Customer Reviews

Serenade to the Big Bird

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While researching a WWII novel and history book myself, I asked a number of former 8th Air Force fliers which novel about the air corps experience over Europe was best, only two novels were ever mentioned. One, "Twelve O'Clock High" has become a classic. The other, "Serenade to the Big Bird", I had never heard of. I found a copy and read it. Bert Stiles was a college student from Denver, Colorado who became a B17 co-pilot in the 8th Air Force. His writing style is similar to Ernest Hemingway, probably because Hemingway was popular at the time Stiles wrote. In direct, simple prose, Stiles describes the life of an Air Corps Officer, both on the ground and in the air. He pulls no punches. The death is rarely glorious, but the young men are no less heroic. The theme of emptiness is played out over and over...empty beds after a mission, the empty hardstand for the plane that didn't come back. Stiles was obviously a very sensitive individual with a gift for observation and description. The book is short but very concentrated. Rarely does Stiles waste a word. The sheer terror, the SNAFUS, the occasional funny moments, the doubts- all are described here. One of the reasons Bert Stiles' book is so eloquent is that his is a voice from the past--his usage and slang are from the forties. It is a book written by a very young man. Stiles finished his tour and took some time to write "Serenade to the Big Bird". He then volunteered as a fighter pilot, and was shot down and killed shortly after he finished the book. In a way, this is as much a story of a life unfullfilled as anything else. What kind of writer might Bert Stiles have become had he lived? After reading this book, I was left thinking he would have become a great one. This is his only work. It is a must read for anyone interested in the air war and the men who fought it. It is a must read for anyone who wants to read a great writer.

1st Lt Bert Stiles was killed in action November 26 1944 while flying an escort mission to Hanover. He is buried in the Ardennes National Cemetery near Liege Belgium. Bert completed a tour of duty (35 missions) in heavy bombers during the spring and summer of 1944. He flew with the 91st Bomb Group out of Bassingbourn, England. Instead of returning to the United States, he volunteered for a tour of duty in fighters. Subsequently he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Group and flew the North American P-51 fighter. However, he took one month off from combat in the late summer of 1944 and wrote his classic story, SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD. Tragically he was killed in action about three months later. Reportedly, he was a victim of `Target Fixation' and chased an enemy plane he was following too close to the ground. His mother recovered the manuscript from his effects and acquired a publisher. The extraordinary literary talent of Bert Stiles is undeniable. However, his ability to remain objective while actively participating in a bloody conflict shows the strength, true courage and dedication of the man. Roger Freeman writer and historian of the Eighth Air Force gave credit to the valuable contribution of Bert Stiles when he stated, "Bert Stiles has become the unofficial spokesman for all Americans who flew with the Eighth Air Force." This is true. SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD tells the story as it was, while it was happening. A total of one hundred fourteen men from the 91st Bomb Group lie buried beside Bert Stiles in the Ardennes Cemetery. Though their lips are stilled, Bert's words live on, and he speaks for every one of his fallen comrades. SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD was first published in England in 1947. It generated a loyal following of European admirers. Eric Dominicus, a Belgian who made a pilgrimage to the Ardennes Cemetery to honor the fallen flier, made the above photo. Eric reports, "I read aloud the last chapter from Bert's fine book. It was an emotional moment!"

In 1969 I had the pleasure to visit with Richard White a co-pilot in a B-17 during World War II. His plane was shot down over Berlin in 1944 and he spent some months in a German Stalag. He told me that if I really would like to know how it was that I should read this book. I have read it. It is awesome! It is written in a style that had me totally engrossed from start to finish.

I was born ten years to the day after the first 8th Air Force mission against Berlin (March 4, 1944). I was a fourteen year old boy when I first read Serenade to the Big Bird by Bert Stiles. I was touched deeply by this real life account by a real and genuine man - not a hero or a warrior - but a young man just doing his duty.

This book is ironic in the true sense of the word. Bert Stiles didn't know he was writing his masterpiece. He was just recording his thoughts about life, love, war and death - without the slightest bit of selfconciousness. What he delivers is brilliant; an honest look into the heart, mind and soul of a real citizen soldier, a twenty-three year old in world gone insane.

This small volume is packed with all the emotions of war. There are highs, lows, and the dull boredom of military existence. Through it all, Stiles expresses his humaness and shares his observations. His skillful writing lets the reader experience the pain of loosing buddys in combat as well as the simple pleasure of enjoying fresh strawberries in English countryside - all within a few pages. Hanging over the entire narrative is the readers awareness that Stiles is writing his own epitaph.

This book survived the war. Bert Stiles did not. He's buried in Belgium along with thousands of his comrades, a victim of the carnage he had to experience in order to create such a beautiful literary legacy.

Find this book and read it.

My perspective on this book is much different from Mr. Howland's, as I am not a combat veteran. During the Vietnam War, I volunteered for the draft as a conscientious objector, and served for two years as a civilian hospital orderly. Nevertheless, I agree with his assessment. Stiles appeals because he isn't afraid to show his insecurities and sensitivity, and because he's a brilliant writer. When he could write the way he did as a 23-year-old, it's one of war's tragedies to think what he could have written had he survived the war. It would not be an exaggeration to say that I have read about 100 first-person accounts of action in WW2. Many of them have been very good. But "Serenade to the Big Bird" is the best.

Not much I can add to what others have written about the Big Bird. I first read the book while in college in the late 1960s. Some years later I lent the paperback to a friend and it went up in smoke during a fire. I was stunned and mad because I liked to go back on occasion and read a chapter or two when I felt I needed to read something from Bert. Now, to make a short story long, after years of trying to find another copy, the internet came along and I started to find out about Bert. I began pulling things up and contacting various folks. I came across one fellow and damned if they weren't having a get-together honoring Bert at Colorado College. I was there. It lasted two days and no more than a handful of old folks were in attendence (at the time I was in my mid 50s and I was the second yougest person there). As I was leaving at the end of the remberance a fellow took hold of my arm and asked if I would like to have a stack of books. They were compiled by friends of Bert's some time long after he had died! Of course I accepted them! There were writings ranging back to his high school days in Denver. Some of the stuff is pretty good, some not so good. But, the short stories (sorry, there is no lost novel) I found had a appeal for the time and demonstrated Bert's growth as a writer.

Yes, I too think Bert was on the brink of becoming a well known writer. He did, by the way, write for a magazine in New York. I have the books and I still return to then when I need a good laugh (Bert was quite a wit) or just want to step back into the late 30s or early 40s. There must be 5-6 of these books (private publisher, sorry). The fellow who organized the 'event' is no longer with us as, I would guess, many of the others aren't. My God, most were in their very late 70s or early-mid 80s. Alas the group is leaving us at an astounding rate.

Okay, I'm done now. The book gets 5 stars and I have been able to give you a very brief look at Bert and some of his pals - though not many. Yes, there are other "books" by Bert and you might just get lucky and find some of them.

This book chronicles the life of Bert Stiles, who was killed during the war. Considering when the book was written speaks wonders for Bert's insightfulness, and understanding of humanity. This book is wonderful from an historical aspect, as Bert gives us some in-depth insights into life in the air and on the ground during the air war over Europe. Bert also gives us something else, even more wonderful, his understanding on both sides of the battle of the people involved. Bert had a unique sense of what this war was doing to people, and just how the world would perceive it years into the future. Bert gave his life for us during those years, flying the fighter he always wanted, but his words sail on through time, to inform us even today.

I first read this book in 1960 and discovered that Bert Stiles was my uncle-Robert Langford's roommate in "Copilot House". I sent my copy to my uncle who subsequently got a copy (long out of print) from the publisher. He said the story was pretty much like things were. He said Bert Stiles always said he was writing a book but then everybody was writing a book. I have my uncle's copy filled with photos of the "Big Bird" full of holes afer Leipzig. The aircraft never flew again. It was repaired and blew up with the sqadron commander and chaplain aboard on it's test flight.

Many pieces of literature on World War II have a stale and purely academic feel to them. This tone of work is informative but can lack the personal element that is necessary to really feel the piece of history that is being portrayed. Serenade to The Big Bird is full of feeling and gives a truely personal account of not only some of the battles of the war but also many of incredible people who fought them; not "historically important" people like generals and the like, but the men who did the physical work on the front lines, and in this case, in the air. It is an extremely thoughtful and down to earth piece of work. The book is especially important to me personally because Gordon Beach, the belly turet gunner in the book is my grandfather (who turns 89 on December 14th). The book sheds light on a part of my grandfather's life that he isn't always so quick to speak of.

When Bert Stiles wrote this book, the war was still raging across the world. It was 1944, he had just completed a horrific tour of duty as a B17 co-pilot, and the memories were fresh in his mind. Even though Bert seemed to be a somewhat sensitive man, some of his words have a callous feel to them. He talks about the officers and enlisted men forming a baseball team, and "..after the Schweinfurt raid, we had to replace the whole infield"-Simply put, so many men had been killed on that mission, no one was left to play on the team. Bert was an intelligent man, a good writer, but he lacked the experience to know when to back out of the war. Passive, intelligent, creative people do not make good fighter pilots. Bert was killed in action shortly after writing his memoirs.