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FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce

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WillowRun
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FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce

FINISH FORTY AND HOME: The Untold World War II Story of B-24s in the Pacific
by Phil Scearce
University of North Texas Press: Denton, TX  (2011)
ISBN 978-1-57441-316-8
Hardbound, 352 pages, B&W photos, Indexed & annotated 
 
For those wishing to gain an insight into the lives of those who fought in World War II in the lonely skies over the expanse of the Pacific Ocean, this is a worthy read. Phil Scearce has captured the essence of the daily humdrum and frightening pathos as seen through the eyes of his father who entered the war shortly after Pearl Harbor in 1941 and survived his forty missions to return home in the spring of 1945. The rigors of training, air-sea rescue, combat, chasing the elusive "forty missions" and the "in-between" boredom while in the 11 BG are brought to light in Phil's fluid prose. The stories of the B-24 bomber crews are both uplifting and heart wrenching as they fly their long missions over the Pacific.  Two of the more gripping chapters were the ones on "Chance" and "Endings for Some." Despite the technology of the day, training and robustness of the B-24s, "chance" played a huge role in completing forty missions.  For some, the "ending" came in front of the eyes of their comrades while others fell behind their formations never to be seen or heard from again.  The book is well annotated and indexed including B&W photos from private collections.  The book is well worth the read for all aviation aficionados.

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Best Regards!
Steven Puhl
Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant (FO) Historian
ADMINISTRATOR: http://www.armyairforces.com/
Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
Member: 8TH AF Historical Society
Member: 2ND Air Division Historical Society 
 
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Pacific

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    Anthony J. Mireles
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    Re:FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce (permalink)
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    Got my copy a few weeks ago.  Looking forward to reading it. 
     
    TonyM. 

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    Anthony J. Mireles
    FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS
    IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945
    www.warbirdcrash.com
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    WillowRun
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    Re:FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce (permalink)
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    Hi, Tony,  How r u doing?  I am absolutely sure you will enjoy this book! some very intereting and different aspects! I am now about to begin an older book that was recommended to me and "hard to find" at a reasonable rate entitled Petals of Fire by Herb Alf.  The author and VET was one of the key interviewees and part of Rob Morris' book: Untold Valor. I happened to get a "mint-condition," signed  copy of #1486/2000.   There are some good new reads out there, and now that I've moved into the "Kindle Age," I hope they are available.  Later... 

    Best Regards!
    Steven Puhl
    Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant (FO) Historian
    ADMINISTRATOR: http://www.armyairforces.com/
    Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
    Member: 8TH AF Historical Society
    Member: 2ND Air Division Historical Society 
     
    Quote  #3
    pscearce
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    Re:FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce (permalink)
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    Steven, I remain grateful to you for posting this review.  I will reiterate my offer to send a personalized, signed book plate to any reader of this forum, just contact me.  I'd like to share this latest news: Finish Forty and Home was selected among "Best of the Best of the University Presses" by the American Library Association.  This link will take you to a C-SPAN BookTV presentation of the book.  It's a seven minute presentation, drag the progress bar to the 1:02:45 mark to see it.  The presentation includes several interesting photos from the book. Thanks again!

    Phil Scearce, author
    Finish Forty and Home

    www.finishfortyandhome.blogspot.com
    Quote  #4
    WillowRun
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    Re:FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce (permalink)
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    Phil,  Thank you for the "update" and link!  I truly apprecite it!  Great presentation clip. I will continue to promote your book.  BTW, here is a brief blurb from the "Heavy and Very Heavy Bombers Forum" in which I've mentioned my latest article on the FO WR plant.  However, in the link and preceding the article on page 9, there are two book reviews I also did of which one is yours.  Here is the blurb and link:  "Recently I wrote an article for th Heritage Herald Review entitled: "Ford's Better Idea:  A B-24 Liberator Bomber an Hour" which can be found on pages 10 and 11 of the summer 2012 edition with some pictures.  Here is the link:  http://www.heritageleague.org/brian/49b.pdf.  Although the Ford Motor Company had initial startup difficulties, it finally "mastered" the tried and tested "automotive mechanized assembly process and interchangeable parts" and realized its production goals.  Today the former plant sits "shuttered," barricaded and empty leaving only "ghosts-of-history-past" to wander about."  I hope you are doing well and in good health!  TTYL...
    post edited by WillowRun -

    Best Regards!
    Steven Puhl
    Ford Willow Run Bomber Plant (FO) Historian
    ADMINISTRATOR: http://www.armyairforces.com/
    Life Member: Yankee Air Museum
    Member: 8TH AF Historical Society
    Member: 2ND Air Division Historical Society 
     
    Quote  #5
    pscearce
    Squadron Member
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    Re:FINISH FORTY AND HOME by Phil Scearce (permalink)
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    Very nice review of the book, Steven, and an excellent article! I'm always interested in ways to share the story with B-24 people who were not necessarily connected to the Pacific.  They enjoy seeing how things went for B-24 squadrons on the other side of the world. Thanks again!

    Phil Scearce, author
    Finish Forty and Home

    www.finishfortyandhome.blogspot.com
    Quote  #6
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