Merriam Press World War 2 Memoir Series
Mike Bonchonsky tried to enlist in the Army Air Corps in 1942 but was turned down. Three months later the Air Corps drafted him, training him as an armorer. After stateside training, he was assigned to the 17th Bomb Group, serving with them through combat in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France and Germany during World War II.
As an armorer in the unit, Mike's responsibilities included maintaining and repairing all manner of weapons, from small arms to aircraft machine guns and cannons, as well as their associated equipment, and was also tasked with loading bombs and other ordnance carried by the aircraft.
Mike also provides details of life on an airbase, working and living in harsh conditions, with the threat of enemy attack always present.
Also included is an appendix with a brief history of the 17th Bomb Group. In addition to photos from Mike's personal album, dozens of photos of the Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber and their crews, and photos of ground crews at work, aircraft on missions, and bomb runs and strike and post-strike photos.Contents
Chapter 1: The Convoy: Santa Maria Trip to Africa
Chapter 2: North Africa: Tour de la Boxcar
Chapter 3: Living Conditions: Arabs and Us
Chapter 4: This is War
Chapter 5: Who Knows?
Chapter 6: Death
Chapter 7: Spring in North Africa
Chapter 8: '886' The Jinx Ship
Chapter 9: This and That (About Me, Myself, and I)
Chapter 10: Action
Chapter 11: Fall of Tunis and Bizerte
Chapter 12: Sedrata
Chapter 13: Dawn
Chapter 14: Out On Pass in North Africa
Chapter 15: Tunis
Chapter 16: Hornets' Nest
Chapter 17: Raid on Naples and Rome
Chapter 18: Rumors
Chapter 19: Same Old Thing
Chapter 20: "Coughin' Coffin" Goes Home (But We Don't)
Chapter 21: Sweetheart
Chapter 22: Fires
Chapter 23: Over Enemy Territory
Chapter 24: Capri
Chapter 25: Trip to Corsica
Chapter 26: Coming Home
Chapter 27: Other Stories From My Recollections
99 photos
1 drawing
