Two of bendiners twentyfive missions were directed at the ballbearing factories of schweinfurt. After the war, he worked for esquire, then for a series of medical publications, and wrote a number of books. Find the fall of fortresses by bendiner, elmer at biblio. This story is confirmed in elmer bendiners book, the fall of fortresses. Elmer bendiner february 11, 1916 september 16, 2001 citation needed was an american writer and journalist bendiner was born in pittsburgh to william bendiner, a businessman, and lillian maiden name schwartz. The book is now out of print but the team was able to acquire a used copy at. Bendiner was not a famous pilot like guy gibson enemy coast ahead he was a navigator who managed to.
The account was allegedly written in a book by elmer bendiner called the fall of fortresses. The story, as written in the circulating erumor below, is a paraphrasing of an actual account given by world war 2 war veteran elmer bendiner in his book the fall of fortresses. Elmer bendiner february 11, 1916 september 16, 2001 was an american writer and. Elmer bendiner was a navigator in a b17 during ww ii. Growing up jewish in an appalachian environment where the ku klux klan was influential and jews, catholics, and the very few blacks on the.
Fall of fortresses paperback may 12, 1980 by elmer bendiner author. A personal account of the most daring and deadly american air battles of world war ii bendiner, elmer published by g. A personal account of one of the most daring and deadly air battles of the second world war bendiner, elmer on. A salute to our veterans and the friends they never met the. But if you enjoyed similar liberalslanted, antiwar books like the war lover john hersey and serenade to the big bird bert stiles, youll probably love the fall. In elmer bendiners book, the fall of fortresses, he describes one bombing run over the german city of kassel. Uncommonly good collectible and rare books from uncommonly good booksellers.
Among his betterknown works are the rise and fall of paradise a history of alandalus, a time for angels. Fall of fortresses by elmer bendiner a highquality wwii memoir. Fall of fortresses by elmer bendiner a highquality wwii. Fall of fortresses by elmer bendiner a highquality wwii memoir this is a very fine book. A vivid, poignant recreation of the european air war, as seen. A personal account of one of the most daring and deadly air battles of the second world war. He tells this story of a world war ii bombing run over kassel, germany, and the unexpected result of a direct hit on their gas tanks.
Elmer bendiner author of the fall of fortresses elmer bendiner is the author of the fall of fortresses 4. The fall of fortresses by elmer bendiner goodreads. Bendiner weaves a tale of his life during those times, using a rambling style of writing in which a dozen metaphors or more i liked the fall of fortresses and i liked it a lot. This small, wise book, written with elegant simplicity, makes the reader see, smell, and feel the airmans war. May 12, 1980 looking back, authornavigator bendiner tautly interweaves an account of his experiences aboard a ww ii b17 with a reappraisal of the allied decision to bomb schweinfurt in 1943. Bendiner was not a famous pilot like guy gibson enemy coast ahead he was a navigator who managed to complete a tour of 25 operations over occupied europe in b17 fly fortresses that steadfastly continued to attack during daylight hours, and suffered horrendous losses as a result. Army air corps navigator who flew in the nose of b17 flying fortresses during world war two and this is his memoir. The fall of fortresses by elmer bendiner, and a note found. You might find elmer bendiners the fall of fortresses a different view of the context of the movie. An american world war ii b17 aircraft navigator, elmer bendiner from pittsburg, pennsylvania, wrote a book called the fall of fortresses.
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