Customer Reviews

The Ragged Irregulars: The 91st Bomb Group in World War II

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

 

 

Marion Havelaar has combined the essential elements of an outstanding history volume. He provides excellent photography (black and white), a well written chronology, and appendices with the details of individual aircraft, missions, and crews. This is not one of those "coffee table" books. It is packed with information and it is both excellent reading and study data. There are 264 pages in this volume and Mr. Havelaar has established a detailed history from a personal, statistical and photographic perspective which make this not only informative but also a very interesting book to read. This is a must-have book for any serious fan of World War 2 bombing operations, but specifically for the famous 91st Bomb Group in WW2.

I was very pleased to see this available. I visited Bassingbourn in '07 and obtained special permission to go on base and see the museum in the old control tower of the current RAF base. I had met Robert Morgan, pilot of the Memphis Belle, on three occasions, and read much about the Air Corps in Europe during the war. Also visited many other airfields in the Cambridge area, fighter and bomber. The book is excellent for photos taken during the war of B-17's from Bassignbourn and other fields, plus information on missions and the crews who flew them. Also has photos of the target areas. I have many other books that cover the details better, but the photos in this book really make it a worthwhile addition to my library, and I would recommend it to other AAC enthusiasts. I have long collected the silver 'wings' of pilots, navigators, bombardiers and crewmen of that era, and a book like this assists much in making a connection to the history of those days. -- Terry [...]

This book follows the 91st bomb group from its inception to the end of the war. Every mission is mentioned and the planes that were shot down are often noted. Lots of detail with the serial numbers and names of all the planes. Some great nose art too. Exactly like the pictures I have from my dad. Lots of info about the crews with some narrative from them. Mostly I was able to follow my dad's missions and learn more detail than he remembered or wanted to remember. Very accurate according to my dad's log book of missions. I saw where three of the planes he flew were shot down with other crews flying those days. There is even a group picture with my dad it in! Amazing. OK, you have to be a real B-17 buff or know someone who was in the 91st to fully appreciate the effort that went into collecting information and writing this book.

The book relives the air battles fought with B-17 Bombers in World War II. My cousin went down March 29, 1944 in one of the 91st planes. Marion Havelaar details the complexities and frustrations of air warfare over Germany and Europe; his insightful look at the staggering losses of Allied crews is a tribute to the brave warriors of Bassinbourne, England. A job well done.