The Flying Prostitute

Rating:
Summary: A Dissenting Voice on the B-26
Review: First, I salute Mr. Hunter's active role as a WWII vet, and a part of "The Greatest Generation". I am happy that he has had the opportunity to record and share his memoir. With that said, I find his assessment of the B-26 and its history to be at odds with the large body of work published on the Marauder by historians as well as the men who flew them in combat. The airplane was indeed surrounded by more than its fair share of controversy. In addition to reading the half dozen other books which detail the Marauder at war, I have had the priviledge to spend time talking with no fewer than six Marauder combat pilots, plus one who flew the legendary single-engine performance demos for student B-26 pilots. All were very proud to have flown the B-26, and spoke highly of its great strength and responsive handling nearly 60 years later. No other bomber-type produced as many individual aircraft with over 100 combat missions. Several Marauders exceeded 200 combat missions, and one was believed to have performed over 300! Some of those who flew the B-26 in combat in Europe went out of their way to communicate their disdain and disgust for the investigating "Truman Commission" via the nose art their planes carried. By all means, read this gentleman's book, just be prepared to give equal time to reading works by those who thought more highly of the Martin B-26 Marauder.

Rating:
Summary: A Dissenting Voice on the B-26
Review: First, I salute Mr. Hunter's active role as a WWII vet, and a part of "The Greatest Generation". I am happy that he has had the opportunity to record and share his memoir. With that said, I find his assessment of the B-26 and its history to be at odds with the large body of work published on the Marauder by historians as well as the men who flew them in combat. The airplane was indeed surrounded by more than its fair share of controversy. In addition to reading the half dozen other books which detail the Marauder at war, I have had the priviledge to spend time talking with no fewer than six Marauder combat pilots, plus one who flew the legendary single-engine performance demos for student B-26 pilots. All were very proud to have flown the B-26, and spoke highly of its great strength and responsive handling nearly 60 years later. No other bomber-type produced as many individual aircraft with over 100 combat missions. Several Marauders exceeded 200 combat missions, and one was believed to have performed over 300! Some of those who flew the B-26 in combat in Europe went out of their way to communicate their disdain and disgust for the investigating "Truman Commission" via the nose art their planes carried. By all means, read this gentleman's book, just be prepared to give equal time to reading works by those who thought more highly of the Martin B-26 Marauder.

Rating:
Summary: A Unique Book
Review: Retired Air Force Colonel Lawrence Hunter has written a book as fast-paced, furious and ambitious as the aircraft who's 'development' it describes. Somewhat of a Cinderella among WWII warplanes by reputation lately, we are reminded by the author of the terrific human cost that led to the plane's low combat losses in the greatest event of the 20th century. More than that though, Hunter has employed a three-level approach to this military history, making the reading far more intriguing than even above-average traditional war documentary writing. Interspersed with the nuts and bolts story of a weapons system created by incredible urgency and plagued by fraud and just plain ignorance are the flyer's own personal story and the wide picture of the rapid annihilation of the Jews and others while America prepared for war. I found this organization and the book's fast pace invigorating despite the unpleasant truths it relates. Also, admirers of Harry S. Truman will find much to enhance their liking of 'Give 'em Hell Harry' because of his steadfast but ultimately unsuccessful attempts to save lives of aircrews frequently incinerated in the plane. My father was a gunner aboard a Marauder in the European theater and from Missouri, so it's easy to see the initial interest for me. However, this writing should be appealing outside more narrow interests because it is an exciting and unique approach to war writing as a genre too. Hats off to Lawrence Hunter!