Back from 44 – The Sacrifice and Courage of a Few
A Story of Heroism in the Skies Over Western Europe.
by
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Brief segment of the book “There was an eerie look of the mass takeoff, planes with no lights appearing as shadows in the searchlights set up at each end of the runways. There were only twenty five to thirty feet between the nose and the tail of each plane as they lumbered on the taxiway like elephants bobbing around the circus ring for the greatest show on earth. It was 0430 hours and looking out between the pilots I was watching the engine gauges and was noticing the silhouettes of planes as they began to taxi and takeoff. Then out of the corner of my eye a sudden appearance of a red glow and then… a booming explosion.”
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About the Book
Nick Bentas, Staff Sergeant USAAF, finds himself in a severely crippled B-26 Marauder, trying to return to base, he remembers the different times in his life that led him up to this point. From enlistment to basic training to saying goodbye to his new wife, he remembers his deadly missions around France, Germany and the wider Mediterranean. Experience how it was first hand to encounter enemy flak and fighter attacks, while dealing with the emotional impact of losing close friends. Back From 44 is an in-depth look into the bravery and sacrifice of ordinary men who did extraordinary things during WWII.
About the Author
Nick Cressy retired from the US Army as a full Colonel in December 2012 and enjoys World War II history, biking, and traveling locally (in Colorado) to enjoy the scenery and culture. He has undergraduate and graduate degrees in business management. Foreign countries visited during his lifetime include Canada, Mexico, France, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. His military background began as an enlisted member of the U.S. Air Force trained in aircraft weapons and munitions loading from 1971 to 1975, briefly serving in the Michigan Air National Guard from 1977 to 1978. He received a direct commission in the U.S. Army (Reserve) Medical Service Corps serving from 1991 to his retirement in 2012. During his career, assignments included service in the states of Michigan, North Dakota, Colorado, Texas, Virginia and Hawaii. Military overseas assignments included Vietnam, Thailand, Philippines, Bahrain, Kuwait and Afghanistan.