audiobook The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and Missions of Joseph Heller's 340th Bomb Group in World War II by Patricia Chapman Meder in History

Review

20 of 20 people found the following review helpful. Daugther of George L. WellsBy WWAs a daughter of George L. Wells (Capt. Wren); I am indebted to Pat Meder for writing a true version of what the brave men of the 340th Bonb Group accomplished during World War II. Although my father surely enjoyed humor; he and his war buddies did not appreciate the satire and dark humor of "Catch-22". They were in fact humiliated by the description of them supposedly bombing their own air field and running around naked. For years I would listen to my father and his war buddies discuss "Catch-22" and how someone should write a book about what really happened--the "true" story.Pat's accurate version of what these proud heroes believed in and accomplished during the war will make them rest in peace. In writing this book; Pat has captured the true characters of the men of the 340th Bomb Group. As I read her book; my childhood returned and I could once again see my humble father's war buddies visiting and telling stories of his and their missions and the life they shared. I could hear my father talking about those they lost and those he would respect until his last days; heroes like General Chapman. I cannot find the words to thank Pat for bringing my father back to me as I read her book. I hope that reading this book and seeing the glimses into these men's characters will inspire others to live optimistically; seek excellence in all they do and love and serve their country.Wenda Wells Halter0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Book Reviews: A Catch-22 History Twofer ReviewBy MudcatCatch-22: 50th Anniversary Edition is my all time favorite book. So when I learned about The Bridgebusters: The True Story of the Catch-22 Bomb Wing; it immediately shot to the top of my Goodreads "Want to Read" list. It has everything to make it a perfect read for me: airplanes; history and Heller. Then I found out about The True Story Of Catch-22: The Real Men and Missions of Joseph Heller's 340th Bomb Group in World War II; written by the daughter of the real Colonel Cathcart; so I daisy-chained right into what turned out to be the Yin for Cleaver's Yang.The Bridgebusters is a history book of the 57th Bomb Wing in which Joseph Heller served as a bombardier on a B-25 during World War II. Cleaver details the missions primarily in the context of the Allied campaign to liberate Italy which; frankly; I am less familiar with than Operation Overlord and the action of the Eighth Air Force's B-17s bombing Germany from England. Heller is shown as the cog he was in the U.S. fighting machine that defeated the Nazis and Cleaver puts forth an interesting theory of the author's true relationship to Yossarian.The True Story of Catch-22 is less a history book and more a collection of personal memoirs of the men of Heller's 488th squadron. As the daughter of the group's commanding officer; Meder has a direct and much more personal relationship with the subject and her focus is mapping the novel's characters to real men fighting a real war; which is a much different story than Bridgebusters; but an equally interesting one; especially with all of the pictures she pulled out of her father's atticNow that I've read "the rest of the story;" as Paul Harvey was fond of saying; I'm re-reading Catch-22. On a personal note; having attempted a satirical novel (In the Black: 1965-1969) based on personal experiences and inspired by Heller's masterpiece; these books were a fascinating study in the tangled web of fact and fiction for me.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Heroes of the 340th BGBy James D. CrabtreeJoseph Heller's classic novel Catch-22 centers around Yossarian; a bombardier in a B-25 unit which is conducting a war of insanity against targets in Italy. In this book the author tries to connect; with some success; the lives of members of the 340th Bomber Group (Heller's WWII unit) with characters in Catch-22.While the information is there it centers around the author's father; who served as the inspiration for Colonel Cathcart in the book. The format of the book varies; from graphic portrayals to interviews to excerpts from news articles. The sources actually confused me in some parts because I was not sure who was supposed to be who. There are maps and graphics but the spots where they appear in the book seems to have little to do with the corresponding text. This is a pity because the graphics were done well. I could suggest improvements but the book is what it is. Certainly it is worth reading if you already know and like Catch-22 but I don't think it would inspire someone NOT familiar with the novel to read it. It could have done both.As an aside; I have read several books with first-person accounts of the airmen who fought in WWII skies and the accounts of 340th BG are no less inspirational. We owe a debt to these men which cannot be repaid.