• Flyboys

  • A True Story of Courage
  • By: James Bradley
  • Narrated by: Author
  • Length: 14 hrs and 22 mins
  • 4.6 out of 5 stars (1,483 ratings)

Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.
Flyboys  By  cover art

Flyboys

By: James Bradley
Narrated by: Author
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $23.45

Buy for $23.45

Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.

Publisher's summary

Flyboys is the true story of young American airmen who were shot down over Chichi Jima. Eight of these young men were captured by Japanese troops and taken prisoner. Another was rescued by an American submarine and went on to become president. The reality of what happened to the eight prisoners has remained a secret for almost 60 years.

After the war, the American and Japanese governments conspired to cover up the shocking truth. Not even the families of the airmen were informed what had happened to their sons. It has remained a mystery - until now. Critics called James Bradley's last book "the best book on battle ever written." Flyboys is even better: more ambitious, more powerful, and more moving. On the island of Chichi Jima those young men would face the ultimate test. Their story - a tale of courage and daring, of war and of death, of men and of hope - will make you proud, and it will break your heart.

©2003 James Bradley (P)2010 Hachette

What listeners say about Flyboys

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,091
  • 4 Stars
    256
  • 3 Stars
    76
  • 2 Stars
    30
  • 1 Stars
    30
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    852
  • 4 Stars
    280
  • 3 Stars
    115
  • 2 Stars
    36
  • 1 Stars
    31
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    1,010
  • 4 Stars
    188
  • 3 Stars
    60
  • 2 Stars
    24
  • 1 Stars
    29

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

wonderful Glimpse at history

wonderful Glimpse at history today we can hardly Envision world that our grandfathers fought fot

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Flyboys

I would recommend this book to be read or listened to as a required reading. There was so much horror all around. History, they say, not learned is history repeated. We may not want history taught too sensitive character, too bad. Grow up! Thank -you.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A must for everyone

I hope I meet this author some day to thank him for the excellent, well researched and simply amazing book. This is a must for everyone.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Heartfelt

I love history, and I truly enjoyed learning about the decisive role aviation played in the 2nd world war. It was also informative the way the author gave an even handed accounting of the role the US has played in wartime atrocities. Bravo to the author and narrator.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Brutal but fair-USA vs Japan WWII

I cannot say I enjoyed this book but it's truths are eye-opening.= it's a "should read" book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Everyone needs to read this book.

This story is intense. This story is sad and brutal at times. I feel like every American should read this and know what the pacific war was really about. Bradley reads it beautifully. Expand body and mind with knowledge of the past.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good Read

Loved it! Very educational. Told from both sides of the war and why they did what they did.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

first war non-fiction i've ever read

finished this last night and while i am so glad it's over, i'm glad i read it, too.

it's an incredibly well-written, unbiased account of the flyboys in the pacific during ww ii that spares NO details. 85% of this book is horrific and shocking. the ending is painfully beautiful.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Amazing book!!

This book was an amazing book in so many ways. The perspectives and specific dialogue and interactions between the many people mentioned in this book bring to life the historical experiences described. James Bradley did such an amazing job investigating, searching, living in and visiting the historical places mentioned, and his descriptions were top notch.

I am a retired Marine, and in 2004, I was blessed with the opportunity to clean the gravesites and burial places of those in Iwo Jima, before the annual ceremony commenced, and I had the opportunity to meet the emperor of Japan, and surviving Iwo Jima veterans on both sides of the war. I spent a few nights in the barracks that are on Iwo Jima, and it was the most somber experience I have ever had. It was cold, even though the weather was not cold, and the barracks were not cold. I could hear what sounded like whistling and subtle wailing while trying to sleep in my barracks room there. Bradley describes things so accurately, just based off of what I saw when I was there on Mount Suribachi, on Iwo Jima. I recommend everyone read/listen to this book, it is one of the most captivating and fascinating books I have ever read/listened to.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent audiobook!

Loved the book.Really tells the ins and outs of how WW2 was fought.Worth the hear.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!