Courage, drama. he-oisrn. tragedy. triumph – all are part of a chaplalrfs inside story of the Jdfst Bombardmmt Group of the Eighth Air Force which helped subdue Germany In World War ll four decades ago. Entitled. ”The Mighty Men of the Slat: Heros All.” the 74IVpage book, replete with ove 10) picture, is just off the press. The author, Dr. James Good own of Haverhill, N.I-l., te most chapters as the mbat action unfolded in 943-46. from his vantage point the list’: official chaplain A Provo man, Dr. LeRoy C. llcox, Lt. Col. USAF (Ret.) served ss adjutant and ter pesonnel officer of the , Group. wu editor of the book, printed by Publishers Pres of Salt Lake City. , His wife Letha Wilcox was lproofreader. Their daughter and soo-in-law, Lynette and r Graham Ambrose of Sandy. provided technical and professional services. The 381st Bomhardment Group (Heavy) wu activated Jan. 1, 1943 at Pyote. Tex. and disbanded at Sioux Falls. S.D. Aug. 78. 1945 after the war. From its base at lttdgewell Axodrome in Ehtgland. it flew Nl B-l’l bombing missions, all chronicled in the volume. More than 4,000 mm se-ved with the Group. There were four squadrons mm the Grou&i The author ‘cated ”The ghty Men of ve Slut: Herou All” to the ammander of the 533rd Afuabny Major Landon C. Hendricks, “and all his fellow comrades who lost their lives in World War ll.” Hendricks was the first squadron chief killed in action. He was leading the formation returning from a bombing mission to Anklarn, Germany Oct. 9. 1943 when intensive rocket fire from many fwhter planes knocked out an engine. slowing his B-17. lie signalled for the next plane to take the lead. then dropped out of formation. drawing huvy fire and deliberately sacrificing himself and his crew so the squadron could speed up and beat off the attackers. ‘lhe German forces were powerful and poised when America entered the war. U.S. bombing crews suffered staggering losses, especially in the earlier months, facing swarms of German fighter planes and heavy gmund flak as they raided strategic targets in Germany and elsewhere. One of the saddest days was Aug. 17, 1943. Twenty-five 1% 17’s were dispatched to bomb ball-bearing plants at Schweinfurt. Germany. Only 15 returned. The chaplaln wrote a wed later: “We lost 10 plans from our Group that dreadful day -one hundrel men. And no one feels tt more severely than aes: fortunate enough to get c Still later he reported that as of the Schweinfurt raid “we had lost half our Group” and “the oth: half by Oct. B and 9 From here on (with replacemuitsi was were sn entirely new outftt.” Author Brown skilIfully captures the hun.-ian side of the story – thoughts and emotions of the fliers, the sadness in ounnttng losses after a mission. the chapIain’s painful task of writing families of the dead. visiting the maimed in hospitals, wartime Christmases. anxieties over German “buaz-bombing” of Britain delight in v sits by movie stan. He calls July 1944 the turning point of the war. “Allied ground troops are moving across France (after D-Day landings). Enemy ground guns are moving back. German air Rwer ls weakming. The Mist mb Group is pounding the targets reluttlusly, and our losses are fewer.” On Nov. 5 the chaplain could write: “lt is now safe to say that the Eighth Air Force is accomplishing its task. We are breaking down the enemy. The Mist has not lost a plme since Sept. E e IB missions without a loss.” Lt. Col. Marvin D. lord is cited as a special example of hoerlsm. A top pilot and later squadron commander, he was one of only a few of the original Group to cunplete 25 mlsstons under the hazardous conditions and earn rotation back to the rtales. But with loyaty beyond the call of duty, he volunteered for a second tour – and sacrificed his life. On a mission over Berlin in 1-‘ehmary l945 his plane wu hit by flak and blew up over the target. The list Bomb Group flew its last mission April 25, 1945. Germany surrendered May 7. Wilcox w s one of those assigned %ey role on the Group’: ictory celebration program. Appendix 1 of “The Mighty Mui is s postscript to the war story. in the summer of ll!. s hundred members of the Bomb Group retumed to England for two solemn. heartfdt csunonies. On Aug. 27 they held a memorial service at the American Military Cemetery at Cambridge. Chaplain Brown was in charge. The rites included a touching munorial tribute by Wilcox. 1’he next day they joined Britons at the familiar surroundings of the Ridgewell Aerodrome to dedicate a stately black marble monummt in munory of those who didn’t come back. As stated in the book’: dedlcatim, these men “gave until they had no fnore to live. Thq gave their rves.”