The Reluctant Raiders: The Story of United States Navy Bombing Squadron Vb/Vpb-109 During World War II (Schiffer Military History)

Rating:
Summary: A history that will make all of us appreciate the sacrafices
Review: I finished this book and found it a real testamonial to the hard life and sacrafices that the past generation made to provide us with the life we have. We owe alot to the WWII folks. What was missing was the conditions that the war was fought under, no e-mail, flying across the Pacific at 200 mph in non airconditioned and non presurized planes. Also the navigation was different without GPS and SAT locating, The writer did not call out these hardships that made that flying and fighting much worse than we would tolerate today.

Rating:
Summary: Riveting and Personal
Review: Mr. Alan C. Carey has written a riveting history of the United States Navy Bombing Squadron VB/VPB 109 during its existence from 1943-1945, while serving in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. He has defined not only the squadron's mission with accurate details of specific flights, individual crew achievements, and combat techniques but also the indomitable spirit of its personnel under the duress of the times. "The Reluctant Raiders, The Story of United States Navy Bombing Squadron VB/VPB 109 in World War II" is an account of military life not only for the military historical buff but for the average reader as well. Mr. Carey has utilized personal interviews with crewmembers and old photographs to add dimension and depth to the cold statistics of this particular Navy Bombing Squadron. It is an account of a group of average, young men who achieved exceptional things, utilizing initiative, ingenuity, and courage on a daily basis under adverse conditions. Mr. Carey's historical documentation of VB/VPB 109 is an exceptionally outstanding tribute to the United States Navy, Commander Norman M. Miller and every individual who served in the 109th.

Rating:
Summary: Great fun, good history, but needs revision.
Review: My Dad was a co-pilot in VB-109, so I've heard the stories since I was a tot. We both read the book and compared notes- my father still has his flight logs, uniforms, and a Japanese rifle from a Saipan "hunt". He also remembers the events very well.
There are some inaccuracies in the book that could be easily corrected. For instance, the Iwo Jima raid did not follow raids on two other islands, but only one. There are some other minor factual points in need of correction, too. Many of the best stories of the squadron are not reported in the book.
What's missing from the book (maybe purposefully) are descriptions of what the men were like, and what they were feeling. Yes, they were brave men fighting to defend their country, but, mostly, these were a bunch of young guys scared to death, hoping they'd survive another mission- or stay out of it if they were lucky.
Miller was a gung-ho Annapolis grad who many thought crazy in his zeal to try to take on the Japanese single-handedly. Many of the other airmen did not share this extent of zeal, i.e., they would not shoot men swimming in the water after a ship was attacked, they would buzz an undefended factory once or twice (to give workers time to get out) before a bombing run. If their plane was shot up or someone injured, they'd figure enough was enough, and head back home. Miller would continue to press the attack and take on destroyers and even a cruiser (which he sank at Truk). Miller was quite an enigma: he'd be furious with those who didn't have his guts, and cry when they didn't come home.
Quite a guy!
One also gets the false impression from reading the book that the B-24 Privateer had overpowering firepower that could sweep the decks or silence ground gunners with ease. Not at all so, says my Dad. It was a big lumbering aircraft which, when not permitted the element of surprise, was an easy target at 200 MPH at 200 feet. Fortunately it could take alot of abuse, and the surviving airmen of VB-109 owe their lives to that old plane.
Anyway, it was a fun book to read. It would make a great movie.