Customer Reviews

The Day We Bombed Switzerland: Flying with the US Eighth Army Air Force in World War II

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Mr. Granholm has hit the spot with this wonderful true life vision of WW2 life in the Eighth Air Force. The great 458th comes to life in this novel, and in particular Mr. Granholm's vivid recollections of the humorous events during a time of great tragedy. He has captured the period in great detail, and his life as a "new recruit" through his position as lead navigator show the intense need for leadership in men who were recently just boys. This book is a clear picture of the affect of war on our nation's youth. The entire events surrounding the Bombing of Switzerland are well told. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

I enjoyed this novel through and through. Clearly, this book was written with heartfelt imagery and recollection of the greatest war experienced by man. Mr. Granholm tells of his trials and tribulations during World War II. My father also spent time in the 8th Air Force, and was also stationed at Horsham St. Faith. Unfortunately, he did not return. Through Mr. Granholm's recollections, I have been able to see what my father accomplished and experienced on foriegn soil. I am certain that he would have appreciated this fine recollection of a time gone by. The book not only recounts history, but is uniquely entertaining as well. His accounts of Max Sokarl are hilarious, and his line that "Mojave is the anus of the universe" is a marvelously correct description. Finally, the trial involving the flyboys who errantly dropped bombs on a neutral country is a gripping tale that is amazingly real. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

This book is really two books in one. It's an intimate look at one man's wartime experiences, but it's also an important historical account of an event kept secret by the government for many years after WWII. Mr. Granholm's account of his military training and duty in England is both funny and touching, and contains many examples of the courage and fortitude displayed by so many of our young men during this horrible conflict.

I'd recommend this book for history buffs, airplane fans, even people interested in knowing more about Jimmy Stewart. I think almost anyone would find something interesting in this very readable account. Bravo!

This was a great exciting book. I felt as if I were right there while all this was taking place. I highly recommend this book.

'The Day We Bombed Switzerland' is a stylish and informative first-person historical memoir about the author's experiences as both a navigator aboard B24 bombers over Germany in the last months of World War 2, and of his participation in the court-martial of two flyers facing charges for bombing Zurich, Switzerland during that period. This is well-written and well-researched, utilizing both personal recollection and information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act, and I found it quite fascinating.

As the author points out in his closing paragraphs, first hand accounts of these historically momentous events are harder and harder to come by, and they provide a unique clarity of the historical facts which is hard to find in secondary source works. I recommend this highly to historians of the period and to those with an interest in WW2 aviation.

Jackson Granholm has put together a wonderfully compelling narrative, telling about his transformation from a normal American boy enjoying his youth to a skilled Navigator of B-24 Liberator bombers with the 752nd Bomb Squadron, 458th Bomb Group (H), 96th Combat Wing, 2nd Air Division, 8th U. S. Air Force. He gives the reader an insightful look into his attitudes as the nation is being drawn toward the World War, then relates the rather haphazard process of being trained to become an efficient part of a bomber crew. The book is rich with anecdotal stories, leavened with occasional biting humor, making it both appealing and informative. His coverage of the dangers, horrors and vagaries of fighting a war from miles in the sky, flying in an airplane he clearly finds lacking in many ways despite it great capabilities, makes for riveting reading. His down-to-earth honesty as he describes a number of officers and men he serves with is particularly gripping, and sets the stage for the event which resulted in the book?s title, bombing Switzerland. As a newly promoted Captain, author Granholm is selected as Defense Attorney for the pilot and navigator of the lead ship in a squadron of B-24s which mistakenly bomb Zurich. His rich, sometimes funny, and extremely informative discussion of his work with two very unique characters, particularly his primary assistant Lieutenant Max Sokarl, reads like a mystery novel and is just as mysterious as to its outcome until the last instant. The Presiding Officer of the Court Martial is the famous actor, Colonel Jimmy Stewart, and his participation is the trial is most revealing of the man. This book is written for any reader with even the remotest interest in flying, WWII, mystery or human nature, and it is an absolute "must read" for those who enjoy wartime aviation history.

Review By: BOB STANE, President, B-17 Combat Crewmen & Wingmen.

Several times during "the" war American heavy bombers strayed into Swiss air space and dropped their loads on that neutral nation, so says author Jackson Granholm, in his book, "The Day We Bombed Switzerland." Five hundred pound explosives made the chocolates bounce but added little to the war effort. Evidently this happened several times and a chastened Uncle Sam always opened his wallet and paid the bill. In the final days of the war an unfortunate B-24 crew dropped a stick on a small town just adjacent to the German border and the locals threw a snit. It was not a yodeling affront.

A trial was called for and a trial it was. The Americans and British rolled out the big talent and a few of the crew members were roasted slowly on the spit of justice. The court room was packed.

This book is extremely readable. I rolled it around in my mind for several days and nights regretting the time when it would be finished and put on my bookshelf. The history of the crew was examined in appropriate detail along with the author, Jackson Granholm, whose expert rating in navigation and first rate education netted him the job as "defense." This book is from his notes of the trial and the investigation of the crew, the weather, the officialdom in charge and the enemy. It was a scholarly and lively pursuit.

The very lives of a competent and brave crew were at stake as was some of the reputation of The United States Army Air Corps and the U. S. as well.

Enough tension and color? Not yet. The Commanding Judge in the trial was none other that Jimmy Stewart, famed American actor and Squadron Commander. I had no idea Jimmy Stewart was that famous before the war but his calm demeanor kept the buzz from ruining the event. Lots of celebrity stories concerning Jimmy Stewart in the E.T.O.

Lots here for war buffs, law fans, navigator wannabees and personality cultist. A solid read and addition to your book shelf. A whole new view of the air war.

Lovely color jacket photo of a B-24 and crew.

Author Jackson Granholm, spoke before our group several years ago. He came to light per an article he wrote for "World War II Magazine." He is an accomplished author who does copious research and makes a story sing.

... My father flew 30 missions as navigator with the 755 Squadron 458th Bombardment Group from February - June 1944. I was very pleased to finally see a book about this Bomb Group. There are many interesting facts about the group and it's personnel in these pages, and Mr. Granholm does a fine job mixing drama and comedy along with the horrors of flying combat. I particularly liked the description and the dealings with Major Mottern, the Group Navigator. He was practically merciless on navigators who did not keep a complete flight log. One of my father's navigation logs have the comment written on it "Did you get home?" I assume that it was written by this officer. His subsequent mission logs are much more complete. It is great to get a little bit of insight about the man who wrote that comment. ...

I just finished reading, "The Day We Bombed Switzerland" and it is one of the best books I've EVER read!

Excitement, Adventure, Comedy, Drama, and Explosions all mixed up in a true-life story!!!

I recommend this outstanding work to everybody!

This book captured my heart. I loved the day to day drama and humor provided by Mr. Granholm. His experiences, although tragic at times, helped create the future I live in today. My grandfather lived through this period as well, only he fought in the Pacific. When is the paperback version out??