Half a Wing, Three Engines and a Prayer: B-17s over Germany

by Brian D. O'Neill

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A well-researched, highly readable account of a B-17 combat crew's experience


In 1943, when the outcome of World War II hung in the balance, B-17 crews of the Eighth Air Force flew harrowing, unescorted daylight bombing missions deep into Occupied Europe and Germany. These devastating raids have long been storied in film and fiction, but here is a firsthand, blow-by-blow account of these perilous missions as they really happened. In these pages, you'll see the events unfold as they were recorded and recalled by one crew's officers and enlisted men (pilot, copilot, navigator, radioman, and gunners), corroborated by other crews they flew with, and painstakingly correlated with the official records of the men's 303rd "Hell's Angels" Bomb Group. The publication of Half a Wing, Three Engines, and a Prayer in 1989 prompted a flood of fresh recollections, correspondence, and personal records from other veterans of the 303rd. This Special Revised Edition incorporates that wealth of new material into a vivid, thorough recreation -- complete with actual combat photographs -- of one of the most dramatic chapters in military aviation history.
New in this Special Revised
* New veteran interviews
* Expanded coverage
* Revised data
* 90 photographs & illustrations
* crewmen's post-war careers "A well-researched, highly readable account of a B-17 combat crew's experience...excellent." -- Roger A. Freeman, author of The Mighty Eighth "The best collection of stories about a B-17 Bomb Group that has ever been published." -- Harry D. Gobrecht, President, 303rd Bomb Group Association and author of Might in Daily Diary of the Eighth Air Force's 'Hell's Angels' Bomb Group

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

454 pages, Paperback

First published July 31, 1989

Reviews

['Aussie Rick' · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent account of the American Air effort over Europe during 1943-44. The author follows the wartime experiences of one crew from the 303rd "Hell's Angels" Bomb Group using personal accounts and official records. This book is very much like Gerald Astor's The Mighty Eight and is as just as good, if not better. The story of Sgt Joseph Sawicki, pages 207 to 217, brings home the horror and absolute bravery of these men. I would hope that one day soon Sgt Sawicki's exceptional bravery is recognised and he receives the medal of Honour, even though its over 50 years too late! Recommended to all who enjoy this period of history and well done to the author!

[Andy Bittner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Understandable, Educational, Inspirational and Readable!

In 1972, at the age of ten, I was first exposed to historic World War 2 aircraft in flight. In that moment, a lifelong fascination with the history represented by these planes was born. There were many planes present that day, bombers, fighters, transports and trainers; but for me, none of them captured my attention or my imagination like the majestic B-17 Flying Fortress. Since then, I have read books, watched movies and documentaries, spoken with veterans of the World War 2 air forces, walked through and even flown in a B-17. It's been almost like a desperate search to find some kind of comprehension or understanding of the magnitude of the commitment, dedication and sacrifice made by the men who fought in this unique theater of operations. Even though I know I can never truly relate to the experiences of these heroes, I keep trying.

Half A Wing, Three Engines And A Prayer by Brian D. O'Neill, is an amazing book. Through apparently exhaustive research and cross-referencing of records, and veteran recollections, Mr. O'Neill has given us an experience of actually flying daylight bombing raids over Europe that is unparalleled in depth and in its' multi-dimensional nature, conveying the spatial relationships of activity within the bomber combat formations. While following one particular crew through a 25 mission (late '43-early '44) tour, with the 303rd Bomb Group, "Hell's Angels", he visits other crews, corroborating combat events from differing points of view in the bomber formation. While one man, in one plane, in one position in the formation might've been looking up and to his left, when he saw a particular bomber explode in the midst of a formation; the same explosion was seen by a tail-gunner in another plane, looking down and right. Yet another airman, a co-pilot, watched the same plane disappear in a blinding explosion right off his right wing. With this type of spatial cross-referencing and "story-triangulation", the complex flight formations suddenly become three-dimensional. Fully-fleshed out and given personality in the non-flying moments of the book, the pilots, crews and even the individual aircraft, are then glimpsed, from all sides, as they go about their grim task.

I have spent the majority of my life, reading books on this one subject. I have, long since, had an organizational understanding of how "elements" are comprised of planes, "squadrons" are comprised of elements, "groups" are comprised of squadrons, "wings" are comprised of groups, and so on. For the first time, a book has given me some physical understanding of the movement of these huge numbers of combat aircraft through the European skies; as well as numerous harrowing, hair-raising, tragic and sometimes even humorous tales of the men manning those planes. From take-off, and assembly, over the IP (Initial Point) and target and through the agonizing, clock-dragging return home, this is one of the very best books ever written on this subject. Read it.

[Jeremiah Roeder · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is incredibly detailed into the men who served in the 303rd airborne unit. It is a little dry and rather lengthy, but it was worth a read for sure!

[Ted Waterfall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brian O’Neill has written a thorough account of the Eighth Air Force’s bombing campaign against Germany from the summer of 1943 into the early months of 1944, especially focusing on the 303rd Bomb Group and specifically on one Lieutenant Bob Hullar and his crew.
At this stage in the war a crew was expected to complete twenty-five missions in order to qualify for rotation home. There was no assurance that this task was possible as the daylight raids that the Eighth Air Force performed suffered severe casualties. This was graphically pointed out by a nervous crew member when he reminded the pilot that the typical loss rate on a bombing mission was 4 percent. Four percent times 25 bombing missions … well, we aren’t coming back. Of course many did, and many did not. But the battle in the skies over Europe is monumental and critical in the war effort. The author foreshadows the carnage in the skies when he states: “… a battle of attrition was in the offing: a series of no-quarter encounters between equally matched enemies in an arena without parallel for physical danger – the frozen air in late autumn at high altitude over northern Germany.” (p. 187). And the descriptions of bombers being shot down can be startling and, if your imagination is as vivid as mine, absolutely alarming for the crew.
An Epilogue also lists every bomber associated with the 303rd that did not make it back and what happened to each member of the crew. This certainly adds a sobering exclamation point to the history of this unit. From a bomber so new to the unit that it hadn't even been given a name yet which was shot down on it's first mission with the loss of the entire crew to the shooting down of "Dark Horse" whose pilot and Engineer were on their 25th mission and became POWs.
I also found some of the names of the aircraft rather amusing. There was mentioned "The Vicious Virgin," Lt. Hullar's frequent ride, "Flak Wolf," "Pougue Ma Hone" (Gaelic for "Kiss My Ass"), "Iva Vailable," "Hel'en High Water," and "Stric Nine." The famous "Hell's Angles," the first B-17 to complete 25 mission is also mentioned with great frequency.
The book is very well researched including interviews with Luftwaffe pilots in order to corroborate details of missions, though those interviews are not included in the book. This book, however, is not for the casual reader. It is intended for someone with a more serious interest in the Second World War as the detail can get a bit burdensome. Despite that the readership will find it very informative and a valuable addition to any World War 2 library.

[Mark Underwood · Rating 3 out of 5]

My uncle is buried at Arlington. He was shot down in a mission much like those covered in this book. It is to be readily admitted that few women will be reading this book -- it's the sort of "military non-fiction" that men seem to gravitate toward. Sorting that out is for another day.

The book is a World War II history of the 303rd Bomb Group. (My uncle flew in the 487th Bomb Group. See http://donrobertunderwood.com/2015/06...) It's constructed from what appears to be extensive interview or news reportage, as it is almost a day by day, or at least mission by mission, coverage of the group. The result is an up front understanding, which is fascinating in that male/military/history sort of way.

The author doesn't ruminate much about the technology, strategy or offer deep analysis of the events -- which might have elevated this book to a higher level. But as pure storytelling, it achieves that objective.

This is an Aviation Week book. The forward was published in 1998.

The dedication includes this James Tate quote from his "The Lost Pilot":

. . . I would
touch your face as a disinterested
scholar touches an original page.
However frightening, I would
discover you

[Gale D. Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the real life story of an American bomber wing in WWII. The survival rate was not good. It was so bad that sometimes experienced crew did not even get to know new crews before those crews' planes went down in combat. This is an interesting read on what it was like to be on a bomber crew doing daylight bombing of Germany in WWII.

[Hans · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are many untold stories of bomber crews that lost their lives over Germany during WWII. Nobody was left to tell the tale. Based on diary material and firsthand accounts this books tells us what it was like to be part of a B-17 bomber crew, but also about life in a Bomber Group, here the 303rd, as part of 'the Mighty Eighth'.

Arriving in the UK, this crew was fed into the system to gain experience in the early days of the USAAF offensive over Europe. Mission after mission is described in nice detail, illustrated by a simple but effective map, intermingled with the everyday business of a Bomber Group. It was really interesting to read how forming up the combat boxes was arranged and how things could go terribly wrong in a few seconds. It also becomes clear how combat flying became harder and harder, the Luftwaffe applied a whole range of tactics and weapons to break up the boxes, and how lessons were learned and applied later on. Planning it right was essential for an effective mission performance and the safety, as far as possible, for the crews involved.

It does not only show how the missions went, but also what this did to the men flying them, and the aftermath if and when a terrible toll was paid and many empty places were left. Horror was closeby and is also told in detail. As it should, because these men, often still boys, had to endure this for our freedom.

A solid read and recommended.

[Vince · Rating 5 out of 5]

Detailed history of bombing during World War II.

[John Fairbanks · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like reading history especially about the Air Force in WW 2 this is a must read accounts of individual experiences during bombing incredibly what these guys went true.

[Andrew · Rating 5 out of 5]

There are plenty of books written about World War II and the various units that fought it. Most of these books focus on the strategy or tactics, describing the battles and outcomes, portraying the big picture of how the war progressed. Others are personal memoirs, written by the troops themselves, providing an intimate and deeply personal account of what the war was like for each individual. But what is more rare, is a detailed look at what life was like on a day-to-day basis for a particular combat unit during the war. This book is one of those rare accounts.

Following the combat tour of a particular crew, this book details the activities of the 303rd Bombardment Group of the Eighth Air Force, and the strategic bombing campaign against Germany from August 1943 through February 1944. Based on a combination of interviews, diary entries, and official records, and including extensive quotes from all of them, this book builds a detailed look at how an Eighth Air Force bomb group operated on a day-to-day and mission-to-mission basis, and how those activities were determined by the overall strategic goals of the bombing campaign. It provides multiple points-of-view for the various missions, allowing the reader to better understand the difficulties and dangers these crews faced each time they took off to attack the enemy.

This book should be considered essential reading for any student of the strategic air war against Germany. It is provides an incredible insight into the operations of a bomb group, and the physical and emotional toll the air war took on the men tasked with carrying the war to the heart of the enemy’s territory. It is a fine tribute to the men who answered their nation’s call, both those who survived, as well as those who paid the ultimate price.

[Craig · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recently visited the Dulles Air and Space Museum in Virginia and was captivated by the WWII aircraft on display. My father was part of the 92nd Bomb Group stationed in Podington, England during WWII, and I recall his accounts of the B-17 Flying Fortresses (the heavies) in his Group which knocked out much of Germany's production capability and brought a speedier end to the war - but at a very high price in loss of aircraft and airmen. While at the museum, I came across this book which documents much of the action experienced by the 303rd Bomb Group (also part of the 8th Air Force) stationed in Molesworth, England. I'm sure their experiences parallel those of my father. The book is a well-researched and sets forth stirring account of the 10-man crews who flew the "Forts" over France and Germany from 1942 through 1944. The first-hand accounts are gripping - you feel as if you are sitting in the cockpit or are manning one of the aircrafts .50 caliber machine guns. I had thought that the B-17 gunners only occasionally brought down a German fighter, and was surprised to here that the bomber's gunners shot down as many German fighters as they did. A riveting read. I highly recommend the book to WWII buffs.

[Lbloomfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having picked this up at the airport in Florida I had an 8 hour flight to get well stuck in. Although I needed sleep I was wide awake the whole time thanks to the gripping and riveting story telling in this book. Not only the history of the Squadron, the book focuses on one crew whilst at the same time telling the perspectives of many others who were on the same missions. The ability for this book to look at one mission through the eyes many different aircraft crews (Even those shot down) you get a full appreciation for the men and the missions they flew. Filled with amazing stories of heroism 30,000ft over Occupied Europe this book will have you gripped from cover to cover.

[Kelly B · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is something that sets pilots apart from other people. I am not sure what it is, but I can sense it. I also knew a WWII bomber pilot, and he would tell me stories about crash landing off the coast of Australia, and how he lied about his age so that he could join the Air Force and be a pilot, like he always dreamed about as a kid in the middle-of-America-nowhere. He was a very special person, and I wish I had more time with him before he passed.

[Evan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would rather read a detailed first person account from one bomber crew in detail than ten crews from a handful of planes with ten men on eaxh at any given time since its more personal. this one strikes a balance between dry historical detail and broad biography drawn from what feels forty people. So it lacks some of the panache of others to suck you into the soldiers eyes but a solid read.

[Jim · Rating 5 out of 5]

The stunning word pictures presented in this book bring you face to face with the fear and heroism that was the Army Air Corp during World War II.

[Ed · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really a great account of the "Mighty Eighth" effort over Europe during 1943-44, tracking the experiences in the 303rd Bomb Group..."Hell's Angels".