About this item
The eagerly anticipated follow-up to last years New York Times no.1 bestseller NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD. Author Stephen Ambrose brings us the unforgettable story of the young men who flew the B-24's over wartime Germany. In THE WILD BLUE, Ambrose describes how the Air Force recruited, trained and then chose the few who would undertake the most demanding and dangerous jobs in the war. These are the boys turned pilots, bombardiers, navigators and gunners of the B24's, who suffered 50 percent casualities. With his extraordinary talent for bringing alive the action and tension of combat, Ambrose takes us along in the B24's as their crews fought to the death to reach their targets and destroy the German war machine. Twenty two year old George McGovern flew thirty five missions and won the Distinguished Flying Cross.
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Ambrose was a renowned historian and acclaimed author of more than 30 books. Among his New York Times best-sellers are: Nothing Like It in the World, Citizen Soldiers, Band of Brothers, D-Day - June 6, 1944, and Undaunted Courage.He was not only a great author, but also a captivating speaker, with the unique ability to provide insight into the future by employing his profound knowledge of the past. His stories demonstrate how leaders use trust, friendship and shared experiences to work together and thrive during conflict and change. His philosophy about keeping an audience engaged is put best in his own words: "As I sit at my computer, or stand at the podium, I think of myself as sitting around the campfire after a day on the trail, telling stories that I hope will have the members of the audience, or the readers, leaning forward just a bit, wanting to know what happens next." Dr. Ambrose was a retired Boyd Professor of History at the University of New Orleans. He was the Director Emeritus of the Eisenhower Center in New Orleans, and the founder of the National D-Day Museum. He was also a contributing editor for the Quarterly Journal of Military History, a member of the board of directors for American Rivers, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council Board. His talents have not gone unnoticed by the film industry. Dr. Ambrose was the historical consultant for Steven Spielberg's movie Saving Private Ryan. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks purchased the film rights to his books Citizen Soldiers and Band of Brothers to make the 13-hour HBO mini-series Band of Brothers. He has also participated in numerous national television programs, including ones for the History Channel and National Geographic.
