Green Bars: An American Bomber Pilot’s Personal Story, 1942-1945

The author of this memoir describes his 1943 training as a B26 bomber pilot; the dangerous transatlantic flight to join the war effort; being stationed in England, Ireland, France, and Belgium; and his 45 combat missions in the European theater, notably during the Battle of the Bulge and Operation Clarion. His story features colorful anecdotes about himself and those with whom he served, along with accounts of harrowing hours over enemy territory and the yet more harrowing minutes over targets. In a droll aside about not being promoted to first lieutenant, he claims his brass second lieutenant’s bars turned green with age, even as his hair threatened to turn white.