Since 1926, Pelican Publishing Company has been committed to publishing books of quality and permanence that enrich the lives of those who read them.
World War II
With an unparalleled attention to detail, Jon Sutherland and Diane Canwell, relay the intricacies and maneuverings of the Berlin airlift. This amazing true story is set against the backdrop of 1948 Germany, the post-World War II world, and the beginning of the Cold War.
This tragic story is a moving account of the powers of human endurance. It recounts in authentic detail the fateful circumstances of Little Eva’s last mission from a remote U.S. air base in Far North Queensland and follows the dedicated searchers and skilled trackers who risked their lives trying to save the lost crewmen.
It was the bravery and heroism of the 116th Infantry that began one of the longest days of combat in American war history. In the face of heavy fire and despite suffering the loss of eight hundred men and officers, the 116th Infantry overcame beach obstacles, took the enemy-defended positions along the beach and cliffs, pushed through the mined area, and continued inshore to successfully accomplish their objective.
This is the ePub/eBook version of this title. This is not the print edition.
The daring mission to cripple the Axis machine.
In 1941, the U.S. began to form a hand-picked army to fight in Europe. What made it different is that its troops were composed of artists, actors, meteorologists, and sound technicians, and their true mission was not to fight, but to deceive the German army. Hardcover.
In 1941, the U.S. began to form a hand-picked army to fight in Europe. What made it different is that its troops were composed of artists, actors, meteorologists, and sound technicians, and their true mission was not to fight, but to deceive the German army.
“A gallant officer, a superb airman, and an indomitable fighter . . . [He] rendered decisive assistance during a critical stage of operations.”
—Harry S. Truman, Medal of Honor Citation
DeBlanc first saw action in World War II at the island of Guadalcanal in the South Pacific. From his very first day there, he proved himself as a talented fighter pilot. He shot down two Betty bombers on his first day and soon began to lead his own squadron in the air. Within weeks, he was considered to be part of the flying elite, the Marine Fighter Aces.
As World War II ripped the world apart, men and women facing a stark reality rose to command. Although many came from humble backgrounds, their strength of character and inspirational actions transcended all boundaries. Modern leaders can find no better paragons of guidance than in the lives of the greatest generation.
Piloting the Bat Out of Hell, Lt. Bill Farrow volunteered for the dangerous American secret mission designed to boost morale during the darkest days of World War II. Dubbed Doolittle Raiders after Gen. James H. Doolittle, the commander of the Tokyo raid, Farrow’s crew set out to bring the war to the Japanese homeland by bombing a military target in Nagoya, Japan.
One of the most feared and controversial players in the United States Army during the Second World War, George S. Patton was unstoppable. He was both revered by the enemy as well as dreaded; Adolf Hitler found him to be one of the most impressive and callous men to be faced on the battlefront. General Patton was not known for his compassion. He led the Western Task Force during the invasion of North Africa and across Europe with relentless speed and persistence and never took no or laziness for an answer. However, there was much more to the general than he let on.
Marion Milton “Black Mack” Magruder, USMC, was one of the first American pilots to learn the art of Airborne Radar Intercept Operations and maintenance. During World War II, Magruder and three other pilots were selected by Maj. Gen. R. J. Mitchell to learn the specialized techniques from England’s Royal Air Force. Pressed for time after the attack on Pearl Harbor, they finished a one-year program in an astonishing three months. This biography follows Magruder through his WWII military actions, highlighting his accomplishments as leader of the top-scoring Nightfighter Squadron in the Pacific Theatre.
Conveying both heroic and light-hearted stories, from hunting and fishing in Great Falls to attending college in Los Angeles, from his Army training at camps like Jefferson Barracks, Missouri, to his flight training experiences in San Antonio, Texas, and Columbus, Ohio, the author paints vivid images of his formative experiences and explains what shaped his values, perspectives, and evident pride for his family and his country. His accounting of his 1942 enlistment and all that followed offers an insider’s view of basic training, flight training, Instructor’s School, and the role of a flight instructor.