This is the story of a small town, Midwestern, provincial young man who, over sixty years ago, was plucked out of his quiet, workaday life by the explosion of World War II. He found himself fastened to the conveyor belt that was transforming civilian men into pilots of heavy bombers. Initially terrified, he gradually adjusted to the process, and found to his surprise that he was enjoying it. It changed from an ordeal into a privilege. In spite of himself, he found a whole new world of exciting experiences far beyond his wildest dreams. A few brushes with violent death in the high altitudes were the spice that sweetened survival and enriched each day's happenings. Sherman was mostly right about war being hell, but for a few lucky ones, it was almost fun.

This is the story of a small town, Midwestern, provincial young man who, over sixty years ago, was plucked out of his quiet, workaday life by the explosion of World War II. He found himself fastened to the conveyor belt that was transforming civilian men into pilots of heavy bombers. Initially terrified, he gradually adjusted to the process, and found to his surprise that he was enjoying it. It changed from an ordeal into a privilege. In spite of himself, he found a whole new world of exciting experiences far beyond his wildest dreams. A few brushes with violent death in the high altitudes were the spice that sweetened survival and enriched each day's happenings. Sherman was mostly right about war being hell, but for a few lucky ones, it was almost fun.