An Emotional Gauntlet: From Life in Peacetime America to the War in European Skies - Stuart J. Wright

Stuart J Wright tells the gripping story of a World War II American aircrew flying missions from Old Buckenham, England in a B-24 Liberator bomber they nicknamed Corky.

This is a true account based on years of research and correspondence with crew members and their families. Wright adds a dimension rarely explored in other World War II memoirs and narratives, beginning the chronicle during peacetime when the men of the aircrew are introduced as civilians - kids during the 1920s.

As they mature through the years of the Great Depression to face a world at war, questions are raised about 'just' and 'unjust' wars, imperialism and patriotism. Jingoistic sentimentality is resisted in favour of objectivity, as the feelings and motivations of the crew members are explored: the Chinese American air gunner had hoped to serve in the U.S. Army Air Force to fight against the Japanese invaders of his homeland; the Jewish navigator felt compelled to join the battle against Nazi Germany.

In recounting the harrowing conditions and horrors of bombing missions over Europe, An Emotional Gauntlet emphasizes the interpersonal relationships within the crew and the spirit these men shared. As pilot Jack Nortridge regularly assured his crew, 'If you fly with me, I'm going to bring you home.' This book is a testament to their strength and determination.