Tail-End Charley

Stories from an American Fighter Pilot in World War II

By: James E. Brown

Narrated by: Bob Souer

On his 19th birthday, James E. Brown tries to fake to his flight instructor that he has flown before. On his 21st birthday, Brown is on his way home after logging 85 missions in a P-47 fighter over Italy, France, and Germany.

Brown's stories surrounding his training and combat experiences in World War II reveal brushes with death, continuous peril and, ultimately, a coming of age for a young man whose freshman year in college becomes instead a heroic engagement with one of the fiercest enemies his country has ever encountered.

Ever dutiful to the mother who tells him to "write it down, Jamie", Brown notes his experiences in the journal she provides and adds detail later to deliver a firsthand account of life as a pilot in the final months of combat within the European Theater.

Serving as Tail-End Charley - the last man out - in most of the missions he flew, Brown's job was to record results for the interrogation officers afterward. But Brown offers much more insight in this memoir. Follow his triumphs and travails with colleagues who become lifelong compatriots during an indelible period in American history.

©2017 James E. Brown (P)2018 Tantor

Good performance, ok srory

Interesting story about P47 fliers near the end of WWIi. The narrator tried to build up suspense and I kept waiting for more action. Don't get me wrong, author and his colleagues made a great contribution and sacrifice, but a little mundane.

A genuine book

Really loved listening the memoirs. Not just the heroic moments but the comedic experiences too. I only wished I could've see the pictures referenced. I tried to look some up but didn't have any luck.

The way it was

Good story about the every day lives of World War II fighter pilots as seen from the cockpit of a P47 fighter plane. It provides a perspective of every day strafing and dive bombing which you don’t see in other books

great detail of the men who fearlessly flew P47 thunderbolts on low level missions in 44-1945 over hostile terrain and a still dangerous enemy.

Awesome memoir!

I loved this for different reasons than the other pilot memoirs I’ve read. Lt. Brown was not the typical type a personality that most pilots tend to exhibit. Modesty was a strong suit for him and it shows thru his story giving you a difference perspective on the day to day life of not a glamorous ace but normal pilot just trying to survive the gobs of flak and constant danger of WW2 aviation while trying to maintain his sanity all the while. Highly highly recommended for the avid historical military aviation enthusiast!