of the HWA, International Thriller Writers, and IFWA.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 6, 2025
Its dam good
It took me a.long time to like this one! A bunch of men whinng constantly. It was a turn off. I kept thinking "What is wrong with this author"? Then I figured what the heck..and started over again.
Then it made sense! It was the fear of dying on their last misson. Then the book took off.for me. Would the plane crash killing them all? Would they get captured?
This is a story. Of real men harbouring terror of not returning from their final fight
The author did a great job of portraying real men relating their thoughts and feelings like real men are feeling during war.
Do they die? You have to read the book to find out!
It took me a.long time to like this one! A bunch of men whinng constantly. It was a turn off. I kept thinking "What is wrong with this author"? Then I figured what the heck..and started over again.
Then it made sense! It was the fear of dying on their last misson. Then the book took off.for me. Would the plane crash killing them all? Would they get captured?
This is a story. Of real men harbouring terror of not returning from their final fight
The author did a great job of portraying real men relating their thoughts and feelings like real men are feeling during war.
Do they die? You have to read the book to find out!
June 1, 2025
A day in the life of an over worked Flying Fortress on its 30th and last mission.
In a very amazing way, it’s all here. A crew of a very able Army Air force airman and its flying home, fly straight into downtown Berlin Germany and elect to take on the NAZI Chancellery as its secondary target, in mean time, take a unbelievable beating by Flack, Guns and of course very capable German fighters. They, after multiple serious crew member injuries and deaths, are able to turn and muscle their way back over the English channel to a less than graceful landing in farmers hedge row surrounded field for several of the crew. Heroism at its finest. A great story, Many did live to tell about it. Thank you for the wild ride, and well written story! You captured all the individual personalities, and what likely kept these men doing this for 30 missions.
In a very amazing way, it’s all here. A crew of a very able Army Air force airman and its flying home, fly straight into downtown Berlin Germany and elect to take on the NAZI Chancellery as its secondary target, in mean time, take a unbelievable beating by Flack, Guns and of course very capable German fighters. They, after multiple serious crew member injuries and deaths, are able to turn and muscle their way back over the English channel to a less than graceful landing in farmers hedge row surrounded field for several of the crew. Heroism at its finest. A great story, Many did live to tell about it. Thank you for the wild ride, and well written story! You captured all the individual personalities, and what likely kept these men doing this for 30 missions.
May 8, 2025
My Dad flew 21 sorties as a tail gunner in a Halifax Bomber. He never talked much about what he went through during the war but my Mom told us he never drank before but he ended up an alcoholic. I found this an interesting read because of my Dad's experience but also found it scary for the same reason and understood my Dad's drinking problem especially after going to The Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and seeing where he sat during the sorties.
May 11, 2025
Waited for this book to come out so I could read it. Wish I had not. I struggled through it to the ending but found that when I did get there it was anticlimactic at best. I’ve never said this about any title before. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS STORY! I’m sure the Author thought it was the best thing since All Quiet On the Western Front. But it was a let down for me. Put quite bluntly. Swing and a miss. Can’t honestly say I’d read anything this author writes in the future.
June 9, 2025
An interesting read and not the usual
This is a departure from most WWII books in that the author gives us a good insight into the personalities of the bomber. At the same time, he gives a good account of what it was like to fly a B-17 during a period in the war where individuals, indeed entire crews and flights, were sacrificed for "the good of the war."
This is a departure from most WWII books in that the author gives us a good insight into the personalities of the bomber. At the same time, he gives a good account of what it was like to fly a B-17 during a period in the war where individuals, indeed entire crews and flights, were sacrificed for "the good of the war."
September 9, 2025
Whew!!!
What a ride (flight). Never been in a 17 but feel like I'm crawling threw a torn up fuselage with fellow airmen 10 years older after landing (sorta), than at take off.
When I ground looped my Piper cub, I couldn't get out of the cockpit till someone came over to check on me. No blood but cold wet jeans...
What a ride (flight). Never been in a 17 but feel like I'm crawling threw a torn up fuselage with fellow airmen 10 years older after landing (sorta), than at take off.
When I ground looped my Piper cub, I couldn't get out of the cockpit till someone came over to check on me. No blood but cold wet jeans...
May 10, 2025
Needs better research
Lost me when he has a taxi driver as a copilot (requires four year degree unless advanced by merit from enlisted unlikely.) Then he has a soda jerk for a navigator, a role that also requires a degree with advanced math skills , not scooping ice cream.
Lost me when he has a taxi driver as a copilot (requires four year degree unless advanced by merit from enlisted unlikely.) Then he has a soda jerk for a navigator, a role that also requires a degree with advanced math skills , not scooping ice cream.
May 12, 2025
Excellent read from Craig. He continues to do a wonderful job storytelling about various events from WWII. If you are a fan of historical fiction then this is a book for you. Also check out his others works such as Strike, Armor, and Crash Dive.
June 14, 2025
A good read!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews