Publisher's Synopsis
WWII bomber pilot Col. David Tavel recounts his first-hand, real-life experiences in the European Theater on the pages of his historic memoire, Hell in the Heavens. Tavel and his Virgin Wolves are a bomber squadron that avoids enemy fighter planes and heavy flak to take out strategic enemy targets in Nazi-held territory. With detailed descriptions of the bomber squadron's massive and costly efforts to bring down the Nazis, Tavel draws on his own wartime journal entries and memories of the early days of the U.S. Army Air Corps and the brand new 15th U.S. Air Force. Fly alongside Tavel, and vicariously experience his journey through this unique war experience. His extreme talent-when combined with some luck-was able to bring him, and most of his fellow crewmembers, intact from this ordeal against tremendous odds. His calm and descriptive first-person narrative-despite the prospect of sudden death awaiting them at any moment-belies the chilling terror that any normal person would feel under such circumstances. Through his poignant words, he allows readers to gain a glimpse into his very being-a highly intelligent man, a man who commands respect and admiration from those who know him, and know of him, both as a leader and a follower. Colonel David Tavel is a man who is able to focus on major issues under intense pressure. During this wartime, however, everything is not always horrific. His account is laced with intermittent doses of humor, a feature that probably allowed him and his fellow warriors some degree of equanimity. "Very few war books contain words written by pilot combatants, themselves. What is especially rare, is that David not only survived the entire wartime period, but he remained in the European Theater to its very conclusion. By contrast, after a finite number of missions-because of severe stress-most pilots and crewmembers were directed to return to the U.S. before the war had reached its conclusion, robbing the reader of the opportunity to see how everything eventually played out. In this book, the reader can experience the entire picture from beginning to end. During his repeated combat missions, detailed within, his heroism repeatedly shines through against all odds. After reading it, I suspect you will agree with me: It's hard to believe! Morton E. Tavel, MD, David's proud cousin and friend.
