WW II 15th Air Force 50th mission a Kill & Shot Down POW "P-38 ODYSSEY" Signed

Description: I COMBINE SHIPPING $1.50 per book. FREE SHIPPING for orders over $60. Send books to your check-out cart. E-Bay will automatically adjust shipping costs. PACKAGING & SHIPPING RULES: 1. Individual books Under $18.00 are shipped in padded poly envelopes. 2. Individual books Over $18.00 are shipped in a poly envelope inside a box. 3. Buy Three or more books and the order is shipped in a box.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS LISTING:TOM BROKAW: "P-38 Odyssey is a treasure!" In 1940, Richard Butler and his younger brother Heber enlisted in the US Army Air Corps. In North Africa in 1943 the Butler brothers were assigned to fly the P-38 Lightning, the “fork-tail devil,” feared for its speed, maneuverability and heavy armament. Initially based in Morocco, they gradually moved eastward across North Africa as the Nazis were pushed to the sea at Tunisia’s coast. Over southern Italy on Richard’s fiftieth and final combat mission, one of his “kills” disintegrated during a head-on dog fight. Before he could pull away, part of the wreckage disabled his left engine, which soon burst into flame, forcing him to bail out. Richard was taken captive and spent 21 months as a prisoner of war. During this time, he kept a detailed account of life in Stalag Luft III and Stalag VIIA and of the forced winter march of January 1945. His journals and letters are compiled and edited here, with annotations and photographs describing his life as fighter pilot and prisoner of war. The editor’s research adds important historical detail and context to this uniquely complete wartime narrative of a profound personal journey of courage and determination. From a book review: The book P-38 Odyssey was a treasure to read. I was intrigued with the war time experiences of Richard Butler from beginning to end and looked forward to the evenings to read the book. The book didn’t disappoint; it was compelling, packed with details, actions, and fascinating information about the pilot’s experiences.Augmenting the journal and letters was the author making his way across Richard Butler’s path, including the POW camps and the January 1945 march. This book was superbly researched and written and used perspectives and stories of other POWs or their families. Maps, sketches, and past and current photographs were invaluable, but especially helpful was the creative format of the book. The pilot’s narrative and letters were on one page with gray pages opposite with text and details from other sources, sketches, photographs, and explanatory text, e.g., “Stalag Luft III.” I was able to get an inside view of the POW camps and the relationships among prisoners and Germans.

Price: 28 USD

Location: Livonia, Michigan

End Time: 2024-10-14T12:44:01.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6.15 USD