Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe by Frank Murphy

Luck of the Draw: My Story of the Air War in Europe Reviews

• 
  J. Burden

  Frank Murphy's offering ranks in the top echelon of 8th AF and WW2, for that matter, memoirs of this brutal and frightening experience. Well written and highly readable, Murphy, has succeeded in conveying his experience to the reader in a compelling and addictive way. Unlike some memoirs of this period, he does not dwell unduly on the arcane facts, figures and numbers, although he accurately identifies aircraft and groups appropriately. This is a terrific snapshot of one man's call to duty in the air war over Europe 1943. You will not be disappointed.
• 
  Zippy

  Terrific book, compelling story of life during wartime and the unfathomable terror of flying combat missions against Nazi Germany. Thank God such brave men lived.
• 
  Bill Wilson

  Good book, fast delivery
• 
  Amaxon Customer

  Having just finished
• 
  Paul M. Andrews

  Generally, Military History literature can be assigned to one of two categories military leaders with their grand strategy and tactics or the fighting man and his weapons. For the Second World War there is still some room for the literature that addresses the first category, especially with the recent opening of former Soviet Union archives. Yet as important as it is to analyze the success and failures of the Hannibals, Napoleons, Pattons, Montgomerys, and Zhukovs, it is the common man, not the brilliant military leader, who determines success in battle. Whether on land, sea, or in the air, Generals and Admirals can only inspire and motivate the soldier, sailor, and airman to make the ultimate sacrifice for his country. As we have seen in Enemy at the Gates, it is the Vasily Zaitzevs of this world who turned the tide at countless Stalingrad like situations throughout the history of warfare.
  Frank Murphy, a B 17 navigator, would be the very first to challenge the notion that he or any other member of Crew 31 assigned to the 418th Bombardment Squadron, 100th Bombardment Group, Eighth Bomber Command in the summer and fall of 1943, did anything extraordinary. Murphy and Crew 31 would rather 'define themselves as ordinary Americans' (page 263). Having finished Luck of the Draw I would disagree with Mr. Murphy. He, Crew 31, and the rest of the Eighth Bomber Command (Eighth Air Force) who flew during those desperate times throughout the summer and fall of 1943, were the American Zaitzevs in the European Theater of Operations. With ever increasing strength, they carried the war to Hitler's Germany, attacking his means to conduct war. This effort came at a price the Eighth Bomber Command paid dearly in blood and machines.
  Luck of the Draw is extremely well written and well researched. Frank Murphy uses his recollection of events, research of the subject, archival sources and even letters written to home while in England and while a POW. The words simply flow off of the page, giving the reader no excuse to put the monograph down. As the back cover correctly states, this is ' than a war story.' It is in fact, a very revealing slice of Americana. You learn about Murphy, his ancestral roots, and what motivated him to join the Army Air Corps. You also learn about the formation of Crew 31, those who died in combat and those who became prisoners of war. The 'power and honesty' of Murphy's prose captures the essence of what it takes to be an American. Interspersed with the insightful prose are photographs capturing the essence of Murphy and Crew 31. Nor does Murphy disappoint those who cannot get enough of tables, charts, and graphics, Luck of the Draw contains over 70 pages of historical data detailing the men and aircraft assigned to the 100th Bomb Group between June October 1943.
  This reviewer chimes in with the remarks on the back cover of the book by saying that I too am 'glad that Frank Murphy elected to fly one mission for The Mighty Eighth.' It is a must read book for anyone with an interest in the Eighth Air Force.