A Wing And A Prayer: The Bloody 100th Bomb Group of the U.S. Eighth Air Force in Action Over Europe in World War II (1993) By Harry H. Crosby
 
Retired Harvard professor Harry Crosby tells the dramatic personal story of the "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group of the U.S. Eighth Air Force, which flew missions over Germany in World War II. Here are Crosby's thrilling, sometimes humorous experiences as the group's Lead Navigator--and one of the few lucky survivors.
 
In 1942, the author joined the World War II war effort as a cadet, trained as a navigator, and arrived in England in June 1943 with the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) of the Eighth Air Force. Rapidly promoted to Group Navigator, he was responsible for assembling as many as 2000 warplanes from various bases in England, leading them to their targets and safely home again. After a full tour of 25 missions, he remained in England for seven more, serving until the end of hostilities on May 9, 1945. He achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and many medals, including the Distinguished Flying Cross, Bronze Star and Croix de Guerre. In 1993, his WWII memoir, A Wing and a Prayer, a personal history of the famous Bloody 100th Bomb Group flying B-17s out of England was published. Harry served for two and a half decades as editor of the 100th Bomb Group Associations Splasher Six.
 
Derived from a Kirkus review: An affecting memoir from an Army Air Force veteran who survived the savage aerial engagements of WW II's ETO. Lead navigator in the 100th Bomb Group, which sustained staggering casualties at the Luftwaffe's hands, Crosby was responsible for guiding flotillas of UK-based B-17s to targets throughout occupied Europe. Crosby provides a vivid account of what life was like on and off the flight line in East Anglia, as well as in the unfriendly skies above the Continent, where his notable accomplishments were matched by his hairbreadth escapes. During his extended tour, for example, he directed missions against objectives so remote that the raiders had to land in Africa or Russia rather than return to their home fields. On another occasion, his plane, badly damaged by flak, was obliged to shoot down ten German fighters to make it back for a crash landing on British soil. As his squadron lost men and machines, the high cost of conflict became a grave concern for Crosby. 
 
Hard Cover with Dust Jacket
336 pages
In Good Condition