Wing Ding: Memories of a Tail Gunner [Hardcover]

Gene T. Carson (Author), Lt. Col Gene T. Carson USA (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 17, 2001

This is no run-of-the-mill WWII book. It is the exciting story of a cook in the Army Air Corps. It tells of his unauthorized move from the kitchen to life as an aerial gunner on a B-17 Flying Fortress in the unfriendly skies of Europe in 1943 to 1945. You will laugh cry and share in his life as he fights for his country while snatching moments of relief and love between missions. For those who were there it will bring back memories. For others, it will tell what it was like for grandfathers, fathers and uncles.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Eugene T. Carson lives in Kaneohe, Hawaii. "Wing Ding", his first book tells the story of his life as an aerial gunner through sixty mission on a B-17 Flying Fortress with the 8th Air Force during the 1943 -1945 air war over Europe. He retired as a Lieutenant Colonel Regular Army late November 1971 after service in Korea and Vietnam. His military decorations include the Legion of Merit with one oak leaf cluster, Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with eight oak leaf clusters and the Purple Heart with one oak leaf cluster.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 204 pages
• Publisher: Xlibris Corp (March 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738856886
• ISBN-13: 978-0738856889
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,648,638 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great True Story of How a Baker Became a Two-Tour Tailgunner, June 7, 2001

By 

Rob Morris (Idaho Falls, ID United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wing Ding: Memories of a Tail Gunner (Paperback)

I have recently finished reading Gene Carson's fine new book "Wing Ding". As a writer and historian researching books of my own, I have been spending a lot of time reading accounts of the heavy bomber war over Europe in WWII. This is by far the most entertaining of the memoirs I have read to date. Gene Carson, air enthusiast, joins the Army Air Corps to fullfill his dream to fly. Instead, he ends up in the kitchen as a baker. Through persistance, hard work, trickery and a little luck, he is able to trade his bakery job for the more exciting--and more deadly--duty of tail gunner on a B-17. Carson skillfully captures not just the moments of terror flying over Germany (in one case minus his parachute), but also the humor of life in the Eighth. Adding drama to the tale is the fact that Carson's twin brother is shot down and presumed dead while flying a mission with a different bomb group. Instead of going home, Gene gets himself reassigned and returns to fly a second tour of combat, convinced his brother is alive and that he will find him. To say more would detract from the reading experience, but this book is a great read, both from a historical perspective and for the interesting characters and situations 'Wing Ding' encounters on his adventures. A warning: Wing Ding has its share of earthy situations, the kind faced by young men far from home, lonely, with normal hormones, and unsure if they will live out the month. A PG-13 rating might be in order. Wing Ding is a winner in every way. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the history of the air war, or how young men grow up in wartime. I look forward to Gene Carson's next book, which is underway.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wing Ding, August 20, 2001

By 

Jack Owen (Crystal Beach, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wing Ding: Memories of a Tail Gunner (Paperback)

Col. Carlson told his story without a lot of hype. He makes one feel like they are there. It is a pleasure that I had the chance to serve in the Air Force with such men who gave so much. We of that War are leaving at a fast rate. Such great stories are all that will be left too soon.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A totally Unique Book!, June 20, 2001

By 

Jesse I. Carnes (Baton Rouge, LA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wing Ding: Memories of a Tail Gunner (Paperback)

This is a TOTALLY unique book. I have never found another book on World War 2, much less concerning any other war, that has ever taken this approach to writing : that is, telling a true, and WONDERFULLY interesting account by an author, who happens to be a twin, and where the author's twin brother almost ends up being a co-author of this same work. What we have is a true account of 2 brothers who were separated by War, and then came back together during that War, and once again were separated, only to be BARELY re-united at the War's end, in May of 1945. The perspective of this book by LTC Gene Carson IS very unique, and lends itself not only to World War 2 studies, but to Twin studies, as well. I ought to know, for I am a twin like Gene and his brother, John.

This book UNDOUBTEDLY deserves the 5 star rating for 3 reasons : a) It is well written and VERY lively & interesting! I hate needless parentheses. b) It is brisk, without a lot of the dull, turgid style found in some military narratives. Lots of nice, brief chapters that contain short but often VERY humorous vignettes. c) It's "twin-brother" perspective is unique and creates a storyline fit to be made into a motion picture. May I add that Gene has given the BEST account, among the many that I have read, about what LIFE (as well as Death) was like for those who flew in the heavy bombers, during the Darkest conflagration of War that the 20th century, or any century has ever seen.