Reviews

This book opened my eyes to war in ways that I will never be the same. Certainly I didn't learn about WWII in any history class in school the way it was presented in Flyboys. The content was gripping and not for the weak of heart. To say what happened during this war was horrific would be an understatement. Man's injustice to man is evident on just about every page. That being said, I am so glad I stuck with it. Extremely well researched and the author does a great job of presenting the facts while allowing the reader to do the judging. Such important history that should be remembered and hopefully never repeated.

xxstefaniereadsxx's review against another edition

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informative tense slow-paced

4.0

In 1914, a naval base was established on Chichi Jima in the Pacific Ocean. The Japanese used this during World War II as a supply point and long range radio station. This island was the frequent target of attacks by the United States, despite the fact that it was heavily armed and fortified. This book goes into detail about the lives of several United States pilots who were shot down while conducting missions on Chichi Jima. (One of the pilots shot down was George H. W. Bush, future President of the United States, but he was able to remain uncaptured.) They were tortured mercilessly before being murdered and four of them were cannibalized. (Lloyd Woellhof, Grady York, James Dye, Glenn Frazier Jr., Marvell Mershon, Floyd Hall, Warren Earl Vaughn, and Warren Hindenlang were the ones that were captured, tortured, and executed.) After the war, thirty Japanese soldiers were charged with war crimes and hanged.

This book is not one for the faint of heart. I am really looking forward to watching the film now that I have read the book. I though the research done by James Bradley was superb, and I appreciated that he was able to convey the horrible experiences that these men had as well as their relationships with their brothers in arms. This is a prime example of how horrible war can be.

pharmdad2007's review against another edition

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3.0

This is the account of several US Navy pilots shot down north of Iwo Jima and their inhumane treatment by barbaric Japanese officers. The writing was well done, and it was an interesting read.

lokena's review against another edition

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5.0

One of my favourite books of 2021.
As a history nerd this book was right up my ally. I have always loved war history and this books story captivated me from the beginning. Very well written and the flow of the story never gets dull.
If you have read The bomber mafia this book is a great complement to that book as it explains the same history from a different perspective( (the Japanese portion).
Read this book pretty quickly and strongly suggest if you are interested in war history.

laura_litandflicks's review against another edition

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4.0

Reading about these amazing young Americans whose lives were cut short is sad. The book is tough to read and even graphic in some places, describing beheadings and mutilations of American POWs. It is easy to lose hope in the goodness of humans while reading the horrors that soldiers inflicted upon their fellow human beings. However, I think it is important to focus instead on the bravery, courage, and sacrifice exhibited by these American soldiers. Even in the face of absolute depravity, these young men enthusiastically served their country with heroism and grace.

mcwilcox_12's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

4.0

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