Article first published asBook Review: Hell Above Earth: The Incredible True Story of an American WWII Bomber Commander and the Copilot Ordered to Kill Him by Stephen Frateron Blogcritics.
About:
Hell Above Earth: The Incredible True Story of an American WWII Bomber Commander and the Copilot Ordered to Kill Himby Stephen Frater is a non-fiction book telling another amazing story to come out of World War II. This is an easy to read, personal and gratifying military history book which is not for military buffs only.
The publisher is giving away one copy totwo winnersof this book—use the form at the end of the post to enter.
- 320 pages
- Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
- Language:English
- ISBN-10:0312617925
My rating for Hell Above Earth – 5
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Thoughts:
Hell Above Earth: The Incredible True Story of an American WWII Bomber Commander and the Copilot Ordered to Kill Him by Stephen Frater is an exciting book which proves the old adage that “truth is stranger than fiction”. This is an epic buddy story which would have seemed absolutely ridiculous, if it wasn’t true.
Werner Goering, nephew to Reich Marshal Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s second in command, and his co-pilot Jack Rencher flew 48 missions bombing German cities. While Captain Goering was recognized as a brave, highly skilled, competent and exceptional pilot he was considered a propaganda risk and Lt. Rencher was secretly ordered to shoot him if downed over Nazi territory.
American B-17 pilot Werner Goering today, holding a picture of his Nazi uncle, Hermann.
Mr. Frater takes gruesome air combat stories and packs them with impressive historical detail and unforgettable characters. The terror men faced in the air for hours at a time comes across in this outstanding work.
Using clear writing and ending in an unexpected twist, this book not only captures the drama in the air but also the inner turmoil of men. This is history at its best, a gripping tale of adventure while mixing an array of general history topics without inundating the reader with many mind boggling, eye popping statistics.
So tell me, do you like packed history or easy to read ones?
Synopsis:
Werner Goering, a United States B-17 pilot during World War II for the Mighty 8th Air Force, had a hurdle to overcome – his uncle is Reich Marshal Hermann Göring, head of the Luftwaffe and Hitler’s second in command. Unbeknown to him, Goering’s co-pilot, Jack Rencher had a standing order from J. Edgar Hoover to kill Werner in-case they got shot down or if he was trying to commit an act of treason.
Jack, a poor boy with a difficult childhood, found Werner to be a soul mate, his only friend in life. The author’s research brings this decades old secret, which is profound and deeply personal, to light.
Buy this book inpaperorelectronicformat
through the Man of la Book Affiliate Account
Check out this & more World War II books onMan of la BookStore
Giveaway
Giveaway ends: April 16, 2012
US/Canada Shipping Addresses Only
No PO Boxes
Winners will have 24 hours to write back with their address, otherwise an alternate winner will be picked
Congratulations: cardshark42, Vickysvolumes@
Zohar – Man of la Book
Disclaimer: I got this book for free.
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BOOK BLOGGERS – Have you read Hell Above Earth? If so link up your review below:
9 Comments
This book sounds like a fantastic read and the storyline is in the timeframe that I enjoy reading about.
A 5 star review says it is a must read.
cenya2 at hotmail dot com
This books looks like a good read. Military stories are very popular now.
Me4Wrest@gmail.com
Google + Name Barbara Klein
In a 2-front war, why wasn’t Goering assigned to the Pacific?
Great question Liz.
Goering was a B-17 pilot during World War II as mentioned. The B-17 was mainly used by the USAAF(U.S. Army Air Forces) in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of against German industrial and military targets. The United States 8th Air Force (which the book tells a lot about) was based at Thorpe Abbotts airfield in England and the 15th Air Force based in Italy complemented the Royal Air Force (RAF) Bomber Command’s nighttime area bombing in to help secure air superiority over the cities, factories and battlefields of Western Europe in preparation for Operation Overlord.
The B-17 also participated to a lesser extent in the War in the Pacific where it conducted raids against Japanese shipping and airfields.
The types of books you read is quite daunting,I love them and yet hope to find ones that are not too dry and very interesting. You find just the right way to review to peak ones interest. This one in particular I will have to find, Thank you and have a wonderful day.
Hubby would love this book!
Looks like a good book! vickysvolumes@hotmail.com
Google+ – Mary Agloro, magloro@gmail.com