Bombs Away

The Story of a Bomber Team

By: John Steinbeck, James H. Meredith - introduction

Narrated by: Scott Aiello

A magnificent volume of short novels and an essential World War II report from one of America's great 20th-century writers

A Penguin Classic

On the heels of the enormous success of his masterwork The Grapes of Wrath, and at the height of the American war effort, John Steinbeck, one of the most prolific and influential literary figures of his generation, wrote Bombs Away, a nonfiction account of his experiences with US Army Air Force bomber crews during World War II. Now, for the first time since its original publication in 1942, Penguin Classics presents this exclusive edition of Steinbeck's introduction to the then-nascent US Army Air Force and its bomber crew - the essential core unit behind American air power that Steinbeck described as "the greatest team in the world".

For more than 70 years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Listeners trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

©2009 John Steinbeck (P)2016 Penguin Audio

A great book

A wonderful book that I found to be developmental and maturative for a young man coming of age such as myself. I found this book to be highly intelligent and worthwhile. I found this book to underpin and be developmental to the American way of life and I further highly recommend this book.

History

The book was a peak into the history of the early days of the American Air Force. My father was a B-24 Bombardier and was Latter trained as a navigator it gave me a peek at his training that he must have completed.
It was very obvious the book was written in 1942 as a work of propaganda to encourage young men who wanted to join the Air Force to give them a sneak peek at what they’re training would be like and to give parents a vision of what their sons were going to go through as they trained to go to war.

A fine account of the subject

As someone whose father was a bombardier in WWII (B26 Martin Marauder), I was delighted to discover that this book had been written —by a gifted author in the early days of American involvement in the war. Two main points emerge from the narration that really struck me: the entire subject matter was treated thoroughly, from purpose, design, manufacture, etc. to the search for and qualification of the various personnel (on the ground and in the air); and, the personalization of the experience of the recruits, in the various departments and duties that they had.

Although the book was written before the B26 had really been introduced, I was still able to understand the experience that my dad must have had. ***He came home safe, with a good supply of stories. He had the grace to tell mostly the funny ones.

Too much war propaganda

My family member was a WW II bomber pilot and this book romanticizes the role. Thousands of pilots and crew died.

Not my pick

Could not get my interest in this book. Gave it a good try ,got half way through.

Good for Propaganda

Steinbeck did several propaganda pieces, and some heavily internally and externally censored reports and essays. This is a bit of pure pro-WWII propaganda in support of the war effort.

This book tells young men they will become elite, well-fed, strong, well-trained, attractive, respected and eventually rich if they volunteer to be trained as a USAF bomber crew member. Each of the bomber crew positions is well described in glowing terms. No downsides of volunteering are presented.

Steinbeck was, for a time, suspected by the FBI (and was publicly accused) of being a communist sympathizer.

The narration is good, and clear, but can't really add much to the text.