The Things Our Fathers Saw - Vol. 3, The War in the Air Book Two: The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation from Hometown, USA

By: Matthew A. Rozell

Narrated by: Jon Eric Preston

Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins

Publisher's summary

Dying for freedom isn't the worst that could happen. Being forgotten is.

(The War in the Air Book Two) "After the first mission Colonel Davis told us, 'From now on you are going to go with the bombers all the way through the mission to the target.' It didn't always work, but that was our mission - we kept the Germans off the bombers. At first they didn't want us, but toward the end, they started asking for us as an escort, because we protected them to and from the missions." (Tuskegee Airman, WWII)

How soon we forget. Or perhaps, we were never told. That is understandable, given what they saw.

[Someone in the PoW camp] said, "Look down there at the main gate!" and the American flag was flying! We went berserk, we just went berserk! We were looking at the goon tower and there's no goons there, there are Americans up there! And we saw the American flag, I mean - to this day I start to well up when I see the flag." (Former prisoner of war, WWII)

By the end of 2018, fewer than 400,000 WW II veterans will still be with us, out of the over 16 million who put on a uniform. But why is it that today, nobody seems to know these stories?

When [the French farmer] figured the Germans weren't looking for me, he took me in the house and put me in the bed... The next day they moved me to another place, because the people got nervous. They thought that the Germans knew I was there, so they hustled me out after dark to another place. I heard later that they executed that family because the Germans were pretty sure I had been there.

This book brings you the previously untold firsthand accounts of combat and brotherhood, of captivity and redemption, and the aftermath of a war that left no American community unscathed.

What you get out of the prisoner of war experience, it's amazing - I haven't seen this guy for 50 years [points to fellow former PoW] and politically, economically and everything else, we're like twins. They have tours - "do you want to go to the old prison camps", you know, that's hot stuff. [Sarcastically] I get out of Sing-Sing - after 15 years, do you think I'm going to go back and take a tour of the place? [Laughter] (B-17 PoW REUNION- PoW Friends and Crewmen)

As we forge ahead as a nation, we owe it to ourselves to become reacquainted with a generation that is fast leaving us, who asked for nothing but gave everything, to attune ourselves as Americans to a broader appreciation of what we stand for.

This book picks up where the previous War in the Air volume left off, in the air war over Europe. This collection includes portions previously published as A Tuskegee Airman Over Europe and B-17 Crew Prisoner of War Reunion.

©2017 Matthew Rozell (P)2019 Matthew Rozell

The broad scope of history recalled collected edited and produced for history ever wavering in quality organization!

Liked the ability to to relate this to other accounts and publications movies and videos by USA Military coverage published in the past 50 years.

It's like listening to Grandpa talk about his life

Loved this book! The series is written in such a way that it doesn't matter the order in which you read them.

The authenticity from these interviews makes these must-listens!

As a retired Air Force reserve aviator, I could not help, but be overwhelmed, and overcome by the stories of these World War II aviators. Apart from their bravery and commitment to mission, they were so young! There’s one point in this book, where the storyteller explains that the oldest pilot in the squadron was 22! Let that sink in.

In the coming weeks Apple TV will release a series detailing the accomplishments during WWII of the Eighth Air Force. The books in this series are absolute wonderful for laying the predicate to watching and appreciating such shows. I cannot endorse these books enough.

excellent telling of these important recollections

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the other books in the series. Should be required reading for today's generation of students.

Stories from Hometown, USA

The author follows the stories of several men from, or connected to, the Hometown, USA region. Wonderful stories with great background from the author. The narrator made it easy to differentiate between the author and subjects' voice.

Love this author!

Hope to hear more books by this author! I've listened to the other books in this series as well.

Most Engrossing

Matthew Rozell’s series should be required reading. “The Things Our Fathers Saw” makes WWII real. The series is as thrilling a narrative as any regarding the war, with each book held together by common threads. There simply aren’t enough adjectives to describe how good these books are, with Vol 3 dealing with the war in the air. What outstanding men of the greatest generation. Job Eric Preston’s narration is superb.

Amust read for all generations

Please take the time to hear what this generation has to say and share. They gave it all.for us. The tales they tell will make you laugh weep and reflect. Our generation now should honor these men and women. People and politicians these days should be ashamed with their stupid behavior. These men dies for us to act.like fools? I hope not.

awesome story

easy to listen too , gave me insight to what my father did on a B24 and as a POW

Amazing book! Must read/listen

Incredible project! The stories of these men’s experiences are truly amazing and very much worth keeping alive.