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Lucky 666

By: Bob Drury, Tom Clavin
Narrated by: Jeremy Bobb
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Publisher's Summary

From the authors of the New York Times best-selling The Heart of Everything That Is and Halsey's Typhoon comes the dramatic untold story of a daredevil bomber pilot and his misfit crew who fly their lone B-17 into the teeth of the Japanese Empire in 1943, engage in the longest dogfight in history, and change the momentum of the war in the Pacific - but not without making the ultimate sacrifice.

It is 1942, the Japanese war machine has rolled up nearly all of the Pacific Theater, and American forces are clinging to what little unconquered territory remains. While US Marines claw their way across Guadalcanal, small contingents of US Army airmen make their way to the lonely, embattled Allied airbase on Papua New Guinea. Their mission: to defend Australia from invasion, harass Japanese supply lines, fly perilous bombing missions over enemy-held strongholds, and make reconnaissance runs to provide intelligence for America's nascent island-hopping campaign.

Among these men are pilot Captain Jay Zeamer and bombardier Sergeant Joseph Raymond Sarnoski, whose swashbuckling reputations precede them. Zeamer, who cannot convince his superiors to give him his own plane, teams up with Sarnoski to recruit a crew of fellow misfits to rebuild a dilapidated B-17 bomber from spare parts in the base's junkyard. They christen the plane Old 666, naming it from its tail identification numbers. In June 1943, Zeamer and Sarnoski and their crew volunteer for a 1,200 mile suicide mission into the heart of the Japanese Empire that may well change the course of the war - but that only one of the two friends will survive.

In Lucky 666, Drury and Clavin bring to vivid life one of the last great untold stories of World War II. Featuring personal letters, diaries, US Army Air Force after-action reports, even the translated Japanese Imperial Air Force's official account of the longest dogfight in history, Lucky 666 is a tale of friendship, heroism, and sacrifice set against the horrific backdrop of vicious aerial warfare, wounded crewmates, and a white-knuckle emergency landing in the jungles of New Guinea - a must-listen for anyone who loves pulse-pounding narrative nonfiction.

©2016 Bob Drury and Tom Clavin. All rights reserved. (P)2016 Simon & Schuster

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Awesome

Epic story of the underdogs who made history.
I listened to the Authors on the History of WWII podcast and the book was as good as they promised.
Well worth a listen.

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An amazing story, fabulous book & fitting tribute.

This is a very well researched and exceptionally well written book about an amazing story. There was plenty of context, some of which I hadn't heard before. Why the exploits of this crew hasn't been memorialized in a movie is beyond me.

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A Brilliant Story from a little known perspective

This is a totally absorbing book. What is remarkable is a tale that would belong in a great work of fiction. That the contents describe events that actually took place is even more remarkable.
The SW Pacific battles and strategic plans are integrated expertly in the personalised story of the Flying Fortress 666 crew. The narration adds to the tension without clouding the facts.
A must read for those war historians or who like a great read. Being Australian I have learned how much we owe and respect the US in protecting Australia.

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