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Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II
In this engaging book we see how an 18-year-old miner shoveling ore from deep in the ground in Utah suddenly found himself, only two years later, 30,000 feet in the air over Nazi Germany, piloting a Flying Fortress in the first wave of America’s air counteroffensive in Europe.
Like thousands of other young Americans, Ray Brim was plucked by the U.S. Army to be a combat flyer, and was quickly pitted against the hardened veterans of the Luftwaffe. Brim turned out to have a natural knack for flying, however, and was assigned to the select squadron developing lead Pathfinder techniques, while experimenting with radar. He was among the first to test the teeth of the Luftwaffe’s defenses, and once those techniques had been honed, thousands of other bomber crews would follow into the maelstrom, from which 80,000 never returned.
This work gives us vivid insights into the genesis of the American air campaign, told with the humor, attention to detail and humility that captures the heart and soul of our “Greatest Generation.” Brim was one of the first Pathfinder pilots to fly both day and night missions leading bomb groups of 600-plus bombers to their targets. At the onset of his missions in the spring of 1943, B-17 crews were given a 50-50 chance of returning. Each of his raids were nerve-wracking forays into the unknown; with struggles to survive the damage to his plane due to flak and German fighter attacks, in order to bring his 10-man crew home, often wounded but still alive.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I Dividend, Utah, 1922–1941
1. A Town Called Dividend
2. A Dividend Childhood
3. Down in the Mines
4. The Blind Date That Changed My Life
Part II The War Years, 1941–1944
5. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps
6. Learning to Fly
7. The BT-13 and the AT-6
8. Bomber Pilot
9. Going A.W.O.L.
10. Final Days in the States
11. Overseas
12. England at Last
13. Escape and Evasion Training
14. Mounting a Mission
15. Preparation
16. Mission One—Lorient Submarine Base
17. Missions Two and Three—The Piccadilly Princess
18. Missions Four and Five—Tested to the Limits
19. Missions Six and Seven—The Dutch Coast
20. Pathfinding in the Eighth Air Force
21. Time Off
22. Mission Eight—First as a Pathfinder
23. Missions Nine and Ten—Experimental Flying
24. Missions Eleven and Twelve—John Ford Gets Wounded
25. Mission Thirteen—The Bloody Hundredth
26. Missions Fourteen and Fifteen—The Milk Run
27. Missions Sixteen through Twenty—Counting Down
28. Mission Twenty-One—The Big “B”
29. Missions Twenty-Two through Twenty-Five—the Home Stretch 189
30. Special Orders
Part III After the War, 1945–1975
31. The Black Days
32. Project Sandstone
33. All Over the Map
34. The Aleutian Islands
35. An Air Force Career
36. Command and Staff College, and Afterwards
Epilogue
Appendices
Like thousands of other young Americans, Ray Brim was plucked by the U.S. Army to be a combat flyer, and was quickly pitted against the hardened veterans of the Luftwaffe. Brim turned out to have a natural knack for flying, however, and was assigned to the select squadron developing lead Pathfinder techniques, while experimenting with radar. He was among the first to test the teeth of the Luftwaffe’s defenses, and once those techniques had been honed, thousands of other bomber crews would follow into the maelstrom, from which 80,000 never returned.
This work gives us vivid insights into the genesis of the American air campaign, told with the humor, attention to detail and humility that captures the heart and soul of our “Greatest Generation.” Brim was one of the first Pathfinder pilots to fly both day and night missions leading bomb groups of 600-plus bombers to their targets. At the onset of his missions in the spring of 1943, B-17 crews were given a 50-50 chance of returning. Each of his raids were nerve-wracking forays into the unknown; with struggles to survive the damage to his plane due to flak and German fighter attacks, in order to bring his 10-man crew home, often wounded but still alive.
Table of Contents
Foreword
Preface
Acknowledgments
Part I Dividend, Utah, 1922–1941
1. A Town Called Dividend
2. A Dividend Childhood
3. Down in the Mines
4. The Blind Date That Changed My Life
Part II The War Years, 1941–1944
5. Enlisting in the Army Air Corps
6. Learning to Fly
7. The BT-13 and the AT-6
8. Bomber Pilot
9. Going A.W.O.L.
10. Final Days in the States
11. Overseas
12. England at Last
13. Escape and Evasion Training
14. Mounting a Mission
15. Preparation
16. Mission One—Lorient Submarine Base
17. Missions Two and Three—The Piccadilly Princess
18. Missions Four and Five—Tested to the Limits
19. Missions Six and Seven—The Dutch Coast
20. Pathfinding in the Eighth Air Force
21. Time Off
22. Mission Eight—First as a Pathfinder
23. Missions Nine and Ten—Experimental Flying
24. Missions Eleven and Twelve—John Ford Gets Wounded
25. Mission Thirteen—The Bloody Hundredth
26. Missions Fourteen and Fifteen—The Milk Run
27. Missions Sixteen through Twenty—Counting Down
28. Mission Twenty-One—The Big “B”
29. Missions Twenty-Two through Twenty-Five—the Home Stretch 189
30. Special Orders
Part III After the War, 1945–1975
31. The Black Days
32. Project Sandstone
33. All Over the Map
34. The Aleutian Islands
35. An Air Force Career
36. Command and Staff College, and Afterwards
Epilogue
Appendices
265 pages, Hardcover
Published May 4, 2016
76 people are currently reading
53 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 9, 2019
Overall, I found this to be a very well written book, with a good deal of less-than-common knowledge about the Pathfinder program. Books written by members of Flying Fortress crews always fascinate me, as theirs are some of the most adventurous tales to be told. Not overly heavy on technical jargon, and not reading like a history text book, "Pathfinder Pioneer" has found a permanent home in my WWII autobiography collection! Well worth the read!
January 31, 2018
Great first hand account of B-17 Pilot
The author kept detailed records of his time flying B-17's in the Eighth Air Force in1943. He was an original Pathfinder pilot. It was very interesting to see that he was the lead pilot for many of the same missions my father was on and I recognized his anecdotes as things my father also said.
The author kept detailed records of his time flying B-17's in the Eighth Air Force in1943. He was an original Pathfinder pilot. It was very interesting to see that he was the lead pilot for many of the same missions my father was on and I recognized his anecdotes as things my father also said.
June 1, 2019
Interesting depiction of a B 29 Pilot ‘s War
The book spans much of the life of the pilot, from childhood, through training and his missions in Europe. One of the fortunate men to complete his 25 missions without injury, he becomes part of the original group of Pathfinders. The book concludes with his post war career in the USAF.
The book spans much of the life of the pilot, from childhood, through training and his missions in Europe. One of the fortunate men to complete his 25 missions without injury, he becomes part of the original group of Pathfinders. The book concludes with his post war career in the USAF.
March 16, 2019
Only one third of the book is about flying in the war. First third is upbringing. Middle is war. Last third is post war career.
Could have been better, but it certainly was not a bad book by any means.
Could have been better, but it certainly was not a bad book by any means.
August 21, 2020
Good book......but
As a retired military person I really enjoy reading other service members stories of their service. This book is good but for me it lacked the detailed description of combat missions that I have enjoyed in other books. Although this was a major point of me reading the book I found that there was more time spent on pre and post combat service then the actual missions themselves and several missions were only a couple of paragraphs. I also felt a little let down that the author mentions having numerous pictures of events but there is not a single picture in the book.
As a retired military person I really enjoy reading other service members stories of their service. This book is good but for me it lacked the detailed description of combat missions that I have enjoyed in other books. Although this was a major point of me reading the book I found that there was more time spent on pre and post combat service then the actual missions themselves and several missions were only a couple of paragraphs. I also felt a little let down that the author mentions having numerous pictures of events but there is not a single picture in the book.
April 19, 2018
Real life account of what hell they went through!
Exciting rest hand description of what is was like. As a peace time AF pilot it was shocking what these guys went through. Loved the book easy read, well written.
Exciting rest hand description of what is was like. As a peace time AF pilot it was shocking what these guys went through. Loved the book easy read, well written.
January 16, 2024
Amazing book.
Super fun to read and very detailed stories about the b-17 and its bombing missions above Europe.
The author kept good records of his missions and told it In an entertaining but very factual way.
10/10 would recommend.
Super fun to read and very detailed stories about the b-17 and its bombing missions above Europe.
The author kept good records of his missions and told it In an entertaining but very factual way.
10/10 would recommend.
January 19, 2018
Recommend
Well written book about from a career Air Force officer. Very insightful chapters regarding WWII life while flying highly stressful combat missions.
Well written book about from a career Air Force officer. Very insightful chapters regarding WWII life while flying highly stressful combat missions.
July 28, 2021
Detailed and educational
Learned much about the B17 and the heroic missions these men risked their lives to accomplish. I’m afraid we would be out of luck to find such men today.
Learned much about the B17 and the heroic missions these men risked their lives to accomplish. I’m afraid we would be out of luck to find such men today.
August 23, 2024
This is a great, hidden story of one of America’s hero’s of WWII and beyond.
September 28, 2016
What a fascinating read!
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this was definitely not a dry and dusty tome. This incredible memoir has a great friendly tone with humour, straight-forward facts and vivid descriptions with just the right amount of detail. As I was reading I felt like I was sitting at my grandfather's feet and listening to him tell his war stories!
From the anecdotes of Ray Brim's childhood to the rigours of training, the harrowing experiences of combat, how he became a Pathfinder, and life beyond the war; it's all equally interesting and well-told. There's a lot of information packed in but I still would have liked even more pages!
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in WW2 aviation and military history, it's worth it!
* I received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I wasn't quite sure what to expect, but this was definitely not a dry and dusty tome. This incredible memoir has a great friendly tone with humour, straight-forward facts and vivid descriptions with just the right amount of detail. As I was reading I felt like I was sitting at my grandfather's feet and listening to him tell his war stories!
From the anecdotes of Ray Brim's childhood to the rigours of training, the harrowing experiences of combat, how he became a Pathfinder, and life beyond the war; it's all equally interesting and well-told. There's a lot of information packed in but I still would have liked even more pages!
Highly recommended for anyone with an interest in WW2 aviation and military history, it's worth it!
* I received a free e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews