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Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II
- Narrated by: James Killavey
- Length: 9 hrs and 40 mins
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Publisher's summary
Winner of the Best Aeronautical Book Award from the Reserve Officers Association of the United States.
"The sky was full of dying airplanes" as American Liberator bombers struggled to return to North Africa after their daring low-level raid on the oil refineries of Ploesti. They lost 446 airmen and 53 planes, but Philip Ardery's plane came home. This pilot was to take part in many more raids on Hitler's Europe, including air cover for the D-Day invasion of Normandy.
This vivid firsthand account records one man's experience of World War II air warfare. Throughout, Ardery testifies to the horror of world war as he describes his fear, his longing for home, and his grief for fallen comrades. Bomber Pilot is a moving contribution to American history.
The book is pubished by The University Press of Kentucky.
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In this engaging audiobook, we see how an 18-year-old miner shoveling ore from deep in the ground in Utah suddenly found himself, only two years later, 30,000 feet in the air over Nazi Germany, piloting a Flying Fortress in the first wave of America's air counteroffensive in Europe. Pathfinder Pioneer gives us vivid insights into the genesis of the American air campaign, told with the humor, attention to detail, and humility that captures the heart and soul of our Greatest Generation.
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A Good Recounting of WW2 Bomber Missions
- By Sean on 07-25-17
By: Raymond E. Brim
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Come Up and Get Me
- An Autobiography of Colonel Joe Kittinger
- By: Joe Kittinger, Craig Ryan
- Narrated by: Christian Rummel
- Length: 9 hrs and 26 mins
- Unabridged
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A few years after his release from a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp, in 1973, Colonel Joseph Kittinger retired from the Air Force. Restless and unchallenged, he turned to ballooning, a lifelong passion as well as a constant diversion for his imagination during his imprisonment. His primary goal was a solitary circumnavigation of the globe, and in its pursuit he set several ballooning distance records, including the first solo crossing of the Atlantic in 1984. But the aeronautical feats that first made him an American hero had occurred a quarter of a century earlier....
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A rewarding read
- By Andrew Braddick on 03-25-13
By: Joe Kittinger, and others
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Once They Were Eagles
- The Men of the Black Sheep Squadron
- By: Frank Walton
- Narrated by: David Randall Hunter
- Length: 7 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Marine Corps Fighter Squadron 214 was hastily organized in the field during World War II to meet the urgent need for another combat squadron in the South Pacific. The squadron, self-named the "Black Sheep", went on under the leadership of the swashbuckling "Pappy" Boyington to become the most famous in Marine Corps history. Now comes the true story of the Black Sheep Squadron and the men who wrote its record in the Pacific skies.
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great insight at the leyendary squadron
- By Ernesto morales on 04-28-18
By: Frank Walton
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Life's Too Short to Cry
- The Compelling Story of a Battle of Britain Ace
- By: Tim Vigors
- Narrated by: Roger Davis
- Length: 9 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
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It is not often that a long-hidden gem of a manuscript is published, bringing a moment in WWII history to vivid life for today’s audiences. Geoffrey Wellum’s First Light was one example. The memoir of Timothy Vigors is another. Born in Hatfield but raised in Ireland and educated at Eton and Cranwell, Vigors found himself in France in 1940 flying Fairey Battle bombers. After the Fall he joined the fighters of 222 Squadron, with whom he saw frantic and distinguished service over Dunkirk and persevered through the dangerous days of the Battle of Britain, when he became an ace.
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Excellent
- By Ethan on 03-24-21
By: Tim Vigors
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Deadly Sky
- The American Combat Airman in World War II
- By: John C. McManus
- Narrated by: Jonathan Davis
- Length: 17 hrs and 6 mins
- Unabridged
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This insightful chronicle takes listeners inside the experiences of America's fighter pilots and bomber crews, an incredible assortment of men who, in nearly four years of warfare all over the globe, suffered over 120,000 casualties, with over 40,000 killed. Their stories span the Earth, into every corner of the combat theaters in both Europe and the Pacific. And the aircraft explored are as varied, tough, and legendary as the men who flew them.
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Twelve O'Clock High Unabridged
- By Chiefkent on 05-23-17
By: John C. McManus
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Never Call Me a Hero
- A Legendary American Dive-Bomber Pilot Remembers the Battle of Midway
- By: N. Jack "Dusty" Kleiss, Timothy Orr
- Narrated by: Mike Ortego, Cassandra Campbell, Patrick Lawlor
- Length: 9 hrs and 38 mins
- Unabridged
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An extraordinary firsthand account of the Battle of Midway by one of its key participants, timed to the 75th anniversary: American dive-bomber pilot "Dusty" Kleiss helped sink three Japanese warships (including two aircraft carriers), received the Navy Cross, and is credited with playing a decisive individual role in determining the outcome of a battle that is considered a turning point in World War II.
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Love the story, disagree with the title.
- By STC on 08-21-17
By: N. Jack "Dusty" Kleiss, and others
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The First Heroes
- The Extraordinary Story of the Doolittle Raid
- By: Craig Nelson
- Narrated by: Raymond Todd
- Length: 17 hrs and 40 mins
- Unabridged
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Immediately after Japan's December 7, 1941, attack on Pearl Harbor, President Roosevelt sought to restore the honor of the United States with a dramatic act of vengeance: a retaliatory bombing raid on Tokyo itself. In those early days of World War II, America was ill-prepared for any sort of warfare. But FDR was not to be dissuaded, and at his bidding a squadron of scarcely trained army fliers, led by the famous daredevil Jimmy Doolittle, set forth on what everyone regarded as a suicide mission.
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Heroic Attempt
- By William on 07-20-04
By: Craig Nelson
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Big Week
- The Biggest Air Battle of World War II
- By: James Holland
- Narrated by: Grover Gardner
- Length: 15 hrs and 20 mins
- Unabridged
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During the third week of February 1944, the combined Allied air forces based in Britain and Italy launched their first round-the-clock bomber offensive against Germany. Their goal: to smash the main factories and production centers of the Luftwaffe while also drawing German planes into an aerial battle of attrition to neutralize the Luftwaffe as a fighting force prior to the cross-channel invasion, planned for a few months later. Officially called Operation ARGUMENT, this aerial offensive quickly became known as “Big Week,” and it was one of the turning-points of World War II.
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War in the Air: Sets stage with gripping narrative
- By Nashville Cat on 11-17-18
By: James Holland
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Finish Forty and Home
- The Untold World War II Story of B-24s in the Pacific
- By: Phil Scearce
- Narrated by: Danny Campbell
- Length: 11 hrs and 32 mins
- Unabridged
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During the early years of World War II in the Pacific theatre, against overwhelming odds, young American airmen flew the longest and most perilous bombing missions of the war. They faced determined Japanese fighters without fighter escort, relentless anti-aircraft fire with no deviations from target, and thousands of miles of over-water flying with no alternative landing sites.
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Pretty Good!
- By Robert on 02-01-13
By: Phil Scearce
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Tail-End Charley
- Stories from an American Fighter Pilot in World War II
- By: James E. Brown
- Narrated by: Bob Souer
- Length: 11 hrs and 49 mins
- Unabridged
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On his 19th birthday, James E. Brown tries to fake to his flight instructor that he has flown before. On his 21st birthday, Brown is on his way home after logging 85 missions in a P-47 fighter over Italy, France, and Germany. Brown's stories surrounding his training and combat experiences in World War II reveal brushes with death, continuous peril and, ultimately, a coming of age for a young man whose freshman year in college becomes instead a heroic engagement with one of the fiercest enemies his country has ever encountered.
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Good read !
- By kevin on 06-19-18
By: James E. Brown
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Hogs in the Sand
- A Gulf War A-10 Pilot's Combat Journal
- By: Buck Wyndham
- Narrated by: Jim Seybert
- Length: 15 hrs and 46 mins
- Unabridged
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The mighty, iconic A-10 Warthog was first thrust into battle in Operation Desert Storm. The men who took it through walls of flak and surface-to-air missiles to help defeat the world's fourth-largest army were as untested as their airplanes, so they relied on personal determination and the amazing A-10 to accomplish their missions, despite the odds.
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Weak
- By KL on 12-29-22
By: Buck Wyndham
What listeners say about Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Brent
- 08-14-15
Excellent ... all around.
Would you listen to Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II again? Why?
Ardery's account of his life as a B-24 pilot is excellent. From all the training it took to simply get into the planes, to combat in the skies over the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, Ardery's account is an even-handed account of what a bomber pilot's life was like.
The chapter about Ploesti is especially fascinating. James Dugan and Carrol Stewart used Ardery as a source for their book on the subject, and the details of Ardery's part in the
raid offer some really interesting stuff. Especially intruiging is the background and fate
of Medal of Honor winner Lloyd Hughes, who was flying on Ardery's wing when when he perished. This book is really good stuff; Steven Ambrose's "Wild Blue" pales in comparison. Ardery doesn't place himself on a hero pedestal, he merely tells of his experiences in a very
interesting and easy-to-digest style.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The Author
Which character – as performed by James Killavey – was your favorite?
Sounded like the author talking to me.
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45 people found this helpful
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- Robert D. Gilberts
- 11-25-16
Great story,well told!
As a WWII bomber pilot in
Bob Gilberts
Very real story of the bomber crews
told in a low key way
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3 people found this helpful
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- Madeline
- 11-18-15
Well done
Would you consider the audio edition of Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II to be better than the print version?
Don't have time to read so this was my only option.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The author, of course.
Have you listened to any of James Killavey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
I don't think so..He was very competent for this type of book.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Laugh...not so much. Cried a few times at the incredible loss of American lives.
Any additional comments?
My husband is in the Air Force but not during a war...Thank God!
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20 people found this helpful
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- Loretta
- 06-24-15
Fascinating...and true story
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. Great story...helps you to appreciate incredible bravery of our bomber crews.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II?
Raid over Ploesti, Rumania.
What does James Killavey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
Brought it to life. Excellent reading.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
A little bit of each.
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64 people found this helpful
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- eulalie
- 08-08-15
Great book!
What made the experience of listening to Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II the most enjoyable?
The authors presents an excellent recounting of his WWII experience. he is frank, honest, and has an open style. Loved it!
What was one of the most memorable moments of Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II?
The raid into Poland
What does James Killavey bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?
He made me feel like I was there. Very good narration.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Both in different scenes.
Any additional comments?
Very enjoyable book
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56 people found this helpful
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- John-O
- 11-11-15
Excellent memoir; execrable narration
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
This book is a valuable addition to the pantheon of WWII memoirs. The author, a University of Kentucky and Harvard Law School graduate, is a literate, talented writer: a much better writer than many of the men who told their wartime stories by publishing a memoir. He exudes a considerable amount of maturity -- a trait that is discernable beyond the simple fact that he was several years older than many of his fellow pilots and crewmen.
What did you like best about this story?
All of the white-knuckle missions.
Would you be willing to try another one of James Killavey’s performances?
No, absolutely not. The narrator's style got on my nerves so much that it became a major distraction. He has the unfortunate habit of over-emphasizing the last consonant of a word, so that "one" is pronounced "one-uh" or "medium" becomes "medium-uh". His regional accent (northeastern U.S.?) leaks through, too. "Saw" is pronounced "sahr", etc. His phrase emphasis in sentences is also strange.
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
There were many moving moments -- so many that it is difficult to choose one in particular.
Any additional comments?
This book is too good to have a sub-par narrator. Re-do it with a different narrator --Philip Ardery deserves better.
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3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 10-23-20
Bad reader
The readers was terrible. He clearly didn't understand how to read as if he was talking ot telling a story
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- Martin
- 06-24-15
Gripping story
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. Gripping story, well written and well read.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The author...duh!
What about James Killavey’s performance did you like?
Very good narration ... let the author tell the story without trying to "take over."
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Both..in different sections.
Any additional comments?
This ranks right up there with my all time favorite WWII flying book..The Wrong Stuff.
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63 people found this helpful
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- cindilla
- 08-13-15
Audio even better
Where does Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
One of the best.
What was one of the most memorable moments of Bomber Pilot: A Memoir of World War II?
raid in Poland.
What about James Killavey’s performance did you like?
Enjoyed it very much. Good narration.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Some of each.
Any additional comments?
I read this book a while back and liked it so much I decided to listen, as well.
If anything...the audio version is better. Get that sense of "being there" more.
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47 people found this helpful
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- Jackie
- 08-06-15
Wow...these guys were heros!
Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?
Yes. Wonderful insight into what it was like in those planes.
Who was your favorite character and why?
The author.
Have you listened to any of James Killavey’s other performances before? How does this one compare?
Yes. Consistently good.
Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?
Nope..too long.
Any additional comments?
Normally I stick to Navy books but tried this for a change of pace. Glad I did. It was wonderful..tragic in places but truly showed the heroism of our boys.
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56 people found this helpful