Pathfinder Pioneer: The Memoir of a Lead Bomber Pilot in World War II

by Raymond E. Brim Narrated by John Pruden

Overview

In this engaging book we see how an eighteen-year-old miner shoveling ore from deep in the ground in Utah suddenly found himself, only two years later, 30,000 feet in the air over Nazi Germany, piloting a Flying Fortress in the first wave of America's air counteroffensive in Europe.



Like thousands of other young Americans, Ray Brim was plucked by the U.S. Army to be a combat flyer, and was quickly pitted against the hardened veterans of the Luftwaffe. Brim turned out to have a natural knack for flying, however, and was assigned to the select squadron developing lead Pathfinder techniques, while experimenting with radar. He was among the first to test the teeth of the Luftwaffe's defenses, and once those techniques had been honed, thousands of other bomber crews would follow into the maelstrom, from which 80,000 never returned.



Pathfinder Pioneer gives us vivid insights into the genesis of the American air campaign, told with the humor, attention to detail, and humility that captures the heart and soul of our "Greatest Generation."

Editorial Reviews

StrategyPage

In Pathfinder Pioneer, Brim exposes the reader to much detail about the air war over Europe. We learn precisely what a pathfinder did for a living, follow his experiences on hours long missions under fire, and get many little insights into the common place business of military life and service at the time. Brim also makes many observations about life in contemporary America and Britain, punctuated here and there with some sly humor… As a bonus, the book opens with a thoughtful foreword by the British-born granddaughter of one of Brim’s former crewmates who did not survive the war... this is an excellent personal account of the war as seen from the cockpit of a B-17.

The NYMAS Review

Along the way he exposes the reader not only to much detail about the air war over Europe – including hours long missions under fire – and offers many little insights into commonplaces of wartime life and military service at the time, but also to life in contemporary America and Britain, punctuated here and there with some sly humor… this is an excellent personal account of the war as seen from the cockpit of a B-17.

StrategyPage.com

In Pathfinder Pioneer, Brim exposes the reader to much detail about the air war over Europe. We learn precisely what a pathfinder did for a living, follow his experiences on hours long missions under fire, and get many little insights into the common place business of military life and service at the time. Brim also makes many observations about life in contemporary America and Britain, punctuated here and there with some sly humor… As a bonus, the book opens with a thoughtful foreword by the British-born granddaughter of one of Brim’s former crewmates who did not survive the war... this is an excellent personal account of the war as seen from the cockpit of a B-17.

NYMAS Review

Along the way he exposes the reader not only to much detail about the air war over Europe – including hours long missions under fire – and offers many little insights into commonplaces of wartime life and military service at the time, but also to life in contemporary America and Britain, punctuated here and there with some sly humor… this is an excellent personal account of the war as seen from the cockpit of a B-17.

Product Details

BN ID:	2940171180157
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	07/11/2017
Edition description:	Unabridged

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