Shot at and Missed: Recollections of a World War II Bombardier

by Jack R. Myers

In this riveting narrative, Jack R. Myers recounts his experiences as a B-17 bombardier during World War II. Commissioned a second lieutenant in 1944 at age twenty, Myers began flying missions with the 2nd Bomb Group, U.S. Fifteenth Air Force. He learned firsthand the exhilaration―and terror―of being shot at and missed. Based in Italy, the Fifteenth Air Force flew strategic bombing raids over southern Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rumania, and Czechoslovakia. Less celebrated than the Eighth Air Force, which flew out of England, the Fifteenth, nevertheless, was pivotal in dismantling the German industrial complex. Myers offers an insider’s view of these missions over southern and central Europe. The reader goes with him into the highly exposed Plexiglas nose of the Flying Fortress, flying with him through the flak-filled skies of Europe and peering with him through his Norden bombsight at Axis targets. On average, a heavy-bomber crewman survived only sixteen bombing missions. Myers survived his allotted thirty-five missions before being honorably discharged in 1945.

Genres: World War II

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 29, 2004

Reviews

[Leo Mccarthy · Rating 5 out of 5]

excellent

[Terry Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book because the author was in the same bomb group as my father. Some parts, including a story about evading German troops in Yugoslavia, could have been written by my father. He went through the same ordeal. There was even a short piece about a bomber jacket that had to belong to one of the crew on my dad's B17.
I tried to talk with the author but sadly he passed away a couple years ago. I did however get to spend about 30 minutes talking with his wife Gina. We had a great time discussing Jack and the book.

[Relstuart · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very frank account of what it was like to fly in the B-17s in WWII. The author didn't sugar coat his experience. The fear, the off duty antics, relationships with peers, and others. One of the best books I've read about this type of service. Plenty of humor and pathos. The author was able to recall his experiences using his diary and his letters to his brother while in the service to refresh his memory.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you have/had a relative that flew in a B-17 in WWII, this is a must read for you. I gained much insight into what my Dad went through.

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

My dad says he could have written this. It is such a great description of his time as a navigator on a Liberator. Can't wait to read it.