Thunderbolt

By: Robert S. Johnson, Martin Caidin

Narrated by: Clay Lomakayu

Thunderbolt is the incredible true life story of Robert S. Johnson, one of America’s leading fighter pilot aces in World War II. His memoir is an action-packed account of how a young man from Lawton, Oklahoma went on to amass 28 enemy kills, the first US Army Air Force pilot in the European theater to surpass Eddie Rickenbacker's World War I tally of 26 enemy planes destroyed.

©2011 Sundance (P)2021 Sundance

Exceptional Story

This is the second time I have encountered this book. The first time was back in 1976 when I owned a copy as a boy. I loved it then and I loved it now as I learned much more of Johnson’s story of flying combat in WWII than when I was a kid. Of course this should be the case after serving in two combat tours myself since that period. Now I can appreciate the humility, joy, and agony of loss as Johnson relates it here. Well worth anyone’s time at any age!

Excellent book, bad narrator

This book is awesome and is an excellent read for any fan of aviation or military history. However, the narrator isnt the best, and fails to capture the tone of the story. Also, the narrator can't pronounce aircraft names and the author got several aircraft names wrong.

Great book!

If you like books about WWII fighter war this is your book! You will enjoy it.

a great story and so very true it is

I read this book a long time ago and paperback but I decided to hear it as an audiobook and it was very awesome the narrator did a very excellent job kept you on the edge of your seat it it beats reading the book because when you hear the voices change and all that it's something special reading the book is great and stuff but just to hear the physical voice describing everything it's special it's a great addition and back it's a very true story

My favorite flying book of all time.

Bob Johnson and George Preddy are my 2 favorite US aces. I have read thunderbolt 6 times through my life. It is simply one of the best ever written. Up there with Closterman and Bader. If you like aerial combat stories this one is full of them. It gave me the wrong impression as a kid. I thought all flying books were this action packed and most are not. This one is light on the barrack life and London shenanigans it’s just all flying and fighting.

Heroic story, mediocre reading

Seriously, how many mispronouncing is allowed without an editor asking for corrections? Loved the story, would have liked to know more about after the war, though.

Excellent book!

Excellent book, narrator not the best, if I had to hear him miss pronounce Folke Wulf 190 instead of pronouncing it Folk Wulf 190 as the e is silent and other words one more time! Other than that it’s an amazing story.

Worth reading

Good insight into the air war in Europe. A little to much self back patting for me.

Survival in the face of insurmountable odds.

I especially liked his description of his childhood in Oklahoma. The freedoms that he had may never be experienced in America again. His extraordinary life from his childhood days through his darkest hours of battle prepared him for the challenging and frightening experiences ahead. Wonderfully described by the author of his life and times.

Great story, poorly narrated

Unbelievably distracting delivery or a well written story from the cockpit. Had to envision the written word and the scenes through the eyes of the author to make continuing the recording possible. Stopped many times angry with the narrator for diluting and washing out story fully intending to return the book but continued because the story well captures aerial combat.