Flyboys by James Bradley
Hi my name is Parker and I’m a 7th grader and love reading non-fiction historical books. I also enjoy playing soccer and hanging out with friends.
Because I love learning about World War II, I was excited to read the book Flyboys. Flyboys is a true story about US pilots fighting on the Pacific front during World War II. This is a book for an older audience since the horrors of war are described. Although it is a tough subject matter, I enjoyed it for its historical accuracy. The gripping storytelling by author, James Bradley was exceptional. The young boys who signed up for war had no idea what they were in for before being shipped off for training. This book follows the life of real-world characters flying over the dangerous skies of Chichi Jima (close to Iwo Jima).
All of the main characters introduced flew TBF Avenger Torpedo Bombers and their mission was to destroy vital radio stations and supplies on Chichi Jima. While flying over this island, these brave flyboys were shot down by deadly Japanese antiaircraft guns. Afterwards, they were taken prisoner, and the book vividly describes the events that took place and the horrors of war. Unfortunately for these pilots, their mission was not accomplished as the radio station was made of thick concrete so far underground that it couldn’t be destroyed. It was only after the war did the Americans realize this. This book was 338 pages so it’s hard to capture all of the details in this summary. Overall, I thought this was a great book for World War II history buff.
