Author Topic: Book: Under An English Heaven (Read 260 times)

Gixer · « **on:** September 29, 2003, 04:01:25 PM »

Gents,

Not sure if this is old or been posted before. But..

Just finished reading Under An English Heaven bu Robert Radcliffe. And is definetly one of the best books I've ever read and highly reccomended.

It's about a B17 (early war) crew in England, I know there are alot of books on B17 crews but this one is exceptional. Discriptions of air combat are very well written. Very engrossing.

First chapter alone makes you realise what a struggle those early unprotected daylight bombing raids must of been for the crews..

Great stuff.

...-Gixer
~Hells Angels~

DiabloTX · « **Reply #1 on:** September 29, 2003, 04:27:34 PM »

Bah, just go rent "Memphis Belle" and you can see how it really was!

midnight Target · « **Reply #2 on:** September 29, 2003, 05:12:53 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by DiabloTX
Bah, just go rent "Memphis Belle" and you can see how it really was!

OK! I don't care! I like Memphis Belle!

So sue me!!! (Realism Nazis

)

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #3 on:** September 30, 2003, 12:18:33 AM »

There was an "Amazing Stories" episode about a ball turret gunner who liked to draw cartoons.

On his way back to England, he was stuck in the ball and the gear would not extend so he drew big wheels and concentrated himself into a deep trance. The wheels appeared in cartoon form somehow telekinetically.

The B-17 landed safely, they extricated the cartoonist, his trance broke, and the gear dissappeared. The ball turret was crushed as the turret gunner stepped into a jeep.

Based on a true story.

Sandman · « **Reply #4 on:** September 30, 2003, 12:21:07 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by Holden McGroin

Based on a true story.

I guess it all depends on what your definition of "true" is.

Holden McGroin · « **Reply #5 on:** September 30, 2003, 12:27:52 AM »

No, it was an "Amazing Story" episode....

They just Hollywooded it up a little. In the real story, they cranked down the gear by hand, and there wasn't any cartoon telekinesis. But other than that, it was dead bang accurate.

davidpt40 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 30, 2003, 02:35:35 AM »

Quote

Based on a true story.

Hahaha that really made me laugh. Hollywood changed it a bit because in real life the 50,000 pound plane smashed the gunner into hamburger.

Serenade to the Big Bird is also another very interesting story about a B-17 co-pilot. The book was written after the co-pilot finished his TOD in the B-17. He went on to become a P-51 pilot but was KIA 1944.

-tronski- · « **Reply #7 on:** September 30, 2003, 04:23:53 AM »

Kevin Costner, and Kiefer Sutherland were in that Amazing stories show about the B-17...

Oh, I'm reading a great book called Spirit of the Digger by Patrick Lindsay...its a great book about Australian soldiers

Tronsky

Habu · « **Reply #8 on:** September 30, 2003, 06:28:31 AM »

Another really great book on the bomber war is

"A Thousand Shall Fall" by Murray Peden.

Look it up in your local library and check it out. It is one of the best WW2 books I have read.