num_pages: 150
description: By the time World War II airman William "Wild Bill" Scanlon was shot out of a B-17 and spirited to the safety of England by French Underground resistance fighters, the gutsy gunner had survived over 70 combat missions flown as a member of the air forces of three different countries. "Destined to Live" tells the true story of a Chicago man -- Joined the United States Cavalry at age 15;-- Learned to fly fighter planes in the Canadian Royal Air Force;-- Shot down seven confirmed Nazi fighters;-- Flew tailgunner for Britain's Royal Air Force in such famous missions as the Thousand Bomber Raid and the Battle of the Ruhr;-- Rode as a B-17 replacement funner in the U.S. Eighth Air Force;-- Survived bullet and shrapnel wounds to the jaw, leg, hand and head as he fell into enemy territory Feb. 8, 1944;-- Escaped through the French Underground network back to England;-- And repeatedly beat the odds of combat to return home safely.
language: English
title: Destined to Live: The Incredible Story of WWII Airman Wild Bill Scanlon
titlecomplete: Destined to Live: The Incredible Story of WWII Airman Wild Bill Scanlon
ratings_count: 2
publisher: Badger Books LLC