The Cold Blue Sky: A B-17 Gunner in World War Two

By Jack Novey

As a waist gunner aboard Black Hawk, a B-17 Flying Fortress operating from bases in England, Sgt. Jack Novey, and 18 year-old from the streets of Chicago, survived some of the most dangerous bombing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574270664
• ISBN13: 9781574270662
• Release Date: January 1997
• Publisher: Howell Pr
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.8" x 1.3" x 6.5"

Customer Reviews

Outstanding account of battle aboard a B-17

Jack Novey's account of life as a waist gunner aboard the B-17 "Black Hawk" is incredible. He writes with such clarity that you'd swear he just arrived back from the war. The details of the people and things around him conjure up emotions of awesome fear, musty smells and high adventure. It was difficult to put the book down and I was often left sleepless thinking about what I had read. This is by far one of the most engrossing books about WW II I've ever read because it didn't glamorize the war but captured the real life struggles Mr. Novey encountered. Thanks Jack for such a wonderful account of your experience.

A feeling of authenticy and honesty

I bought Jack Novey's book because all my life I have been remembering two air attacks by American bombers over Paris. I witnessed those from the garden of my parents in Marly-le-Roi, a small city, at the time, belonging to the west outskirts of the capital. The sight of the flying fortresses coming into view in droves, their being immediately under flak fire and fighters' attack, their attempts at dodging, their being set aflame or cut into bits and pieces, their dropping their bombs, the fall of the German planes, the parachutes, of which many did not fully open, all this left a permanent spur in the eleven year-old boy I was at the time. Another reason I remember these two raids, is that my father worked at the time at the Renault works, their primary target. (he came back in the evening and related the destructions to us). So it might very well be that I was a witness of Jack Novey's specific mission on September 15 1943 as he describes it on page 87 of his book. For many years I had been wondering about the kind of men who were willing to put their life on the line for such tasks. Jack Novey's book has answered my question: they certainly did not like what they did, but they did not want to fail before their comrades and, mostly, before themselves. Despite the long time that has elapsed since the events he relates, Novey's book conveys a feeling of authenticity. One feels the permanent fear and the unbearable conditions under which these young men fought in the cold blue sky with the dismal perspective of not making it to the magic 25th mission. But it is also honest: Novey conceals nothing of the human weaknesses that manifest themselves in such situations. After having read the book one can only marvel at what man can endure. Read Jack Novey's book. I personally will never forget.

I will never forget this book...

I did not want to put this book down once I started it. Facsinating because its all true, yet as entertaining as any work of fiction. Also highly recommended from an educational perspective. In this era of unprecendented freedom and prosperity, our youth would be well-served by reading this book. Unforgettable!

Mr. Novey, my hat is off to you!

This is the first book that I have read from the viewpoint of a WWII waistgunner on a B-17. Mr. Novey tells how it was to fly on a B-17 through 25 dangerous missions and survive. I can only imagine what it must have been like to fly these missions. You want to read about heros, read this book. You will not be disappointed. Mr. Novey, if you read this, thanks.

Enthralling, journal-like book on the air war!!

Thank you Jack Novey for giving us a chance to understand on a small scale what the "right stuff" really is. This book readily captures the war at the GI level - in this case via Jack's eyes 30,000 feet above Germany. Pleasantly void of strategic analogy, this book takes the reader through the day-in day-out fight for survival of a B-17 crew. This is a must-read for any serious WWII history buff - not for names , dates, campaigns, etc...but for a chance to try and fathom what hell the air war must have been.