The Rugged Buggy: Reflections of a Bomber Pilot and POW in World War II
Language: English
Published by Independently published, 2024
- Softcover
- New
Seller: California Books, Miami, FL, U.S.A.California Books
AbeBooks seller since October 27, 2023
Condition: New
£ 13.84
Quantity: Over 20 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Print on Demand.
Seller Inventory # I-9798435526721
- Title
- The Rugged Buggy: Reflections of a Bomber Pilot and POW in World War II
- Author
- O'Brien, Col. James E
- Publisher
- Independently published
- Publication year
- 2024
- Condition
- New
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 13
- 9798435526721
James O’Brien began training for the U. S. Army Air Corps six months before Pearl Harbor and the start of the Second World War, and received his commission as a second lieutenant shortly after the United States entered the war. He was one of the first thirty pilots to be trained to fly the B-24 bomber, and was assigned to the 44th Bomb Group, which headed to England to take part in the early American bombing raids on Europe in 1942. There, O’Brien became commander of the 68th squadron. He discusses in this book his experiences with bombing doctrines and tactics, the use of the Norden bombsight and so-called “precision bombing”, and the tragic mission of April 5, 1943, which led to the deaths of over 900 Belgian civilians in Mortsel, Belgium, many of them children.
O’Brien was shot down over Kiel, Germany on May 14, 1943. He then spent much of the remainder of the war as a POW in Stalag Luft III near Żagań, Poland. This POW camp is best known as the site of “The Great Escape”, popularized by a 1963 film by the same name, in which 76 men escaped through an elaborate tunnel system. O’Brien briefed the future escapees on how to hijack German planes and, as “block head” of 104, protected the tunnel named “Harry” from discovery. Near the end of the war, he and his fellow POWs were forced on a 62-mile march through a blizzard, and then crammed into boxcars for a fetid railway journey to Moosberg, Germany. They were held at Stalag VII-A in Moosberg, with little food or sanitation, for three months, being freed by Gen. Patton on April 29, 1945. Col. O’Brien discusses both the Great Escape and the long march in this book, as well as many aspects of POW life, including the use of secret communications, spiritual life in the barracks, and the prisoners’ responses to racism.
O’Brien went on to pursue a Master’s in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh after the war. He had a long career as a social worker in Youngstown, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He also worked to advance Civil Rights, end segregation, and promote integrated public housing. He retired as director of the non-profit Brashear Association, in South-Side Pittsburgh, in 1981.
Although some of O’Brien’s experiences have been published previously, including in Martin Bowman’s Home by Christmas (1987), and a few publications by other former POWs, most of them have not been recorded elsewhere. It is hoped that this book provides source material for those interested in history and the experiences of those in the “Good War”.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
California Books
Miami, FL, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since October 27, 2023
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 3 to 7 business days | 2 to 5 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 0.00 | £ 8.96 |
Payment methods
Store description
We have 20 years experience selling books worldwide! Friendly customer support. Your satisfaction guaranteed!
Specialty
All authorized categoriesSeller's business information
Miramar International Services LLC
FL, U.S.A.
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to California Books, Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.