James R. Stevens
Published: 2004
Total Pages: 216
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This exciting and unusual World War Two book contains the biographies of young men from the United States and Commonwealth Countries who flew through enemy infested skies in a civilian passenger plane known as the Hudson Bomber. The author portrays not only flyers but their families as they face the unfolding fates of their youngsters flying in Royal Air Force Coastal Command Squadrons. Much of the book is written from primary research material: personal diaries, log books, a large number of photographs and anxious letters home to parents and wives and friends. "Searching For The Hudson Bombers" rings loudly with authenticity of how World War Two impacted people at an intimate and personal level. Flying duties of these patriotic youth from America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa are portrayed in a range of activities from over the North Sea to the Mediterranean. The Hudson air crews bomb shipping and search in all kinds of nasty weather for submarines, cover convoys and look for downed air craft. Sub themed in the text are the disappointing activities of politicians, corporations, financial institutions and religious bureaucracy. One will not find much grand strategy as planned by Presidents, Prime Ministers and Generals in, "Searching For The Hudson Bombers." This is a book about unheralded flyers who risked their lives each time they went aloft in a less than reliable aircraft, the Hudson Bomber. This intriguing and intensely researched work exposes the truly human side of one of history's most cataclysmic events. An excellent read!" Major General (Ret'd) Lewis W. MacKenzie OStJ,OOnt,MSC,CD. "Poignant stories of young men in the prime of life who risked their lives fighting for their countries." Ms.Lynn McLeod, B.A. M.L.S. Mississauga Public Library System "I spent many hours as navigator of a Hudson and I find the research done to compile this wonderfully researched volume to be absolutely mind-boggling. F/Lt. (O) Earle Briggs RAF 24/512 SQ's For further information on photographs of the Hudson flyers and the index to "Searching For The Hudson Bombers" go to www.hudsonbomber.com