Damn Lucky

Viac o knihe

As young citizen-soldiers, we were naive about the air war over Europe and its lasting impact on our lives. Despite our fear, we felt compelled to fulfill our mission after volunteering for service. My hope is that this narrative honors the men I served with by revealing the truth of our experiences. John Luckadoo, hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, joined the military following the attack on Pearl Harbor. As a Second Lieutenant in the United States Air Force, he was assigned to the 100th Bomb Group in England. Between June and October 1943, he flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on bombing missions over France and Germany, aimed at crippling the Nazi war machine. With a shrapnel-torn Bible and his girlfriend’s silk stocking as talismans, Luckadoo faced intense Luftwaffe fire and freezing temperatures to complete twenty-five missions, far exceeding the survival rate of his peers, who rarely made it past twelve. To cope with the loss of fellow airmen, Luckadoo suppressed his emotions, focusing on his duties and recognizing that luck played a significant role in his survival. Acclaimed war correspondent Kevin Maurer draws from Luckadoo’s firsthand accounts to share a remarkable story of bravery and resilience, capturing the journey of a young man maturing amidst the chaos of the world's most devastating war.