I'm Off to War, Mother, But I'll Be Back

by Jerry W. Whiting, Wayne B. Whiting

Several planes were smoking. I saw a plane from one of the groups take a direct hit, and go down. I saw no parachutes. I was trying to make myself as small as possible. My steel helmet was pulled down over most of my face. I couldn't see much, but I didn't have to worry about the Germans in all this flak. I had a flak vest under my seat and my legs were pulled up and tight under my body. This was not the way I intended to spend my birthday. -Wayne Whiting, Tail Gunner-

260 pages, Hardcover

First published June 6, 2007

Reviews

[Jamie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun book. I liked the style, jumping back forth between events remembered and the letters. Especially seeing how he would self edit letters to his mother, taking out various activities that she would not have approved or dialing down the horrific circumstances of a mission.

[Pancho · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had taken my 3 year old son to the local airport to see 3 wwll war planes. The author Jerry Whiting was there sharing his vast knowledge of the aerial component of the war as he told of his father's experience in the war. What I appreciated about this book is the way in which the author is able to give the reader a good look into the life of a man who struggles with the fact that 35 sorties in which these gunners were required to make before they are able to return home is 35 times they must cheat death. Each trip they went, was or close to being their last as airplane failure and enemy attacks were to be expected. I found their on base living conditions interesting also. Included are many first hand letters from the gunner to his family backp home. These add much to the story. This was not an ideal place to be in with cold wet conditions much of the time. This is a good read for anyone interested in the live of the men who fought with their lives on the line.