Serenade to the big bird
By: Bert Stiles
Series: Uncommon valor series; Uncommon valor series
Publisher: Uncommon Valor Press
Published: 2014
Place of publication: United States?]
Language: eng
Number of pages: 141
ISBN-13: 9781505606461
Subjects: World War, 1939-1945; American Aerial operations; American Personal narratives; Biography; Fighter pilots; Aerial Military operations; American; United States. Army Air Forces; United States
Description: "Serenade to the big bird recounts author Bert Stiles' experiences as an Army Air Force pilot in the European theater of World War Two. Stiles enlisted in the Air Force almost immediately after Pearl Harbor, and served as a Second Lieutenant in the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group, and later in the 505th Fighter Squadron, 339th Fighter Group. Stiles expressed doubts about the conflict, stating that "we aren't solving anything with this war." However, he realized "there is a time when every man must fight."  After completing a tour of duty (thirty-five missions) in B-17 bombers, Stiles transferred to a fighter squadron where he flew the P-51 Mustang. Four months later, on November 26, 1944, he was killed in action while on an escort mission to Hanover, Germany. Stiles was 23 at the time of his death."--Page 4 of cover.
Notes: "...was first published in the United States in 1952 by W. W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York."--Title page verso.

"A young flier's memoir of the Second World War"--Page 4 of cover.
Table of contents: title: First crew; title: To begin with; title: First mission; title: Co-pilot's house; title: Air medal; title: Grounded; title: Mac; title: Blood on my hands; title: Voting; title: Ten guys; title: Dream girl; title: D-Day; title: Any mission ... any day ... for a while; title: New order; title: Finis; title: New crew; title: The shadow; title: So to finish up.