The War in the Air Book One

The Things Our Fathers Saw #2

by Matthew A. Rozell

~THE LONG-AWAITED SEQUEL IN THE BEST SELLING ‘The Things Our Fathers Saw’ SERIES~

— “I don’t think anybody relished the idea of going to war; nobody does. But nevertheless, I think we had a level of patriotism at that time that we won’t ever see again.
—I’ve seen planes go down, naturally. And the only things you’d look for were how many ‘chutes came out of it because when an airplane gets spinning, you couldn’t get out.
—I never got hurt. It was always the other guy. And the frame of mind that you have is something that most people can’t understand-you can see this happening, but it’s not you. It becomes an impersonal thing; it has to be, because you would go crazy if it wasn’t.
—But there are no heroes, contrary to what people may think. I don’t think there are any heroes up there because you’re just doing your job, you have to—you either did, or you didn’t come back. You don’t have time enough really to be scared a lot." ~Dick Varney, B-24 Liberator bomber flight engineer, age 92

~ It’s always been my philosophy that history is best understood when it is related by those who were actually there on the front lines. I was lucky enough to recognize this early in my career as a public high school history teacher, which began at a time when America was waking up and beginning to notice the deeds of the men and women who had saved the world only a generation before. This book includes several WWII airmen, one of two books on the air war over Europe. BOOK ONE has the young men being forged by the experience of growing up in the hard times of the Great Depression, through their training, and on to combat in the skies over Europe. In BOOK TWO, to be released fall 2017, the men are scourged by the experience of combat, being shot down and taken prisoner.

Thanks for joining us!
~Matthew Rozell

Genres: History, Nonfiction, World War II, Military Fiction, War, Military History, Aviation

320 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 15, 2017

Reviews

[Jeff Dawson · Rating 2 out of 5]

All I can say is how disappointing this was. I read the first one which covers the men who served in the Pacific. For the most part it stuck to the subject matter. This one wandered around. I only wanted to know about how the service they performed and how their lives turned out after the war. It’s amazing how successful these men became. What I didn’t care for was when the story wandered into current politics. For me, it had no relevance and definitely didn’t move the story forward.

The beginning of this one is a repeat of volume one. It was boring then and it’s boring now. The author spends way too much time talking about himself.

I overlooked a lot of the grammatical issues in the first one. Not this time. I thought, okay, maybe the author was too passionate with the topic and felt the errors were minor. Not the case. This book is rampant with extra words, wrong words and misspelled words. Two to a page is not only excessive, it tells me the author is not taking the time to properly vet his work and just dump out there and see what happens. If he was a novice writer, that’s one thing. But Mr. Rozelle is a history teacher, passionate about World War Two, which is commendable. That said, it’s time to go back and either hire a critical editor or reread the text in its entirety and clean the mess up.

I do commend Mr. Rozelle for keeping the memories of our World War Two vets and teaching his students on what a great generation they came from. I’m just not a fan of his execution.

Two stars

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I had Matthew Rozell as my High School History Teacher when I was in High School. My history courses reminded me of the lyrics from Paul Simon's Kodachrome, "When I think of all the crap I learned in high school its a wonder I can think at all, and though my lack of education hasn't hurt me none I can read the writing on the wall." Does it sound familiar?

High School teacher, Matthew Rozell gave his students homework. Go out and interview a World War II veteran. Find out what they did and what they saw. In this book volume 2 of 6 different WWII books, Rozell's students interviewed 90+year old World War veterans of the (Army) Air Force. The collection of stories are are humorous, mundane, informative, tragic and ultimately unforgettable. According to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans "16 million Americans served in WWII, 296 die each day, only 325,574 survive today." This book contains the oral history of just a few of these brave people. I get tired of reading WWII books by generals from 10,000 + feet away. It was great to read what WWII was like at the level actually doing the fighting. Matthew Rozell and his students gave new meaning to, "Dying for freedom isn't the worst that could happen. Being forgotten is."

[Bill Reavey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal stories, this country needs men like that today !!!!!!!

[Sid Mickle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of personal experiences. Great read.

[Nancy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second of the series of books this author has written. Each book is a collection of interviews of surviving WWII veterans. The stories are compelling and sometimes painful. The interviewees were veterans of WWII. So far there are 6 books, with the 7th one about the liberation of one of the Jewish concentration camps.

[Davina · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting book, but not for reasons you might expect. This is a book by a High School teacher who has been having his students perform interviews with veterans over many years. You're not looking at the original source, so I'm not clear what kind of clean up occurred between the original interview and this publication, but the quality of the interviews was quite good. There wasn't anything particularly spectacular, as compared to other books like this, but it's still nice to see this collection. The characters are all pretty likable guys, but we get only the briefest glimpses other than their time in service. This interviews seem relatively brief so there is no extended view of any particular part of their training, or life on base or anything else. We get to see a little of what their life in the war was like. The men were pretty articulate, overall. It's a pretty quick read, to boot.

[Dylan Berwick · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really really wanted to like this book. I wanted a first hand account on life in the air during WWII. This book had its moments of that but largely fell short. It covers different men who did different jobs which I'd say is great. It covers their lives before the war, joining, training and then not much about the actual war. The first man you read about is a tail gunner named Andy Doty, you hear his entire life story up to combat, who he dated, where he went to school, his parents, his brother etc. You spend some time learning about him as a person but then you're told to buy another book to hear about his combat experience. I'm not joking.

Pages 52-79 are devoted to him. The paragraph prior talks about him saying goodbye to his parents before shipping off. The following ends Andy's story.

it ends with
"Andy survived 21 combat missions in the pacific late in the war. Detailed further in my first book, Things Our Fathers Saw:Voices From The Pacific."

[James Newland · Rating 5 out of 5]

We Must Remember!

I was 11 years old when WWII began for the USA following the surprise bombing by the Japanese government on December 7, 1941. My 2 older brothers enlisted in the Army Air Corp on October, 1942. Both served honorably and were discharged after the war ended. Both brothers became airplane mechanics and crew chiefs, the oldest served in Big Spring Texas where pilots and bombardiers were trained; the younger of the two went to England, then after D Day into France and Germany with the 9th Air Force supporting allied ground troops until Germany surrendered in defeat.

Matthew Rozell is commended for re-telling these stories from first hand interviews with men that served in the midst of their stories. Blessed are the students in Mr. Russell's History classes.

[Cindy Howard]

Another great book. First hand accounts of what it felt like to fly over Germany on bombing runs, hoping your plane would be one of the lucky ones to make it back. My father in law did this as a 21 year old kid from Oklahoma. He is not quoted in this book, but here is a quote from his notes..."Nov 26, 1943... Bremen Germany...Enemy fighters, heavy flak - direct hit with flak in left horizontal stabilizer, 75 small holes in underside of ship." (8th Air Force lost 29 bombers that day). He was one of the lucky ones to make it back 27 times while he was stationed in England. This book gives you a feeling of what these young men lived through, what they sacrificed. They truly were the greatest generation.

[Dean L. Bristow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still with. Us

They are all in their 90s, but a few are still with us. There is the 94 year old former B-24 nose gunner who built and operated 3 of our few oil refinery’s. Also a 92 year old store keeper and 3inch gun layer from a Pacific Fleet Oiler. They run around in their motorized wheelchairs and take pride in their three generations of descendents. One of Patton’s scouts, now mounted in his electric buggy, roams the halls. Army, Navy, Marine, and Army Air Force veterans are still with us in VA Retirement Homes; for a very few more years history still is alive among us. . .

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An MR. Military Aviation Action Review of Air Combat (TTOFS - VII) (TUSOTWWIIG)

MR. has penned a biographical review of military aviation action review of Air Combat that occurred during and above the skies over Europe during WW II. The daily missions the pilots and crew members faced on a daily basis. The men who flew the 25 combat missions to return home and the men who died on their first flight. The stories are not for the faint at heart, but if you want to understand your father or grandfather and the honor they bestowed on themselves then this is required reading. This is an excellent read for the genre.....DEHS

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just as compelling and captivating as the first book. Every interview was great and the stories these men told had me hooked entirely. Dick varneys interview and story was my favorite of the book. He seemed like a genuinely nice man to sit and talk with and I liked listening to him trail off a little of the current state of the world (which was 2003 at the time of his interview). I wish I could have gotten to talk with him myself because he was so fascinating and likable. Every man in the book has a great story and the things they endured are hard to imagine. This series is exceptional and I really enjoy hearing these men tell their stories.

[Robert M. Roth MD · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bomber Crew Stories

This is a collection of stories of individuals who served as crew members on bombers during World War II. Some of the recollections are more in depth than others. None really fixate on air combat itself. Some of the stories were quite interesting, others less so. Some were captured and they briefly relate their life as a POW. I enjoyed the book but would have liked a more in depth experience.

[Sonja Abernathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Things Our Fathers Saw

For anyone who has an interest in WWII I highly recommend this book. These stories are told by the vets themselves and really help the reader understand more about that war and the men who served in the military. Boys who went through the he'll of war and if they returned, they returned as men who would carry their scars for life. Very moving and well written.

[Rick Colburn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative

I love history and this book is full of wonderful history as the stories of some B 17 and B 24 heavy bomber crewmen tell their stories and this book and southern bring them to life I read this book in two days was hard to put it down to go to bed last night or I would have read the book in one sitting.

[Robert F. · Rating 4 out of 5]

For WWII readers, these books are valuable tools to fill in the front line details of individual soldiers/sailors/airmen and Marines. Too often, movíes fail to deliver the truth of what war is and what it does to the individual particapant andthe struggles theybringhoewith them.

These first person accounts help to bring home the truth.

[Patrick Carroll · Rating 4 out of 5]

PKC

This would be something every high schooler should read.
I am 65 and was torn by the stories of each serviceman. A very good friend obfuscate mine involves is students in a similar program , and my daughter interviewed a Pearl Harbor Survivor.
Bless you for this inspirational writing

[Ken Balamut · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting book. Easy to read and follow. I never realized how many planes were actually flown on missions in Europe. The amount just amazed me. Reading the book I felt like the airmen were sitting and speaking directly to me and recounting their experiences. This book gave me a better understanding of what the men went through during the war.

[Doug Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book was quite interesting & pretty well-written. The personal stories were very interesting and I don't think an overabundance of extraneous wandering off subject matter was included. I know from personal experience that elderly folks remembering events from 70 years earlier might tend to wander a bit. Concise for most part & held my attention.

[Nathan]

I enjoyed reading this book but I felt it was more a compendium of stories than an integrated text. I am glad the author has captured these biographies from such a key time in history, and perhaps it was his intent to make it feel as if we were there in the interviewer's chair, being part of the story-telling process, rather than editing it more heavily.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

E excellent Read!

WWII has always interested me. This is an exceptional account of real life experiences told by those who lived through it. Thanks to the vets for your service and sharing. Thanks to the author/teacher for his dedication to his students and readers. History is so, so important!

[Wesley Hansen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having had a father that was in The Army Air Corps in WW II, this particular volume was an eye-opener for me because my father never talked much about the War and how it affected him in the years that followed. Understanding each airman in the crew was great, and it helped to put all of their duties, concerns, and experiences into perspective. I can't wait for the next volume.

[Kenneth Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never Forget

Excellent book. I hope we never forget the lessons of World War II. With that generation dying away there is a real danger of history repeating itself. Mr Rozell’s book helps keep those memories alive. Pass it on.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great read. To hear from their own words is better than some books that are based on history, but not first hand. I recommend this and the others in the series to anyone interested in WWII.

[Larry Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Water reading Tom Brokaw' book The Greamtest. Generati I wanted something to com

compare it to.. I was really impressed. Congratulation.Sincerely. Larry GATES
Tho should be required .read ing. For high school

J

[Herbert Rosenblum · Rating 4 out of 5]

American heroes

I found the stories very interesting. I lived through these times as a kid. I can remember people getting those telegrams about a
Lost service man. I knew people who were killed or maimed

[David E. Hachey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Check of a Storyteller!

This has been an exceptional book to read. I throughly enjoyed the manner in which this was written. Mr. To sell has an excellent way of relating the story. If I ever have a chance to read more of his work I most certainly will do so.

[Roger A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have enjoyed this book series and intend to read the remaining books.

I have enjoyed this series and recommend it to anyone interested in WWII. I like the way the books are developed and learning about the individual people.

[jan thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Again another great read by Mr Rozell. He has done a lot of background hunting to get all the information before all the old Vets were gone.

[John Stieven · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written — tragedy and triumph in the air. Those guys saw a lot — we have much to be thankful for.