Serenade to the Big Bird: A New Edition of the Classic B-17 Tribute
- Downloads：1738
- Type：Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
- Create Date：2022-10-29 05:51:42
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Bert Stiles
- ISBN：0764313967
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
- Download
Summary
After completing a tour of duty （thirty-five missions） in B-17s， Bert Stiles transferred to a fighter squadron。 Just four months later he was killed in action on an escort mission to Hanover， Germany， on November 26， 1944。 Stiles' book was written in the period between his two tours。 Serenade to the Big Bird portrays the tragedy of war， and specifically the loss to the world of a fine， sensitive， talented writer who had only a short time to prove his merit。 He died at twenty-three。
Reviews
Dennis West
，
Serenade to the Big BirdThis is the book I have been waiting to read。 My dad was a bombardier with the 483rd stationed in Steparone Italy。 He never talked to me about the war。 Even when he started traveling the US with mom to his reunions。 According to mom he would talk story at the reunions but not at all at home。 I never knew how to start that conversation while he was alive。 I wanted to ask but wasn't sure how and too timid to try。 This book gave me as much a glimpse of what he went through o Serenade to the Big BirdThis is the book I have been waiting to read。 My dad was a bombardier with the 483rd stationed in Steparone Italy。 He never talked to me about the war。 Even when he started traveling the US with mom to his reunions。 According to mom he would talk story at the reunions but not at all at home。 I never knew how to start that conversation while he was alive。 I wanted to ask but wasn't sure how and too timid to try。 This book gave me as much a glimpse of what he went through on his missions as I probably will ever get。 An engaging read and well written。 。。。more
John
，
Serenade to the big bird is a look at war two pilot the my bombing missions。 If this book was his diaries or he actually intended it to be a book is debatable。 The one thing that can be said about this book is it is his words of what it was like to be in World War II flying a bomber。 He went into everything from pilots， other pilots， other crewmembers and their daily routines to their daily conversations。 This book was not just a book about his flights it was also about his social life in the so Serenade to the big bird is a look at war two pilot the my bombing missions。 If this book was his diaries or he actually intended it to be a book is debatable。 The one thing that can be said about this book is it is his words of what it was like to be in World War II flying a bomber。 He went into everything from pilots， other pilots， other crewmembers and their daily routines to their daily conversations。 This book was not just a book about his flights it was also about his social life in the social life of crewmembers another pilots。 It gave a good look into the life of a pilot during World War II。 Bert Styles was definitely a hero， Who enlisted for second tour in which he was killed flying P-51 fighter jet。 this book was a post Mortem book that was pushed to press by his mother。 The writing was raw and times didn’t always reach out to grab you but was a very important piece of work that is unique to the people that flew in the big birds and how they saw the war。 I would say it is a good reference buddy that wants to read something about World War II。 。。。more
Charles P Kuss
，
So soFirst half of the book is just a lot of noathing written seemily just to fill pages。 Second half of the book it proved quite a bit。
Nate Hendrix
，
Amazing insight into the life of a Flying Fortress pilot during WW2。 This book， published after his death by his mother， is a collection of journal entries。 When his tour was over he volunteered to go through fighter training and was subsequently killed。 Judging by this example， his death robbed us of some amazing writing。 A different edition advertises color and black and white photos。 There were no pictures in the edition I read。 Shame
Dan Kohlmeyer
，
I thought it was very hard to follow along with what was being talked about， the terms that were used made things confusing as well。
shari lee
，
The individuals of war think about many thingsThis recount of one man's experience of flying and fighting in this massive world war was very reflective but not very exciting The individuals of war think about many thingsThis recount of one man's experience of flying and fighting in this massive world war was very reflective but not very exciting 。。。more
Christina
，
I am very glad that Bert Stile’s wrote this memoir。 No， it’s not the best written piece of literature out there， but there is something about his down to earth writing style that draws you in。 By the end， it feels like you’ve met him…the real him。 He lets you in on his true thoughts and feelings about war， politics， education， and people all over the world。 He had a very kind， contemplative， and empathetic spirit。 You can tell that he put a lot of thought into how to put pen to paper on his musi I am very glad that Bert Stile’s wrote this memoir。 No， it’s not the best written piece of literature out there， but there is something about his down to earth writing style that draws you in。 By the end， it feels like you’ve met him…the real him。 He lets you in on his true thoughts and feelings about war， politics， education， and people all over the world。 He had a very kind， contemplative， and empathetic spirit。 You can tell that he put a lot of thought into how to put pen to paper on his musings， even if he hadn’t yet made up his mind on everything yet。 He was killed in action at just 23; how sad that the world was deprived of seeing how his thoughts would have continued to develop and mature and change over the years。 He was just finding his voice when it was so brutally cut short， and that perhaps says the most。“In the end it is only people that count， all the people in the whole world。 Any land is beautiful to someone。 Any land is worth fighting for to someone。 So it isn’t the land。 It is the people。” 。。。more
Skim
，
The most memorable part for me was when the author wrote about how he bought 4lbs of strawberries and ate it in one sitting。 I don't know why this is so memorable but maybe how he found a simple pleasure in a complicated world is something we should all be able to do。 The most memorable part for me was when the author wrote about how he bought 4lbs of strawberries and ate it in one sitting。 I don't know why this is so memorable but maybe how he found a simple pleasure in a complicated world is something we should all be able to do。 。。。more
John Salazar
，
Good story lineThe story line jumps around slot。 Well written narrative。 I was able to put myself in the story because I understand the laguage of aviation。
Dan Grimm
，
Great insight in what it was like in the sky over Germany in WW2。
David
，
Very much enjoyed getting into the head of a flight crew member of a B-17 back in the day。 It was interesting， not only to get Bert’s perspective during his actual missions， but also how time was spent “in between” his many flights over France and Germany。
D。 Richard Eunice
，
Not the complete storyThis is not the usual blood and guts war story。 It is the reflection of a man doing a job that had to be done。 He reflects on different aspects of war from a very personal view。 But this is not the true end of the story。 Instead of going home he transfers to fighters and is killed after chasing a 109 to low to pull out of his dive。 I guess Lady Luck was not around any more。
Michael Burnam-Fink
，
Serenade to the Big Bird is a literary memoir of life as a B-17 pilot。 It's short， and somewhat digressive as Stiles wanders through his childhood， dames， leave on London， but the passages in the air are non-technical and electric。 Flying is easy and beautiful。 Flying in tight formation through flak and fighters is anything but。 Death is a constant presence in the air over Germany， a swift and violent in any number of ways as vulnerable ships fall out of formation and get shredded。 After his tou Serenade to the Big Bird is a literary memoir of life as a B-17 pilot。 It's short， and somewhat digressive as Stiles wanders through his childhood， dames， leave on London， but the passages in the air are non-technical and electric。 Flying is easy and beautiful。 Flying in tight formation through flak and fighters is anything but。 Death is a constant presence in the air over Germany， a swift and violent in any number of ways as vulnerable ships fall out of formation and get shredded。 After his tour in B-17s， Stiles transferred to fighters where he was shot down and killed in November， 1944。 It was a waste， as all of war is， but I can't help but be reminded of Ed Rasimus' thoughts， "Flying fighters is simply an assignment， but being a fighter pilot isn’t。 Being a fighter pilot is a state-of-mind。 It’s an attitude toward your job， toward the mission， toward the way you live your life。 You don’t have to fly fighters to be a fighter pilot。 You’ve simply got to have the attitude。" 。。。more
Erwin
，
Perhaps the most honest WWII memoire I have read。 Stiles begins simply and ends simply as he relates his story and questions the reasons of war。 Of course he relates his experiences in the cockpit， and his relationships with members of the crew which do not appear to be that close。 He doesn't relate great heroics or close escapes。 He is an average co-pilot that fails to meld with his pilot。 Like most of us he doesn't remember all he is supposed to do all the time。 But survives his tour， and volu Perhaps the most honest WWII memoire I have read。 Stiles begins simply and ends simply as he relates his story and questions the reasons of war。 Of course he relates his experiences in the cockpit， and his relationships with members of the crew which do not appear to be that close。 He doesn't relate great heroics or close escapes。 He is an average co-pilot that fails to meld with his pilot。 Like most of us he doesn't remember all he is supposed to do all the time。 But survives his tour， and volunteers for a P51 squadron and dies in a crash while engaged with the Luftwaffe。 He relates a simple， uncomplicated tale which describes a typical American pilot with the Eighth Air Force during WWII who just did his job， and sometimes wondered why he did it。 。。。more
Gord
，
War is hell。 This is certainly exemplified in the memory of a B-17 pilot。 I am a member of the Commemorative Air Force （CAF）， Airbase Arizona， Mesa， AZ。 I serve as a Docent in our museum as well as being a Flight Loadmaster （FLM）。 As a FLM I am part of air crew on flights with our WWII B-17G “Sentimental Journey” heavy bomber。 This book brings to life the incredible bravery it took to complete bombing runs which could be as long as ten hours deep into Germany。 I fly with excited guests who want War is hell。 This is certainly exemplified in the memory of a B-17 pilot。 I am a member of the Commemorative Air Force （CAF）， Airbase Arizona， Mesa， AZ。 I serve as a Docent in our museum as well as being a Flight Loadmaster （FLM）。 As a FLM I am part of air crew on flights with our WWII B-17G “Sentimental Journey” heavy bomber。 This book brings to life the incredible bravery it took to complete bombing runs which could be as long as ten hours deep into Germany。 I fly with excited guests who want to relive what it might have been like。 I describe some memories to them having met and spoken with WWII veterans who flew in this very model of B-17G。 When we fly we have no threat of flak which during the 1942-45 period was ever present from the mighty 88 mm anti-aircraft guns。We can never express enough thanks to these very young brave men who fought for our freedom over the skies of Europe during WWII。 The Eighth Air Force had more than 47，000 casualties， with more than 26，000 dead。 The author indicates in his writing that to live or die was simply due to luck。 None of these WWII aircrews care to be called heroes。。。。”We simply did our job。”My role as a Docent is to educate folks on the role and bravery of members of “The Greatest Generation。” Bert Stiles was truly one of those members。 His job was not fun。 Future generations should never forget how thousands of allied aircrew ensured we should be blessed with “Freedom。” Thank you and “Lest We Forget。” 。。。more
janeann fessler
，
This was written by a WW II pilot。 It is autobiographical account of the European part of the conflict。 I love it and we will dad when it ends。 I borrowed this from the Internet Archive。
Jensen
，
Was so sad and good - he was so young when he died but had so much good in him :（
Jack Estes
，
Good book about flying a B-17 in the later war years， not just a dry history。 I was very sorry after finishing the book that he died at age 24 on his second tour of duty。 He finished his 35 missions as a B-17 co-pilot。 Instead of going home like the rest of his crew members and having a long life， he transitioned to fighters and flew 16 missions as a P-51 pilot before being killed in action。
Jeanie Wallenstein
，
I liked this book for its personal and simpler nature。 There are quite a few books about the B-17’s and the men （and women！） who flew， fought， and died in them。 This one is an important one of the few written by one who was among them。In addition， for any who are interested， also read The Wrong Stuff: The Adventures and Misadventures of an 8th Air Force Aviator， by Truman Smith， also an 8th Air Force B-17 co-pilot。
Campbell Kennedy
，
Pulls you along with palatable fearNot for those afraid of flying。。。。。。shows the nerve stretching lottery of a daylight bomber captain and his crew。You can smell the sweat through the words。 Rather them than me。
Nic
，
So many war memoirs are written years after the action， so it was different to read one that was written while the fighting was taking place。 Interesting perspective on the war and the loss of so many bombers and their crews。 At times， Stiles writing style is more of a stream of consciousness than anything else。
Jack
，
‘It was summer & there was war all over the world。’A matter-of-fact line at the start of the remarkably humble & dramatic book， Serenade to the Big Bird by Bert Stiles， about his brief but stressful career as a co-pilot in a B-17 bomber during WWII， albeit for less than a year， but what a hectic year！‘All I knew about war I got through books and movies and magazine articles。。。。 It wasn’t in my blood， it was all in my mind。’I was moved by Bert’s spare & honest writing style， like a confessional ‘It was summer & there was war all over the world。’A matter-of-fact line at the start of the remarkably humble & dramatic book， Serenade to the Big Bird by Bert Stiles， about his brief but stressful career as a co-pilot in a B-17 bomber during WWII， albeit for less than a year， but what a hectic year！‘All I knew about war I got through books and movies and magazine articles。。。。 It wasn’t in my blood， it was all in my mind。’I was moved by Bert’s spare & honest writing style， like a confessional letter he might have written home to his Dad， to spare his Mom from any heartache。 Incredible that he could still write under such traumatic conditions while flying 2 to 3 missions per week， usually on consecutive days。 And not knowing whether he’d ever come back to home base， again， dead or alive。 In 1944， Bert was stationed in England & assigned to the 401st Bomb Squadron， 91st Bomb Group at Bassingbourn in Cambridgeshire， about 4 miles from the small town of Royston。I can’t imagine his stress levels compounded by the lack of sufficient sleep， which might have only been alleviated by his habitual need to write， in a serious attempt to understand the world at war。 Especially when B-17 crews were down-sized from 10 guys to 9 & the number of required missions was increased from 25 to 35 & the fact that heavy bombers were expectantly lost every day; it’s no wonder so many guys were stressed beyond their youthful ability to cope with combat fatigue & what they off-handedly referred to themselves as ‘flak happy’。As you read this book you get to know Bert as a person & not just another random airman obscured by history， although I wonder if I liked Bert & his book all the more because I know what happened to him after he finished telling me the story of his young & adventurous life。 But I think not， because when someone shares their life on so many different levels， it’s impossible to forget them， especially when you find some commonality on a very personal level， something discreetly identifiable， like a shared secret between friends。 Much like the book’s dedication Bert made to the memory of his friend， Mac， which becomes all the more poignant after reading about their bond of friendship with such a deep emotional connection， for however brief a time。Maybe I was moved to tears on more than one page by his compassion for the world at large & the recognition of some uncertain solution thereby with his passion for economics， or being equally honest about his faults as well as his fearlessness to be utterly self-aware， or in agreement with his collective dreams， in order to contribute something to the world， after the end of the war。 And in unison with the sober picture of Bert in his military uniform， on page 8 as a plaintive reminder of intimacy that puts a face to the voice of reason in the midst of chaos。 Like Bert， I struggled to understand the senselessness of war & why nobody could figure out how to end the conflict & prevent the incalculable loss of life， or exactly who decided their fate w/regard to his subsequent daily missions。 Maybe， I was moved to tears because I knew how much longer the war would actually last & acknowledged his anxiety in retrospect that there wasn’t anything I could do or say or write in a return letter， to help Bert & save him from his own despondency， in a downward spiral of sadness & depression， both figuratively & literally。Maybe I liked Bert & his book so much more because we both aspired to be writers in our own unique way & I was encouraged by his tenacity & motivated by his discipline when I found that Bert had barricaded himself in his fraternity house while at Colorado College in the summer of 1941， to diligently write 27 short stories。 So， Bert was already a published writer of stories & essays while he flew B-17s over Europe during the war & then later when he flew fighters， as a pilot in a P-51 Mustang。I’m systemically inspired by his short yet productive life & overall heroic achievements， still deeply saddened by the fact that he died so young， at 24; as another misfortunate & careless statistic randomly dictated by Lady Luck， which haplessly curtailed any plans he had hoped to pursue， after the war。 Bert will definitely be missed， yet left a legacy of some classified portion of his soul for us to always remember。I like Bert & enjoyed his book， Serenade to the Big Bird， published posthumously after the war in 1947， presumably in England， as the first printing in America was 5 years later， in 1952。 I would also like to read some of his ‘stories & essays’ in the 3 books edited by Robert F。 Cooper; Midnight Serenade， Serenade to the World from 30，000 & The Final Serenade。 Also， the book about Bert’s life by Mr。 Cooper， called Serenade to the Blue Lady。I will fondly remember Bert lying in a grassy meadow between missions， feeding candy bars to hungry horses & friendly kids， or imagine him trying to sing forgotten lyrics to a favorite song， or virtually struggle with him in the cockpit to keep the wing-tips of his B-17 from touching the other bombers on both sides， in close formation; when forced to fly straight through a belligerent blast of flak from enemy guns below， while he prays for Lady Luck to shield his fellow airmen from a spray of bullets from enemy fighters， as hundreds of B-17 bombers with the same deadly payload dropped their robotic bombs on an unfamiliar target far below the scattered clouds。 Bert says， maybe， the war will end tomorrow， or not， just take me back to England safe & sound， so I can write another letter home & get more sack time before my next mission， tomorrow， probably。‘What I wanted to do tomorrow was ski down Baldy up at Sun Valley， or wade out into the surf at Santa Monica， and get all knocked out in the waves， and come in and lie in the sun all afternoon。’Me too， Bert！ But， good-bye for now & rest in peace， buddy！Book review by Jack Dunsmoor， author of the book， OK2BG。 。。。more
Brian Campbell
，
It is all about peopleWhile Stiles wrote about the bombing missions he co-piloted， the bulk of his writing was about universal human experience as citizens， as consumers of education and as people caught in war。 He would write about a conversation with someone during his tour in the US Army Air Force and then write about his thoughts about education， for example。 It seemed like the conversation prompted thoughts that he described in the book。 His profound thoughtfulness made the book a valuable It is all about peopleWhile Stiles wrote about the bombing missions he co-piloted， the bulk of his writing was about universal human experience as citizens， as consumers of education and as people caught in war。 He would write about a conversation with someone during his tour in the US Army Air Force and then write about his thoughts about education， for example。 It seemed like the conversation prompted thoughts that he described in the book。 His profound thoughtfulness made the book a valuable read。 He wrote well about various facets of the war。 He hoped for peace before the German people were destroyed。 I remember his hope as something like there will be enough good Germans left after the war that Germany will become a partner with countries so that there will be widespread happiness that Germany is good to have in the world。 He seemed a bit frustrated by the pilot role while the B-17’s were under attack。 The plane’s gunners could shoot back while the pilots watched the attacker firing at their plane。 His ideas about the equality and goodness across all people seem to me to be a basic truth and I appreciate his way of describing truth。 。。。more
Rick
，
Great look inside the world of a WWII bomber crew。
Alan Masson
，
Those guys were truly heroes。。。a very dramatic and emotional read！Reading this book was like being right there with him。 And experiencing the fear and emotion of real conscripted fliers。。。it cetainly gave me pause。。。and a great deal of wonder how l would have handled myself if it were me。。。。。 l m 80， and as a kid witnessed a bit of the war 。。but children do not feel fear 。。as he did。。ina very mature way。。。。an excellent read， inspiring and hear breaking。
Joseph
，
An emotionally insightful personal account of a citizen soldier。 Reveals the inner thoughts of a young man not desiring to fly， fight and win typical of many personal accounts， rather of a man called to duty， contemplating so many reasons why， and enduring。
Martin Koenigsberg
，
Simply a great and gripping read。 Bert Stiles is a true American hero。 After COMPLETING his original tour of duty as a B-17 Co-Pilot， the full thirty five missions （A Feat as many bomber crew would have told you）， he volunteered to fight again， this time as a Fighter Pilot， in P-51s。 It was in this iconic fighter， escorting the very iconic bomber he used to fly， that he was shot down， fatally， at the age of 23， over Hanover in late 1944。 He turns out to be a very talented writer， with a unique a Simply a great and gripping read。 Bert Stiles is a true American hero。 After COMPLETING his original tour of duty as a B-17 Co-Pilot， the full thirty five missions （A Feat as many bomber crew would have told you）， he volunteered to fight again， this time as a Fighter Pilot， in P-51s。 It was in this iconic fighter， escorting the very iconic bomber he used to fly， that he was shot down， fatally， at the age of 23， over Hanover in late 1944。 He turns out to be a very talented writer， with a unique and compelling voice， compounding the tragedy， but making the book a very bittersweet gift from the ages send back to tell us how it is to fight such a total war。I really don't want to spoil it for you， its that rich。 Suffice it to say that we get all the musings of a young man with clearly a lot of promise。 He's attractive， an agile writer， has an inquiring mind， like to cause a bit of fun when on his own， and has clearly paid attention to all his schooling。 We follow along through his early life and then into the army and air corps。 He meets and dallies with the opposite sex。 But then we get to England and the missions and the book really pulls us into the world he saw。 The missions are taut- the other empty time is filled with boredom and sleep- or various wacky and fairly innocent hijinks。 From my few conversations with my parents' friends who flew in the 8th， every word rings true ， and you really feel the intensity。There are a few gory moments， but they are handled so clinically that I think a reader over 11 will be able to stay in the moment and still enjoy the book。 They will be amply rewarded for their interest。 For the Gamer/Modeller/Military Enthusiast。。。 Pure Gold。 I think any good read should deliver diorama and scenario ideas by the bushel！ One snippet I recall as I write is when he describes a strong ME 410 attack on a formation over the Ruhr- I was impressed that they could totally ID the aircraft at those speeds and then recall their tactics for the type- and also impressed because I had thought the German plane did not serve in such numbers- good new information for a guy who's read over 30 such memoirs。 This book will hold the interest of the WWII Junkie reader and the more casual reader- it combines content and writing style better than most。 There might even be enough romance for the female readership this book deserves。 。。。more
Harold Brezina
，
These guys were true herosVery was not only a pilot but also a poet and philosopher。 He gives us his thoughts and feelings about not only the war but about many other things going on at the time。
Tim Freund
，
Good readNice reading the personal side of the air crews in world war II。 The writting was hard to put down
Leo J。 brunetti
，