During the troubled time of war, many ordinary people move away from the safety and comfort of home to the harrowing theatre of war. This account follows the life of a Second World War B-17 bombardier, Fred Lull, from the beginning of the war to its conclusion through the letters he wrote home to his mother. Not wanting to worry his family, Fred doesn’t share his horrific experiences of what he experienced through the Plexiglas nose of his plane, nor of aircraft destroyed or dismemberment by flak.
However, utilising the bombardier’s combat flight record, research data and interviews with former B-17 crewmembers, along with the 150 letters he wrote home to his mother, Fred’s tale reveals the true experience of war. Richly illustrated throughout, Belle of the Brawl serves to tell a story of war from the supremely relatable perspective of a son writing home to his mother.
GARY A. BEST holds a PhD from the University of Minnesota and has written and travelled extensively in his professional field, lecturing abroad and living and teaching in China. He is the recipient of the Outstanding Professor Award from his university and has been named a distinguished alumnus of two colleges.