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MWSA Review
When Heroes Flew: Black Thursday by H.W. “Buzz” Bernard is a gripping novel set in Europe during World War II in 1943. The U.S. 8th Air Force is trying to stop Nazi aggression by hitting targets in Germany that will halt production of their machines of war.
Having flown missions and crash-landed twice, Colonel Matt Barrington is older and is now commanding a desk, planning bombing raids into Germany for other pilots. When many bombers—each with a crew of ten— are lost, Matt is deeply affected by the rising body count. Washington and the powers that be are discussing “acceptable and incidental loss” necessary to achieve a mission. Matt can’t sleep at night because he sees the faces of these men and their grieving families instead of numbers. He is plagued by headaches and occasional shortness of breath from the stress of sending men into battle, who he knows may not return.
Deciding to visit a base during a pre-raid briefing, Matt hopes his presence will show the bomber pilots and crews that they are supported by the planners. On his way to the base, Matt stops at a bakery shop for something to eat. He meets the owner Charlie, short for Charlotte, and sparks fly. A lovely romantic relationship begins. Matt finds peace and love in Charlie’s arms. Charlie, a war widow, is relieved that Matt is behind a desk and no longer flying. That is, until Matt decides to join a dangerous mission to show the men that he won’t ask them to do something that he won’t do himself.
I was drawn to each of these characters. Author Bernard uses all the richness of the five senses to draw a reader into the story. I was angry with the brass in the Pentagon, gasped at the horror of war, and cried at the loss of life. Bernard’s conversational writing is laced with a great sense of humor. Oh, yeah, the ending left me absolutely stunned.
Buzz Bernard creates a beautiful tapestry, weaving real history and people with fictional characters into a story featuring many unsung heroes of World War II.
Review by Nancy Panko
Author's Synopsis
Colonel Matt Barrington knows the cold calculus of WWII strategic bombing. As one of the masterminds behind the US 8th Air Force's daring raids into Nazi Germany, he's accustomed to making decisions that send men to their deaths. But when a mission goes terribly wrong, resulting in the loss of 60 bombers, the weight of command threatens to crush him.
Seeking solace from his guilt-ridden insomnia, Matt finds unexpected comfort in the arms of Charlotte, an English widow, who understands the true cost of the war. Their budding romance offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of conflict. But as the casualties mount, Matt realizes he can no longer lead from behind a desk. Determined to share in the risks his men face, Matt volunteers for a dangerous bombing raid, returning to the skies alongside the soldiers he sends into battle. But surviving one mission only deepens the weight of his guilt.
Haunted by loss and driven by an unyielding sense of duty, Matt defies direct orders and enters the cockpit once more. In a heart-stopping raid high above occupied Europe, he faces not only the lethal forces of the Luftwaffe and their deadly new weapons but also the demons that have long plagued him—and his last chance at a future with Charlotte. As flak bursts around his B-17 and enemy fighters close in, Matt must confront the ultimate question: In the crucible of war, can one man's actions truly make a difference?
Format(s) for review: Paper or Kindle
Review genre: Fiction—Historical Fiction
Pages/Word count: 244 / 70,000