Down In Flames

by Ray Parker

War and Captivity - Life and Death - Fear and Bravery.

A remarkable true story of World War II that takes you along through the hell of aerial combat against high odds, and the harsh life of survivors in Nazi prison camps. A tale well told, it will give you insight into the courage and character of our gallant young airmen who paved the way for the invasion of Fortress Europe and our ultimate victory over Hitler's Germany.

Hogan's Heroes has nothing on Ray Parker's true story of his time as a POW during WWII. As part of the allied effort of relentless bombings that brought Germany and Italy to their knees, the daytime bombing raids finally caught up with Ray and his crew. Shot down over enemy territory during his 10th mission, he was able to parachute out of his burning B-24 bomber before it crashed to the ground. Immediately captured by the Germans, he was taken to Stalag Luft 1 prison camp.

There he was approached by the Senior American Officer to write the underground newspaper, an integral part of keeping up the spirits of the 9,000 allied prisoners who, until then, had only the propaganda that the Germans were feeding them to go by. With a radio hidden in a wall, notes hidden in a watch with no workings and his great sense of humor, Ray was able to keep up the moral of the imprisoned airmen. His paper, the POW - WOW (Prisoners of War Waiting On Winning) spread hope through reports of the D-Day invasion, the Liberation of Paris and the Allies march on Germany until his work was discovered by his captors only one month before the war ended.

The harsh realities of what it took to become a part of the "Greatest Generation," as can only be told by someone who lived it.

As of 2015, we are losing our amazing WWII veterans, like Ray Parker, at a rate of 1 every 3 minutes. Much later in life Ray realized that he needed to share his story with the country that he so fiercely battled for, for himself, and for all the other men and women who gave their courage, sacrifice and love selflessly for their country.

172 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 4, 2015

Reviews

[ZorroG · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes the biggest battle is not the enemy

PTSD existed before the acronym was coined. This book tells why the brave men of the silent generation do not tend to talk overly much about World War 2.

Good first person history of one who survived.

[George Rilling · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fine Biography

I've always enjoyed reading stories of a person's life leading up to his time in combat. I found Parker's book to be a unique example of the type.

[Joseph R Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

First hand account of a 8th air force flyer in WWII

Very good book. Easy to read. It follows the terrifying experiences of crews flying the bomber campaign over France and Germany. The terror of flying while the air battle rages with your comrades falling out of the sky is described in a way that puts you right in the moment with the author. He escapes death when his turn to be shot from the sky comes to spend the rest of the war in the famous war camp that Hogans Heroes was inspired by. Enjoyed this book very much and once again inspired by the incredible bravery of the finest generation.

[Buckey Grimm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting story of something more than coming of age, more of a story of how Ray Parker entered a world no one could be prepared for(after being shot down as a WWII pilot and becoming a POW) , but learning how to adapt to things in life you can't control, and how you manage to survie and what it takes to get through to that survival.

[Dorcas brekel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to all veterans.

Could not put this book down. I am thankful for your service and sacrifice. We appreciate our gift of freedom so much more when we review the cost of it.

[Lori Gardiner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative read

I liked that this book was truthful but had a feel good piece to it instead of talking about all the horrors of war.