Into the Firestorm

From the hellish skies over Europe to the unforgiving terrain of the Himalayas, this is the first complete history of the C-47 aircrew who helped turn the tide of war.

One of the most perilous combat roles of World War II was that of the Allied aircrews who flew unarmed transport planes into enemy territory, often just hundreds of feet above the battlefield. Tasked with delivering paratroopers and towing combat gliders packed with troops and equipment, the crews braved anti-aircraft fire and enemy fighters without the means to shoot back.

Drawing on after-action reports, letters, and personal diaries, Into the Firestorm takes readers into the cockpit of the C-47, revealing the extraordinary courage of these crews in the first complete history of their experiences. Aircrews of the C-47 were ordered to fly straight, low, take no evasive action, and arrive “on time and on target.” On every single mission they were, quite simply, sitting ducks. Readers are introduced to the college students, farmhands, and store clerks who were thrust into service, many of whom would never return. Yet their contribution to the war was crucial. Without resupplies from C-47s, Patton would have lost the Battle of the Bulge. Without the willingness of these aircrews to fly directly over the Himalayas, Japan’s war in the east may well have prevailed.

Award-winning author Scott McGaugh restores these unsung heroes to their rightful place in the legacy of the Greatest Generation.