Customer Reviews

Scootin' Thunder

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This book is a must read for anyone interested in the air war in the South Pacific during World War II. As close as you will get to actually being there.

This book contains the diary of Beth Houser's father, Robert Houser, who was a B-24 copilot in WWII in the Pacific with the 72nd Squadron of the 5th Bomb Group, 13th Air Force in 1943. The diary goes from entry into the service and details his every mission and intervening days. It gives one a good sense of what it was like to fly bomber missions on Pacific islands, including things they did in their down time and the frequent challenges including mechanical failures, boredom, and rain.

The book provides interesting details for those who might be trying to look up a relative who served at the same time/area, as many other individuals are mentioned along with specific names/dates/places. I found several references to the 394th Squadron (which my father served in during 1943) which help give me additional details of what my father might have been experiencing in the theater.

The book also includes a large picture section (I wish my father had taken so many candid photos) of flying, planes, and daily life. It also has some info on what happened to them after the war, and a nice "bracket" story that ties their exploits to the present.

Those who have a war veteran in their family often wish that they would have chronicled their exploits. We are fortunate that in this case one chronicle made it from obscurity into publication.