Damn Lucky
One Man's Courage During the Bloodiest Military Campaign in Aviation History
New York : St. Martin's Press, 2022.
Format: Book
Edition: First edition.
Description: viii, 306 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cm
"The incredible true story of John "Lucky" Luckadoo, who survived 25 missions as a B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in WWII. When Second Lieutenant John "Lucky" Luckadoo-a wide-eyed 21-year-old assigned to the Eighth Air Force's 100th Bomb Group-arrived in England, "Axis Sally," an American broadcaster employed by Nazi Germany to disseminate propaganda during World War II, welcomed his squadron by name. "This isn't your war," she told them. "You don't have any business being here, but as long as you're here we're going to teach you a lesson." And they did. Kevin Maurer's Damn Lucky tells the true story of "Lucky" Luckadoo who flew some of the deadliest missions of World War II during the bloodiest military campaign in aviation history. Lucky served with the 100th Bomber Group during the early days of the bombing of France and Germany from England. His story starts with his quest to join the Royal Air Force with his best friend before the war, through 25 missions in combat over Germany to the one mission-a raid over Bremen-where Luckadoo felt like his luck had run out. The statistical chances for a heavy Bomber crew in Europe to be lost on a mission were 1-in-10. At a 25-mission tour of duty, statistically, once a flyer made it to 10 missions they were literally on borrowed time. Anyone who served a full tour and survived was remarkably lucky. Drawn from Lucky's firsthand accounts, acclaimed war correspondent and bestselling author Kevin Maurer delves into this extraordinary tale, uncovering astonishing accounts of bravery during an epic clash in the skies over Nazi Germany"-- Provided by publisher.
Contents:
Mission #22 -- Answering the call -- Solo -- "You're all going to be killed and you might as well accept it" -- Station 139 -- The professionals -- Tail gunner -- Five miles above -- "A good type American" -- Dye's last mission -- King Bee -- Twelve o'clock high -- Bombs away -- Three and a half engines and a prayer -- Black week -- Friendly invasion -- Last post -- Big B -- His best day -- Home -- Last flight -- Afterword.
Subjects:
Luckadoo, John, 1922-
United States. Army Air Forces. Bomb Group, 100th.
United States. Army Air Forces -- Biography.
United States. Army Air Forces -- Officers -- Biography.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Western Front.
Bomber pilots -- United States -- Biography.
Luckadoo, John, 1922-
United States. Army Air Forces. Bomb Group, 100th.
United States. Army Air Forces -- Biography.
United States. Army Air Forces -- Officers -- Biography.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Aerial operations, American.
World War, 1939-1945 -- Campaigns -- Western Front.
Bomber pilots -- United States -- Biography.
ISBN:
9781250274380
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
BIOGRAPHY Luckadoo, John | Cooper (Forest Acres) | Biography | In |
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Includes bibliographical references (pages 291-292) and index.