CHECK SIX

After the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, Jim, “Jug” Curran signed up for combat. He flew with the 348th Fighter Group, the first P-47 Thunderbolt group in the South Pacific. The aircraft would go on to be instrumental in winning the war in the Pacific. From New Guinea to the Philipines, Jug flew 200 combat missions and in this book tells the incredible true story of all he encountered. With so few living soldiers from World War II to tell their stories, books like this become all the more important.

A first hand account of the air war in the Pacific and the insights of a P-47, Thunderbolt pilot; what a treasure. I found this book from Jim Curran to be both a compelling and interesting read. It was written quite conversationally, which I appreciated, and the references were easy to understand. I was easily able to follow the narrative and often felt like a fly on the proverbial wall. I think that this memoir belongs on many collector's bookshelves; it is not only an excellent chronicle of events, but a vital piece of history. I so appreciated the chance to have read it.
*I received my copy through NetGalley.com in exchange for an honest review.

Excellent accounting of a WW2 aviation unit. Well written.

A story of James Curran and the men that he flew with in a squadron of P-47 Thunder Bolts. The story begins with him volunteering in Chicago, and then going through a series of tests along with other men. Then 66 of them were sent to Oklahoma for training. They then went to Texas, and Florida. A group of them were sent to California and from there he sent to New Guinea to begin flying with squadron 348th. Other units already there flying made fun of them for the look of their planes, but after they were able to see their ability opinions changed. He also started another fighter squadron the “Black Rains”. He moved along with the different battles up to different Islands either doing bombing runs, protection of troops, ships, and aerial fighting with the enemy. He flew over two hundred missions. They of course started behind because of all of the planes lost during the attacks of Dec 7. Once they the air power got to full strength they were able to overtake the enemy not only on land but in the air also. This is a good story of one of those fighting groups of the air corps and the not only the missions they did but also some of the men that passed while serving. A story about the thunderbolts in the Pacific that you don’t hear about often enough. A good book.