B-29 “DOUBLE TROUBLE” IS “MISTER BEE”

Why did I write this book? Why do I tell the story of my father with the focus on his combat experience during World War II? Such a question is one frequently asked of those who write books or who make movies. The primary reason for writing this book is to honor a man, one who I knew personally, for his wartime experience: my own father. Another reason for writing this book is to memorialize one man's service during World War II so it will not be lost to future generations. Another reason is I wanted to combine into one place the details of his life and the details of his service in World War II. Another reason is to publicize his greatest accomplishment: being part of the B-29 crew that flew the longest nonstop aviation combat mission of World War II. Finally, I wanted some king of reckoning or answer: why and how did my father survive the war? Why was he not the subject of one of those heartbreaking telegrams beginning “DEEPLY REGRET TO INFORM YOU” and continuing with the phrase “KILLED IN ACTION” or “MISSING IN ACTION”? After all, if he had not survived I would not be writing this book.