Flying in Coffin Corner

by Robert L. Thompson

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0963951912
• ISBN13: 9780963951915
• Release Date: January 1995
• Publisher: Robert Thompson
• Length: 480 Pages
• Weight: 1.70 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Sometimes Chilling, Sometimes Funny, Always Readable

The title of this book would lead one to think it was about aerial exploits during WW2 and to some extent it is, although as a photographer with the USAAC, Thompson's flight time was limited. "Coffin Corner" refers to the most vulnerable part of the box formation used by B-17's and B-24's in the air war over Europe. During his two years overseas, the author went on five missions and completed four and a half of them. I believe he looks at the whole experience as a flight in coffin corner, notwithstanding that he rubbed elbows from time to time with the famous and the powerful. He also saw the war from the bleakest of situations from time to time. I was alive during WW2, but my war involved wearing a uniform that my grandmother made for me (8th AF) and toy wooden guns that my Dad would turn out in his work shop. I was three when Pearl Harbor was bombed. A book like this however, can take us all, young and old back to those days and remind us of the trial and tribulations of "the greatest generation" as they fought a war that none of them started and most of them could not wait to see ended. It is worth your time.

A View of War

I not only read and enjoyed the book, I was fortunate enough to read the original draft. This book helps people see many of the unromantizied realities of war. I was so pleased that Robert Thompson was able to face down so many of his WWII demons. You see, Robert Thompson is my beloved Uncle Bob.

I wish that everyone had a chance to read this book.

This story kept my attention to the last page. I couldn't wait to get to it every night to find out what happened next. Written in everyday language that anyone can understand, you can hardly believe the things that happened to and around this author during his WWII experience. This book is not just for WWII survivors - every American should read it and appreciate the real costs of war. Let us never forget the brave and maybe even not-so-brave military personnel who gave their lives for our freedoms - but never, never should we forget the warriors who returned with their lives changed forever and memories that they've had to carry with them all these years. With every year, there are fewer and fewer of these true heroes left to us - they should never be forgotten. Read the books they wrote!

fantastic

I flew on a missison with Tommy Thompson who wrote this book. He brought it back so clearly that it was just like flyng it all over again. I have never read anything that describes the action so well. I was also in the 97th Bomb Group and he named guys I had forgotten about. This book is going to make a great movie. I wish he had mentioned me in the book, but the ones he did write about are real heroes.

Best eyewitness account of WW-2 flying in the Italian theate

This is a humorous, sad and moving account of the author's experience from 1942 to 1944 in England, North Africa and Italy during WW-2. Since I was there, it brought back vivid memories of places and people. The author held nothing back. He told it as it happened and didn't hesitate to name famous officers who made blunders. This should be compulsory reading for every high school student.