Deadly Sky: The American Combat Airman in World War II

by John C. McManus

“From the training camps to the combat missions, this is war from the perspective of the young Americans who lived through the pilots, the bombardiers, the navigators, and the gunners of all the combat services in both Europe and in the Pacific. It is an engaging and vivid portrayal of war in the skies from 1941 to 1945.” —Craig L. Symonds, Author of World War II at Sea
 
John C. McManus, author of The Dead and Those About to Die and September Hope , reveals the terror and triumph that shared the fiery skies of World War II—from the first dogfights over Europe to the last Kamikaze attacks over the Pacific.
 
This insightful chronicle takes readers inside the experiences of America’s fighter pilots and bomber crews, an incredible assortment of men who, in nearly four years of warfare all over the globe, suffered over 120,000 casualties with over 40,000 killed.
 
Their stories span the earth into every corner of the combat theaters in both Europe and the Pacific. And the aircraft explored are as varied, tough, and legendary as the men who flew them­—from the indomitable heavy-duty warhorse that was the B-17 Flying Fortress to the sleek, lethal P-51 Mustang fighter.
 
In Deadly Sky , master historian John C. McManus goes beyond the familiar tales of aerial heroism, capturing the sights and sounds, the toil and fear, the adrenaline and the pain of the American airmen who faced death with every mission. In this important, thoroughly-researched work, McManus uncovers the true nature of fighting—and dying—in the skies over World War II.

Genres: History, Military History, World War II, Nonfiction, Aviation, War, American History

496 pages, Paperback

First published February 22, 2000

About the author

John C. McManus is an author, military historian and award-winning professor of military history at the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He is one of America’s leading experts on the history of modern American soldiers in combat.

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as he did in "The Deadly Brotherhood", John McManus has once again come up with a great oral history collection, this time on American airmen in World War II. Various aspects of the war are covered, including training, combat, interaction with local inhabitants, being wounded and/or shot down, replacement pilots and crew, leadership and opinions on the enemy.
The majority of the recollections are actual quotes from those involved, although there are snippets of letters written to loved ones as well. All branches of the American armed forces are covered, with members of the 8th Air Force being the most common. However, there are nice bits from the CBI, Mediterranean and U.S. Navy, with a few Marines here and there.
Even though this book is weighted more heavily on the European side, it still was a great insight into what American airmen from all corners of the U.S. went through during the war. Well worth your time!

[Laura Raines · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you want to know what life was like for the US Airmen in WWII, this is your book. The first-hand accounts make for exciting reading, and the contents are arranged by topics which make it easy for a researcher to find the information she needs. My only criticism is that sometimes there are too many accounts to discuss the same point, but I can see the author's dilemma. Who would you leave out, when each is so valuable? Hats off to the work this took to research and organize. The writing is clear, real and often inspirational.

[Jerry Levit · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent review of the specifics of the life of American flyers during WWII, including equipment, tactics, strategy and operational matters. The background of the pilots, crew and ground personnel is very well presented and interesting. Regrettably, John McManus begins reaching into their psychological makeup as the book progresses. From then on it is a litany of - this, but on the other hand it might be, that. If the author had a case he was arguing, I would have liked to have heard it stated more clearly and without equivocation.

[Everett Probasco · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Deadly Sky" is a definitive account of what it was like to be a fighter pilot and bomber crew during WW2. The volume of stories, quotes, memoirs and journal entries McManus uses, fill in the gaps of the often romanticized or outlier stories that come from the period.

[Sid Mickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Deadly Sky

Deadly Sky: The American Combat Airmen in World War II was an excellent review of individual stories. It retold stories of terrible losses of young Americans in their friends' own words. This book is gritty, at times pondering and difficult. It is just like the real stories it tells.

[Aaron Mattupurath · Rating 5 out of 5]

There isn't really a theme it's more a memoir for soldiers who have fallen in the line of duty it talk about many of the great airmen stories and what hardships they had to go through.

[C. G. Telcontar · Rating 2 out of 5]

A bit of sociology with an oral history grafted on top. He switches back and forth between the ETO and the PTO far too often and without reason. Casual reader could be very confused by this. I wish he had divided the book into two ses sections covering each theater respectively. And it's very obvious his heart lies in the history of the 8th Air Force rather than objective and neutral presentation of all airmen in all theaters and so it does suffer from a bit of favoritism. It's about a $3 ratio for Europe to Pacific and all he tries to cover all areas he does not mention the Aleutian Air Force at all. I think I will give this four stars if I was new to the topic and had no experience or understanding of the air or at all. But being well versed in this area of the conflict I understand what he's trying to do to get you to get a glimpse of what these guys went through. However I feel the overall effect is just mind numbing with so many direct quotes. The never ending reintroduction of certain individuals and by this I mean Harry Crosby and Samuel Hynes is obnoxious and intrusive and could have been handled far better with a bit of subtle writing. Tackled subject by subject and topic by topic with such a ham handed interbreeding of theaters it all adds up to a bit of a mishmash. Perhaps a noble attempt but lacking in depth and complexity.

[Sleepy Boy · Rating 5 out of 5]

McManus is among my favorite historian's. I love his work and this just further confirmed that love. I learned a lot along with being moved repeatedly by the first hand accounts.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book where the reader will experience the honest, raw accounts of what the air war was like for American airmen during World War II --- from the airmen themselves.

[Michael Burnam-Fink · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Sky is a thematically organized oral history of (like the subtitle says) the American combat airman in World War 2. McManus draws from a vast repository of letters and memoirs to describe the men who fought, their living conditions, the dangers of their mission, and what they thought about the job. American combat airmen were compared to the rest of the military, physically and mentally on the high end of the bell-curve. Conditions at base were relatively good, and missions typically came every few days. For these "luxuries", they paid in dangerous and terrifying mission, enduring the frozen stratosphere, flak, and fighters to accomplish their mission. During the worst periods, combat air units suffered 80%+ attrition over the course of six months.

This book is weighted more towards the bomber pilots of the 8th Airforce, and could use a little more context around some of McManus's favorite sources, but it's a masterful summary of the men in their own words.

[Clair Keizer · Rating 3 out of 5]

John C McManus is a prolific author, undertaking significantly challenging topics with thorough research, putting forth memorable works of history. Deadly Sky is another example of McManus's work, but one that doesn't quite live up to other writings. It may simply be that the topic of US military airmen of World War II was more daunting than other subjects. From the get go, discussing aircraft, there appeared to be only a topline summary of the planes flown by and crewed among his aviators. Deeper into the book, there is added inconsistency in identifying the aircraft these men were assigned, unlike the groups and squadrons McManus readily identifies. On the other hand, McManus's use of passages from aviators' journals and interviews brings to light the daily challenges these incredible men faced. Their successes and losses, struggles and contributions to the war in their own words makes this a worthwhile read.

[Ted Waterfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything you ever wanted to know about the American air serviceman during World War 2. From their training camps to their equipment, aircraft, clothing, typical missions, attitudes, the whole nine yards. There is really nothing new or ground-breaking here. If you have read a lot about this subject then you have probably read it all before. But to have it all brought together into a single volume is certainly convenient. If you are a novice to the subject and would like a nice, informative, and interesting introduction, I cannot think of a better book than this one. With every subject introduced to the reader, the author cites the observations and experiences of veterans from the war that lends an authenticity and color that is remarkable, and even if you are an experienced reader, this volume will not disappoint you.

[Eric Olsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deadly Sky takes on a different perspective of the air war during WW II. Instead of writing about a particular unit or theater John McManus writes about the life of an airman during WW II. It asn't just combat that defined their lives. it was the machines they flew, what theater they were in, what they wore to perform their job and a variety of other aspects to their daily lives. Rich with thoughts and experiences from America's fighting airman during WW II from all theaters John McManus has woven a story of life for the American airman during WW II.

[Buttoncounter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. If anyone ever asks what life might have been like for combat airmen, or their support groups during WWII, I would just recommend this book. After finishing, they should have no further questions. Every person's job, in connection with WWII, was important. We lost some amazing individuals during those years, and many since. Their experiences are undeniably vital to our understanding, whether we serve, or support our military. God bless them forever.

[Jack Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative from the writer's debriefing

Very informative but homebuilders long version rather than a concise detailed paragraph or two.
No matter the information was educational, informative and valuable.
After a few chapters U took to scanning the pages.
Glad I read the book.
JM

[Kim Clarke · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom's father died aboard a B-24 bomber during World War II, and I am always interested in learning about the experiences of airmen. This book has some of the most compelling first-person accounts I've come across. It's both amazing and humbling to learn about the encounters of young men who had more of a chance of dying in combat than living to see the war's end.

[Robert M. Roth MD]

Wow!

A very well written treatise on the life of combat crews in the European and Pacific theaters of war. It is told from the crew members’ perspective and revolves around numerous aspects of life as a combat crewman. This is well researched but unlike other books, lacks the dry, numbing statistics of some historical books. A fine effort and an interesting read.

[Paul Drinkwater · Rating 4 out of 5]

A little long but really well put together with some many memories told via notes from the servicemen of the time. Can we imagine the true horrors of what they went through? No, but this takes the reader much closer.
For WWII nerds who want to get closer to the experiences of these brave fliers, this is probably as good as it gets, hero’s, all of them

[Matthew · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well researched book about the airmen who patrolled the skies during WWII. Reads like a thriller, and provides fascinating details about the men, machines and strategies behind the air war. There is not a dull page in the book, and it leaves you with a deep understanding, and respect, for those who served in the great war.

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is not a grand strategy book, but an account of the stories of individual airmen who fought in WWII in the European and Pacific theaters. From training through tactics through surviving and dying, John McManus tells us how and why these men fought the war. I found it extremely interesting and learned quite a bit that I had never heard before.

[Lawrence B. Russell, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply spectacular!

One of the best books on WWII aviation that I have read, and ranks right up there with Masters of the Air and Arsenal of Democracy. It’s nice to get a sense of the air war by the voices of the Greatest Generation. HIGHLY recommended. Good work!

[Luke Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really exceptional look into the lives, experiences and thoughts of those that flew in ww2. It profiles the incredibly dangerous job these men preformed in a way that brings their memories to life on the page. I can't reccomend this book enough to anyone interested in war history.

[Nick Pignatello Jr. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ok interesting, a good book, slow read as more of an enlightening book on the lives of the pilots than a lighter fare, but the topic can’t really be light to inform about probably the mostly unknown casualty rate among air crews

[Stork · Rating 3 out of 5]

Meh

[Karen Hackett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book. My father was a Tail Gunner in a B-24 Liberator during WWII. I really liked reading about flying in WWII from the Airmen's perspective!

[Ed Charnock · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not a stood as his others. Much is repetitive

[Charlie Clute · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing style is very predictable and repetitive, but if one knows little about WW2 this is a great place to start.

[Marc Gingras · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing book of the last breed of heros!

[Mark Blount · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding all-encompassing summary of aircrew experience in WW2 with fantastic stories and quotes along the way.

[Bob Grove · Rating 5 out of 5]

John C. McManus's books look at the average person's experiences in combat. They are also written from the original source material. This book was no exception.