Luck of the Draw

Luck of the Draw by Frank Murphy takes readers on a riveting journey through one of the most perilous times in history. Beginning on August 17, 1942, American heavy bomber crews of the Eighth Air Force embarked on dangerous combat missions in the hostile skies over occupied Europe. The stakes were unimaginably high: 4,300 B-17s and B-24s never returned, nearly 28,000 men were captured or interned in neutral countries, and a further 26,000 made the ultimate sacrifice.

Frank Murphy's story stands out as more than just another war tale. As a member of the famed 100th Bombardment Group, he experienced the unpredictability of war firsthand. After his B-17 Flying Fortress was shot down, Murphy found himself among the few who survived. Enduring months in a German POW camp, his resilience and courage shone through under the direst conditions. His exemplary service was later honoured with the Prisoner of War Medal, the Purple Heart, and the Air Medal.

Luck of the Draw explores themes of bravery, sacrifice, and survival against overwhelming odds. It's a testament to the human spirit and a detailed account of military history from someone who lived it. The narrative grips the reader, offering a poignant and powerful recount of the brutalities faced and the relentless determination to overcome them.

Praise for Luck of the Draw:

“In the pursuit of authenticity, of accurate history and undeniable courage, no words matter more than, ‘I was there.’ Read Luck of the Draw and the life of Frank Murphy and ponder this: how did those boys do such things?” — Tom Hanks

“Navigator Frank Murphy’s propulsive account of the American bomber war against Nazi Germany is also a powerful and poignant memoir of survival in a German POW compound. The book’s heart-stopping account of the brutal Winter March of the captured Allied airmen across the heart of Hitler’s dying Reich places it with Twelve O’Clock High as a classic of World War II literature.” — Donald L. Miller, author of Masters of the Air: The American Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

The epic true story of an American hero who flew during World War II, soon to be featured in the upcoming Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks TV series, Masters of the Air.