34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Substantial Story About the A20., May 23, 2004
This review is from: Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20 (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series) (Hardcover)
"Wreaking Havoc" by Joseph W. Rutter, Sub-titled, "a Year In An A-20". Texas A& M University Press, 2004.
For many of us who were young boys during World War II, or directly after, the most famous aircraft were the big bombers: the B17 "Flying Fortress", the B24 "Liberator" and the B29 "Superfortress". The relatively small A20 "Havoc" was hardly mentioned.
This book corrects that ommission. Joseph Rutter flew the A20 "Havoc" in some 64 combat missions in the A20 in the Pacific Theatre. The author lists all 64 missions on pages xv through xxi in the preface to the his book , which is quite a personal memoir of his war. The book actually starts with his father getting the author out of bed "...at 6 A.M. on Sunday, September 3, 1939 to listen to Great Britain's declaration of war on Germany..." Page 8. The author then tells of growing up, graduating high school, going to work for the FBI, and then leaving for flight school. He learned to fly both the B25 "Mitchell" and the A20 "Havoc", but it is apparent, in my humble opinion, that Mr. Rutter really loved the A20 the best.
The book presents many details about the A20, with pictures scattered appropriately throughout the book. On page 105, the photo shows a pilot, Maury Owen, seated in an A20 cockpit. It is a tight fit. A big person, (say, the actor John Wayne, for easy identification), could never fit in the standard A20 cockpit. Rutter gives many somewhat technical details about flying the A20, including setting the manifold pressure to prevent backfiring of the engines, how to lean the gas mixture to fly the maximum distance and the proper method of firing the guns to prevent jams, and all of this material makes you understand in small fashion what it was like to live and fly in the Pacific War. Since the author was able to develop many of the pictures he snapped , he was able to bring the photos home with him. Therefore, the book is nicely illustrated with contemporary photos , including, for example, the village church at Dagupan, Luzon, the Philippines. (Page 184).
If you want a complete story of what it was like, flying and fighting in the Pacific Theater in World War II, this book is an excellent choice.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Flying with the pilot, March 3, 2004
This review is from: Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20 (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series) (Hardcover)
Mr. Rutter has done an outstanding job of describing his experience in WWII. He takes you from his beginings in western Penn. thru training in Colorado and North Carolina, to combat missions in New Guinea and the PI. His writing technique lets you feel that he's with you and telling you about his experience flying A-20's. It's similar to (but not quite as good as) Guy Sajer's The Forgotten Soldier.
I've rated the book as a 4 out of 5 (it's really 4.5 out of 5) because I was hoping for a little more description on his combat experience. On the plus side, he does describe several missions outstandingly (his mission straffing Clark was done very well), but unfortunatly, I'd like to have had a little more description.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
27 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Keeps you going, December 31, 2003
This review is from: Wreaking Havoc: A Year in an A-20 (Williams-Ford Texas A&M University Military History Series) (Hardcover)
The author starts the book, as happens often in this first-person war recollections as he transitions from school to war; in this case as he goes from high school to an FBI office and then, on to training, and eventually war in the Pacific theater.
His time in the war shows a Japanese enemy, spent and worn out, but still dangerous.
His description of flying missions, is accurate, down to the power settings in his A-20. As a pilot, I appreciate his narrative, and as a WW-2 buff, his descriptions of camps, and trading booze for building supplies.
The introspection of the author, as he accumulates missions, until the flight doctor strongly suggests to him that he ground himself, is in stark contrasts with the feelings expressed by other pilots in the European theater. It is interesting and educational to note how, the different scenario affects the pilots differently. I recommend also reading Eyton-Jones "Day Bomber" for a view at flying a similar plane, the A20-C Boston in the ETO
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
