My Carrier War: The Life and Times of a Naval Aviator in WWII (Hellgate Memories Series) [Paperback]

Norman Berg (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hellgate Memories Series | Publication Date: August 1, 2001

From his days as a Naval aviation cadet learning his trade aboard the "Yellow Peril" biplane trainers in 1942, to his first bombing runs on Guadalcanal, to life aboard an aircraft carrier in the South Pacific, Norman Berg offers a fast-paced narrative filled with humor and meticulous attention to detail. Much more than a simple WWII memoir, this story goes beyond the action of battle to explore one young, wartime couple's struggle to balance love, duty, and their commitment to each other.

Editorial Reviews

Review

I recommend this if you have ... wondered what it was like to be a carrier pilot during 1941 to 1945 -- Captain Ronald "Rip" Gift, U.S.N. (Ret.)

About the Author

Norman E. Berg served as a carrier pilot from 1942-45, and again during the Korean Conflict. He retired with the rank of Captain in 1966, and served as an executive with the Boy Scouts of America. He is the author of Regret To Inform You: Experiences of Families Who Lost a Family Member in Vietnam. Norman currently lives in Huguenot, NY. He currently lives in New York.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hellgate Press; 1 edition (August 1, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555716199
• ISBN-13: 978-1555716196
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.7 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,385,725 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Gripping Human Story of a Carrier Pilot, April 14, 2003

By 

Paul Selbst (Philadelphia, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Carrier War: The Life and Times of a Naval Aviator in WWII (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

I just finished reading My Carrier War by Norman E.Berg. It is an absorbing and interesting page-turner. Mr. Berg's memories of his WW II experience offer a gripping picture of what it took to be a naval pilot in 1941 and beyond, as well as the human story of a young husband and father who faced combat as leader and participant.

This account offers an in-depth variety of information and illumination, regardless of the interest of any particular reader. It's about learning to fly, about learning to be a naval pilot, about the characteristics of warplanes, about flying from an aircraft carrier, about life at sea, about falling in love, about making a personal life in the midst of war, about separation from your loved ones, about dropping torpedos and divebombing, about comradship, about U.S. strategy in winning the south pacific, and about humanity in a time of war.

Beyond the details, this writer knits the story together in an engaging way. There is no tedium in this book, nor is it a superficial recitation of dry history. It offers a timeless lesson in facing personal challenges and prevailing. The book is interestingly illustrated with photographs and maps. It is a satisfying read.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A patriots story, February 27, 2002

By 

Eugene A. Olsen (Pine Bush, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Carrier War: The Life and Times of a Naval Aviator in WWII (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

Capt. Berg tells the true story of patriotisms conflict with his new family life and how he conquered his fears to serve two long flying tours in the Pacific war during the early and darkest hours of the war that affected and changed not only America but the entire world. Berg is one of the "Greatest Generation" and we are lucky to hear his story in his own words spoken from the cockpit of his torpedo bomber . I couldn't put it down and read it in one sitting. A Great Story. Eugene A. Olsen, Capt. USMM (ret)

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing story of one man's coming of age in a time of war, August 29, 2002

By 

Thomas V. Harmon (Levittown, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Carrier War: The Life and Times of a Naval Aviator in WWII (Hellgate Memories Series) (Paperback)

This chronicle is a rich tapestry of war time action woven against a background of a boy's transformation into manhood through duty, love, and acceptance of personal limitations. Norman Berg brings his combat missions alive with gripping vividness of detail. But it is the comparatively economical passges on his subjective experiences that give this book its poignancy. Staying the course in war and sixty years of reflection have added the tincture of a profound sense of fate to this writer's ink. It makes this memoir shine.