Fly Boy Heroes: The Stories of the Medal of Honor Recipients of the Air War against Japan

by James H. Hallas

On the morning of December 7, 1941, Chief Aviation Ordnanceman John W. Finn, though suffering multiple wounds, continued to man his machine gun against waves of Japanese aircraft attacking the Kaneohe Bay Naval Station during the infamous Pearl Harbor raid. Just over three years later, as World War II struggled into its final months, a B-29 radioman named Red Erwin lingered near death after suffering horrific burns to save his air crew in the skies off Japan. They were the first and last of thirty U.S. Navy, Army, and Marine Corps aviation personnel awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions against the Japanese during World War II. They included pilots and crewmen manning fighters and dive bombers and flying boats and bombers. One was a general. Another was a sergeant. Some shot down large numbers of enemy aircraft in aerial combat. Others sacrificed themselves for their friends or risked everything for complete strangers. Who were these now largely forgotten men? Where did they come from? What inspired them to rise “above and beyond”? What, if anything, made them different? Virtually all had one thing in common: they always wanted to fly. They came from a generation that revered the aces of World War I, like Eddie Rickenbacker, the civilian flyer Charles Lindbergh, and the lost aviator Amelia Earhart—and then they blazed their own trail during World War II.

Genres: World War II, Nonfiction

456 pages, Hardcover

Published April 1, 2022

Reviews

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a well researched and written book on the title subject. Each chapter is devoted to a each Medal of Honor winner and what they did to deserve the medal. These men, many who gave their lives to save others, need to be remembered and this book accomplishes that task. I recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in World War II, veterans and/or Medal of Honor recipients.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book courtesy of Net Galley and the publisher with the understanding that I would post a review on Net Galley, Goodreads, Amazon, Facebook and my nonfiction book review blog.

[Bill Wagner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book covers a very important topic- the stories of the 30 Medal of Honor recipients in aviation during WWII in the pacific theater. Each of these men went above and beyond to help the United States defeat Japan. Often they saved the lives of countless others and sometimes sacrificed themselves in the process. Many had families back home that would never see them again.

They were all amazing men and they are all amazing stories. And James Hallas does a good job telling those stories. He groups the stories in a number of ways-time frame, the area they fought in, and even the type of aircraft they flew. He tells the story of where they are from and how they ended where they did.

Anyone interested in the Pacific Theater during World War II should definitely give this book consideration.

[CASPER HILEMAN · Rating 5 out of 5]

James Hallas produces another worthwhile book on the Pacific Theatre in the Second World War. This time focusing on the brave and dedicated Aviators of the Navy, Army Air Corp pilots as well as the Marine Corp Aviators flying off of rough unfinished fields on islands as well as from Aircraft Carriers. Hallas does a service to the memories of these brave men and also a service to interested readers.

[Ron Baumer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A truly interesting novel on the pilots who received the Medal of Honor in the Pacific during WW2. The stories are personal looks into the life of each recipient and the stories on why they were nominated for the award. Their heroism should be an inspiration to us all. A great read!

Thank you to #NetGalleyfor the ARC in exchange for my honest review.