We Bought A WWII Bomber: The Untold Story of a Michigan High School, a B-17 Bomber & The Blue Ridge Parkway

by Sandra Warren

During WWII, to help fund the war effort, junior high and senior high students at South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan took part in the “Buy a Bomber” program raising over $375,000 selling War Bonds and Defense Loan Stamps and bought a B-17 Bomber. They christened the bomber, The Spirit of South High, after which it flew off never to be heard from again, until now.

Read the extraordinary tale of how students were able to raise so much money and the incredible “spirit” that led alumni, seventy-two years later, to solve the mystery of what happened to the bomber.

This little book exemplifies home front support given to service men and women fighting in WWII.

Genres: Nonfiction, World War II, History

156 pages, Paperback

First published August 26, 2015

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting and short. Tells the story of a local (for me, anyway) high school that raised money for a plane during WWII and then relays the account of the plane used during training missions. I like history so I found it interesting.

[Bob Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things, given the need and motivation. Soon after the entry of the United States into the Second World War, the people of Grand Rapids, Michigan contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars, although this was a working class community.

It happened thanks to the leadership of a bunch of schoolkids and teachers.

Over a remarkably short time, enough money was raised to fund two airplanes (one a $300,000 bomber), two rescue vehicles and several landing barges.

Sandra Warren has done impeccable historical research, with references for each fact cited, and interesting photographs, but this is not a scholarly work. Rather, it is a very readable, inspiring account of the power of cooperation and the nobleness of the human spirit.

In 1942/43, America was at war. Sandra has described how people gave and gave and sacrificed with joy, because they had meaning and purpose. Today, although there are many wars, we face a far worse enemy. We are officially in the sixth extinction event of this planet, and all complex life is endangered. And when we unravel the web of life, we also fall through the hole.

I wish all of us, with whatever political persuasion, could do what the people in Sandra’s story did, and combine into a generous collective in an effort to save a future.

[Victoria Vivente · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Bought A WWII Bomber” by Sandra Warren tells the extraordinary true story of how students from South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan, rallied during World War II to raise over $375,000 in War Bonds and stamps enough to purchase a B-17 bomber named The Spirit of South High.

What makes this book especially compelling is its dual narrative: not only does it capture the astonishing fundraising effort led by young people on the home front, but it also follows the alumni’s determined search, 72 years later, to uncover what happened to their bomber. Sandra Warren expertly weaves together historical context, human perseverance, and a satisfying mystery resolved decades after the war.

This book is more than a local history it’s a testament to community spirit, the impact of youth, and the lasting connections we forge through shared purpose. Highly recommended for readers interested in WWII home front stories, untold historical narratives, and inspirational accounts of dedication across generations.

[Shea · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a short book about the WWII fundraising efforts of South High School in Grand Rapids, MI and what happened to the military equipment they raised money for. I was especially excited when I realized this was the high school my maternal grandparents graduated from in 1947 and they would have been in the school during the fundraising efforts (building housed grades 7-12). I was completely unaware of this little known piece of history. I appreciated the author's passion for the subject and also her effort to find the fate of the B-17 Bomber and finish the story. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in WWII history or is from the Grand Rapids area.

[David Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I heard about this book through a family connection to the high school that bought the bomber. As a "war baby," I am always interested in that period of our history, and this book is a fascinating story about the efforts of kids on the home front. What they did was a credit to their school and the entire Grand Rapids community. A great read.

[Lester Cockram · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting, my mom and dad both lived in Meadows of Dan during the time of the crash but I never heard the story. Thanks to Sandra Warren for her research in writing the book and Poor Farmers Market for the book posting.

[Carol Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here are three observations about WE BOUGHT A WWII BOMBER by North Carolina author, Sandra Warren:

1. Sandra did a great deal of research. The amount of details in this book for adults and teens is reflected in the extensive bibliography.

2. Today's teenagers are different than the patriotic, self-sacrificing teenagers who lived seventy years ago. Those students learned how to live with shortages of food, how to collect materials that could be re-purposed for the war effort, and willingly participated in scrap metal drives and rationing. Would we see that type of commitment and patriotism today?

3. I knew that Kate and Lillie, the protagonists in my book, Half-Truths, would have been in elementary school during World War II. Reading this book made the time period come alive for me and helped me think more deeply about how those shortages affected them.

WE BOUGHT A WWII BOMBER is the story of a dedicated group of junior and senior high students who raised more than $375,000 by selling War Bonds and War Stamps to purchase a B-17 bomber. The story begun in 1942 by a quiet student, Arthur Blackport, when he suggested that his fellow students at South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan work together to purchase a Flying Fortress.

Not only did the students raise enough money to purchase the bomber, but they also successfully raised money to buy an advanced trainer plane,as well as two disaster vehicles (which were a combination canteen, ambulance, and hospital car), and sixty-three fully equipped landing barges.

After the bomber was officially christened and flown off, the students wondered what happened to it. "How many battles had it won? How many German or Japanese planes had it destroyed?" (p. 49)

For seventy years no one knew what happened to the plane. The students heard rumors, but no facts. But in 2012, at her Class of 1962 fiftieth South High reunion, a remark which Sandra Warren made about "Searching for the Spirit" prompted a fellow classmate, Joe Rogers, to start digging for the truth.

Joe uncovered the fate of "The Spirit of South High" which enabled Sandra to write this story.


Sandra's attention to detail made this period come alive for me and I hope the book will inspire you. I am happy to give away my autographed copy of WE BOUGHT A WWII BOMBER. Please leave me a comment by 6 PM on Thursday, January 21 and your email address if you are new to this blog. PLUS--if you are in or near Central Florida, Sandra is speaking at the World War II study club on January 29 at the Colony Recreation Center in The Villages from 1-3 PM. Come on by and meet the author!

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as a Goodreads give away. It was an interesting nonfiction story of the patriotism and dedication of the students, teachers, and the community of the Grand Rapids, Michigan South High School that sold War Bonds as part of the Buy A Bomber promotion. The goal was to purchase a B-17 bomber. I especially liked the way that so many names were mentioned that helped support the effort. It brought back memories of how important Weekly Readers are in the classroom for students to learn about the news. The price of the other air crafts and supplies were interesting. I even found out in the back of the book the the county I currently live in was a War Bond Aircraft contributor. This story was well organized. I like the way the committee for the Spirit of South High provides a scholarship to help " C " students attend college.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an example of civic responsibility taken to the extreme as it relates the story of South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan and its response to the war effort. I learned as much reading the first two chapters about high school life during World War II as I did reading the exciting narrative about the bomber. I have no connection to this school, yet I felt a bond to it by the time I completed the book. This was a well written "untold story" that added a new dimension to my understanding of sacrifice on the home front.

[Robin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting and quick read. It is amazing what can happen when a small community, in this case a high school, can do when it puts its' mind to something. I wish more people thought this way now about some things that are going on and use the power of community to build something worthwhile or bring about the end of bad things. This book should be an inspiration to show that even a dime here or there can help in the big picture.

[Devyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book from Goodreads!
I enjoyed reading this little piece of WW2 history. It told of a American triumph that I didn't previously know. Yes, this book is about an American triumph. What else would you call it when The Michigan High school worked together to sell over 375,000 worth of war bonds? Triumph! Victory! The American spirit!
Did I mention that it also includes pictures?
I am overjoyed too have a signed copy of this book! Thanks, Sandra Warren!

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Intriguing title and a testament to the patriotism of the students of South High School, Grand Rapids , Michigan and the residents of that city. Also interesting to myself was the inclusion of the listing of nationwide patriots that purchased equipment by selling bonds and the citizens of my hometown of Clovis, New Mexico also bought a P-51- equipment along with the citizens of Amarillo, Texas. Brief history of this WWII plane.

[Chris · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look into another time period. Amazing that the school (along with the community) raised that much money. I loved the camaraderie.