Coming Home on Three An Airman's Diary of WWII

Author: Robert Laird
Publisher: Sharp and Co VE
Edition: First
Cover: Soft
Published: 2006
Bomb
Signed by Robert Laird With Note

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Synopsis: This intimate personal account, structured as a wartime diary, provides readers with an unfiltered look at the daily experiences of an American bomber crewman during World War II's European Theater. The book's title refers to the common occurrence of bombers returning from missions with one or more engines damaged or destroyed, requiring exceptional skill and courage to reach friendly territory safely. The diary format creates immediacy and authenticity, allowing readers to experience the emotional highs and lows of combat operations as they unfold. The narrative begins with the author's training in the United States, documenting the transformation from civilian to military aviator through detailed entries describing flight instruction, gunnery training, and crew formation processes. Personal observations reveal the anxiety and excitement of young men preparing for an uncertain future in hostile skies. The diary entries capture the camaraderie that developed among crew members and the gradual acceptance of the dangers they would soon face. Deployment to England marks a significant transition in the narrative, with detailed descriptions of wartime Britain and the culture shock experienced by Americans encountering a society under siege. The author documents his first impressions of combat bases, including the primitive living conditions and the constant presence of death that characterized bomber operations. Early mission entries reveal the terror and disorientation of first combat experiences, including the author's honest admission of fear and uncertainty about his ability to perform under fire. As missions accumulate, the diary entries show the psychological adaptation that enabled airmen to continue flying despite mounting losses among their friends and colleagues. Technical problems and combat damage are frequently mentioned, including several hair-raising accounts of returning to base with seriously damaged aircraft. The author's descriptions of damaged engines, wounded crew members, and emergency landings provide vivid insights into the daily reality of bomber operations. Personal relationships receive significant attention, including correspondence with family members and the development of romantic attachments despite the uncertainty of survival. The diary also documents rest and recreation activities, showing how airmen coped with the stress of combat operations through humor, alcohol, and escapist entertainment. Mission summaries reveal the author's growing understanding of the strategic importance of individual operations and his place in the broader war effort. The work concludes with the completion of the author's combat tour and his emotional departure from England, leaving behind friends and experiences that would influence him throughout his life.

Coming Home on Three An Airman's Diary of WWII, is one of the many primary source materials in the Army Air Corps Museum collection.