Looking Back: A Tail Gunner's View of WWII [Hardcover]

Dale Vanblair (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 1, 2003

Looking Back: A Tail Gunner''s View of WWII is the sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic story of the author''s service in the US Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945. S/Sgt. VanBlair was tail gunner with a B-24 crew and flew missions over Europe from December 1942 until April 1944. Written to honor the memory of his crew, the book is especially dedicated to Albert Spadafora, his friend who was more like a brother. You'll share his grief when Albert is killed, his anxious moments as he flies through the flak-filled skies over Berlin and watches German fighters gang up on lagging B-24s, the sadness of seeing the empty beds of men whose planes are lost. The climax of the book is his account of the crew''s last mission, when they lead a formation to Berlin. His hard by flak and fighters, they ditch in the North Sea with the loss of five men. You''ll be caught up in his description of the ditching, his struggle to escape the wreckage, and his thoughts as he floats for an hour in the icy-cold water while realizing that his chances of survival are slim.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Born in Quincy, Illinois, in 1921, DaleVanBlair enlisted in the Army Air Forces in November 1942 and served as a tail gunner with a B-24 crew. On his eighteenth mission his crew led a formation of B-24s to Berlin and sustained fighter and flak damage that forced them to ditch in the frigid North Sea with the loss of fine men. VanBlair's injuries resulted in his being grounded. Following his discharge in October 1945, he graduated from Quincy University and then taught high school English. For seventeen years prior to his retirement in 1982, he served as English Department chairman in a large high school in Belleville, Illinois, the city in which he still lives. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 344 pages
• Publisher: 1st Book Library; Rev edition (December 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414008155
• ISBN-13: 978-1414008158
• Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,735,159 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Realistic Life: Fears, Flaws, Humor & Joy during WWII, February 20, 2004

By 

Lori Lauterbach (Illinois USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Looking Back: A Tail Gunner's View of WWII (Paperback)

Looking Back: A Tail Gunner's View of WWII

Is an honest, engaging recount of one's life during WWII.
This book isn't a tale of international intrigue; nor is it a compilation of military reports specifying tactics and a chain-of-command. It is, merely, an honest account of a man's lifetime during a young man's few years. Dale acknowledges; his inclination to avoid trudging through Europe, his desire to avoid emotional confrontation with his parents as he decides to actively serve in the Armed Forces, the antics of young servicemen, attitude and unacknowledged actions towards questionable moral behavior, and one's puzzlement when attempting to recall details of his airplane falling through the sky and sinking into the ocean.

A reader might expect any story of WWII to be laden with sadness; however, Dale's youthful perspective manages to recall the moments of humor that typically enable one to endure and to eventually heal. The comradeship and respect amongst the servicemen he encountered creates a heartfelt touch of intimacy to his story. In doing so, Dale brings the reader to an enlightened view of life during WWII. The reader inevitably must offer grateful thanks to all Veterans of Service.

Thank You,
Lori Jean
(a Generation X beneficiary)