Heather’s Bookshelf: The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: A WWII Final Honor
Author: David E. Huntley
Released: 10/27/23
Genre: WWII Biographical Novel
“The dead crew and their souls made a kind of connection to me as a little boy. It would manifest itself to guide me on a mission to honor their sacrifice for saving many lives that fateful day, including my own.”
“The B-17 Tomahawk Warrior: A WWII Final Honor” is told through the author’s POV. As a child, in 1944, he experienced the aftermath of a crash of an American B-17 Bomber. Decades later, in 2016, he came across the story of the ‘Tomahawk Warriors’ and began his investigation into what truly happened.
In 1944 London, a young “spud” looked forward to going to school with his friends while carrying his Mickey Mouse gas mask and practicing drills in their school bomb shelter. As classmates and neighbors lose their lives, his young generation is hardened to the violence and loss surrounding them.
When an American B-17 Bomber goes down a little too close to home and the impressionable child sees things impossible to forget, it’s no wonder details of that fateful day stick with him. It’s not until 2016 when everything comes full circle. Shortly after his beloved wife passes, the author receives news that a diary from one of the deceased airmen exists. Further investigation ensues including meeting up with the living relatives of the brave men who lost their lives that fateful day. The author explores the lives and contributions of each of the ‘Tomahawk Warriors’ seeking remembrance, closure, posthumous honor and a commemorative marker.
Trigger Warning: war-time violence, dismemberment, death,
Overall, I truly appreciated all the work and research this author did. This wasn’t just a story, but something deeply personal to the author and all others involved. The story is told through the eyes of the author and his experiences of how he became personally involved in the investigation into what happened with a group of young American airmen who lost their lives. The investigation included analysis of official declassified records, a long-lost diary, and interviews with many of the family of the deceased. The author relays details of the event that only someone who experienced it would know and the depiction puts the reader into a fraction of what the tension and fear of the time must have felt like. Also included are images of pictures and documents surrounding the crash, the airmen, and their families. The book is structured into three main sections. Part 1 is a combination of introduction, how the author became involved, the investigation, and “the Snyder mystery”. This is largest portion of the book as well as my favorite. I really enjoyed learning about the airmen and their families. The second section is “WWII Air Combat History”. It is a deep dive into the machinery and operations of this period of time. This section was a little dry for me, but WWII enthusiasts would probably appreciate the details. Surprisingly, I found the portion that incorporated the extracts of the crews’ duties from the training manual of a B-17 to be revealing in how it was written and what was included in the materials. Part 3 covers the honors extended for the airmen and to their families and provides links to additional American history including William Penn and the Kennedy family. The ending wraps everything up while continuing to honor those who have passed.
I received a copy of this story in exchange of a fair and honest review.
OVERALL REVIEW:
A WWII biographical novel with personal connection to the author/investigator. Well-researched with anecdotes from historical documents, testimonials, and diaries, this is a story of honor and respect for those who lost their lives in the protection of others.
Want to learn more about the author?
Check out my interview with David E. Huntley
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Find it for purchase here
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