The Forbidden Diary: A B-24 Navigator Remembers

by John Lawrence Stewart

As a World War II combat navigator, the author flew 31 missions and broke two rules: he kept an accurate diary of these missions as well as some of the maps and charts issued only to navigators. Here,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0071581871
• ISBN13: 9780071581875
• Release Date: May 1998
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 213 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.2" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent technical details

As other reviewers have alluded to, this book is not a riveting account of bomber combat along the lines of Crosby's "Wing and a Prayer" or Smith's "The Wrong Stuff". That being said, I thoroughly enjoyed the book for the extensive technical information on equipment and navigation processes used by B-24 navigators. This title is not simply full of dry information, it contains several interesting anecdotes about the 467th BG and life at Rackheath.While other reviewers complain that this book is not "exciting" enough, I completely disagree. I have read several "exciting" memoirs written by WWII aircrew members, and to be honest it can sometimes be difficult to differentiate one book from another. The details Stewart provides are what separate this memoir from others out there, giving today's reader a glimpse of the technology and practices of the day. If like me you have already devoured the "exciting" memoirs, do yourself a favor and pick this one up for a change of pace. While this book would not make a good introduction to 8th AF operations for the uninformed, it more than satisfies for those who enjoy the subject.