---
product_id: 4196779
title: "The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45"
brand: "stephen e. ambrose"
price: "₨10575"
currency: LKR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 10
url: https://www.desertcart.lk/products/4196779-the-wild-blue-the-men-and-boys-who-flew-b
store_origin: LK
region: Sri Lanka
---

# The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45

**Brand:** stephen e. ambrose
**Price:** ₨10575
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45 by stephen e. ambrose
- **How much does it cost?** ₨10575 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.lk](https://www.desertcart.lk/products/4196779-the-wild-blue-the-men-and-boys-who-flew-b)

## Best For

- stephen e. ambrose enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted stephen e. ambrose brand quality
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## Description

The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45

## Images

![The Wild Blue: The Men and Boys Who Flew the B-24s Over Germany 1944-45 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/81ML3yin2sL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    The Extraordinary Young Men Who Put Their Lives at Risk in a World War II Bomber
  

*by C***S on Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024*

While the pilots and air crew who flew World War II bombers were still alive in the 1990s, the late Stephen Ambrose interviewed his friend, Senator George McGovern, about his experiences as a pilot of a B-24 — flying 35 missions over Nazi-occupied territory in 1944 and 1945. This led to the opportunity to interview those on McGovern’s crew, who went through training with him, or fought alongside as pilots and crew themselves.This is not a book about the strategy of the bombing campaigns, the technical details of flying the B-24 aircraft, or of bombing accuracy and achievements and failures.Instead it is a very personal story about how the war swept up a generation in their late teens or early 20s beginning in 1942 and trained them for war, as pilots, navigators, bombardiers, and other crew members of what was then one of the most complex aircraft ever built. The vast majority had never been up in the air and some had never even seen an aircraft. McGovern, born in 1922, was a freshman in a small Methodist college in South Dakota and there in 1940 enrolled in a newly-established Civilian Pilot Training Program. The government realized it would need pilots in an impending war.Although many in the book flew with McGovern or had a personal connection in combat at the time, Ambrose and his son Hugh completed interviews or reviewed memoirs, collections of letters, diaries and photographs from more than 500 men who flew B-24s from bases in Italy or elsewhere.For those destined to fly, the danger began in training and extended into a high rate of loss in combat. Of the 17 original crews that began training with McGovern, only six finished the war. The danger increased as crews began flying combat missions. Only one in four crews that arrived in Italy with McGovern in July, 1944, survived through April, 1945. McGovern was lucky to fly in the latter part of the war in Europe, when the German Luftwaffe fighters had largely been decimated or grounded for lack of fuel. Still, the anti-aircraft artillery had become more lethal as the war progressed and most of the bombers were brought down by flak.McGovern, by all accounts, was a very skilled pilot but luck also paid a part in completing 35 combat missions. Those in his crew who Ambrose was able to interview felt they had one of the best pilots in the bomb group. He apparently possessed extraordinary vision and depth perception, and he endeared himself to his crew by being unpretentious but also very serious and thorough abut his job — essential qualities to survival. His leadership skills were greatly admired.The book is arranged chronologically beginning with the fact that these young men came from all over the country and, by our standards today, were “unsophisticated.” They had rarely strayed from their place of birth. Many were farm kids. Most grew up in various levels of deprivation brought on by the Great Depression of the 1930s.Ambrose uses McGovern’s experience to describe early flight training in single engine aircraft, moving eventually to the complexity of the B-24, one of the most difficult and unforgiving four engine bombers to fly. Ultimately, it was another great challenge to learn to fly in combat. Five chapters are devoted to the period of just under a year when McGovern, based in Italy, flew his 35 missions. McGovern and others interviewed by the author also describe life at a primitive air base in Italy, the poverty of the local Italian population suffering from the war, and the sharing of letters from home.The men of this extraordinary generation are no longer with us. We owe them a lot, and Ambrose has done a service by recording their memories and achievements before they passed.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Very good book
  

*by C***Y on Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2024*

Starts out a little slow with the first few chapters devoted to the backgrounds and training of the pilots. He mentions very many names and places here but not boring as to make me not wanting to finish it. But a little past half way it really gets interesting and it shows just how McGovern was loved and admired by his crew. Great detail on just how hard the B24 was to fly as compared to the B17. Not exactly a page turner but definitely worth reading. I recommend it.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Good book
  

*by L***L on Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2024*

Content good

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*Product available on Desertcart Sri Lanka*
*Store origin: LK*
*Last updated: 2026-03-14*