I Wanted Wings: A Tail Gunner's Story

by Gary R. Hill

As a 10-year-old kid, I thought my Dad's stories of his adventures in WWII were as good as the tales of Daniel Boone, Davy Crockett, and the Lone Ranger. A tail gunner on a bomber, he bailed from a burning plane, survived life on the run behind enemy lines, was captured by the Nazis (whoever they were) and then, to top it all off, he survived life in a prison camp. All of that was rather heady for a kid with an over-worked imagination. Seven or eight years ago, my Dad asked me if I would be interested in a box of old letters. They were WWII era letters he had received from family and friends. They had survived the cold, molds and mildews of basement life, and now, all these years later, he couldn't bring himself to throw them away. Of course I accepted them, and as I began to read and then transcribe them, I fell under the spell of their simple eloquence and historical significance. I Wanted Wings is the melding of my father's exciting stories and a family's diary-like record of life back home on the farm. It begins in 1942 with my grandparents seeing three sons off to serve in the military. In the letters, my grandmother and aunts beg him to avoid dangerous duty. In his mind, adventure was the very thing he craved. For the next three and a half years, the letters and my father's experiences entwine into a slice-of-life narrative of a family caught in a world war that comes very close to home.

456 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Jen Saunders · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Must-read for WWII enthusiasts who yearn for those rare gems of historical accounts you never learned in school. Suitable for all reading levels, and a striking portrait of a brave tail gunner.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

My friend loaned me this book-- it is written by his cousin and it follows both of their dad's journeys as teens enlisting into WWII. (My friend is Bill Emery's son). And it was my privilege to read about the journey of these local families as they served our country! Thank you to all of you-- those who served and those who were left behind-- for your sacrifices for our freedom!

The author came into hundreds of letters written by family members during this time and through those letters combined with his father's memories, he was able to write a wonderful book-- giving us a very realistic look of how the war affected the farms and communities in west Michigan as well as a look at several young men's journeys in the military and then the war. It is a must-read for any lovers of world war 2 history-- especially local west Michigan people!

Thank you for sharing your family history with us!

[AJ Dalman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has always been a must read for me since he published it in i believe 2009. My great Uncle Harlan “Jake” Hill is where I get my middle name from. I love to learn about WWII and when my Mom gave me this book to read i was eager to open it. I love the book, but that could be because it relates to me. It is a hometown hero book for anyone who lives in the Grand Haven area and likes to learn about this kind of stuff. I first remember meeting my uncle jake at the Grand Haven community center for what i believe was the kickoff of the book, but i was probably 7 at the time. He seemed to fill my Mom and Grandma with joy. The great things he did for us is waiting for you in this book.