Bibliograph

Special duties pilot, the man who flew the real 'Inglorious Basterds' behind enemy lines, John M. Billings

Type

Label

Special duties pilot, the man who flew the real 'Inglorious Basterds' behind enemy lines, John M. Billings

Language

eng

resource.biographical

autobiography

Illustrations

illustrationsplates

Index

index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Special duties pilot

Oclc number

1196242020

Responsibility statement

John M. Billings

Sub title

the man who flew the real 'Inglorious Basterds' behind enemy lines

Summary

If there was ever a man who was born to fly, it is John M. Billings. He took his first plane ride in 1926, began taking piloting lessons in 1938, and joined the US Army Air Force in July 1942. After training he was assigned to fly Consolidated B-24 Liberator long-range bombers. He joined the 825th Bombardment Squadron of the 484th Bombardment Group. After flying fifteen daylight strategic bombing missions, Billings was selected for assignment to the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special). The 885th specialized in flying top secret, low-altitude missions at night in support of the clandestine operations of the OSS and the Special Operations Executive. The unit's covert missions included parachuting OSS and SOE agents and supplies deep inside German territory. After the war, John Billings flew with Trans World Airlines and Eastern Airlines. He also flew more than 300 'Angel Flight' airlift missions which involve the specialized aerial transportation of critically ill medical patients. This is one man's story of a remarkable lifetime of flying, both in peace and in war

resource.variantTitle

Special duties pilot, the man who flew the real 'Inglorious Bastards' behind enemy lines

Classification