• A Wing and a Prayer

  • The “Bloody 100th” Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action over Europe in World War II
  • By: Harry H. Crosby
  • Narrated by: Chris Monteiro
  • Length: 10 hrs and 42 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (230 ratings)

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A Wing and a Prayer  By  cover art

A Wing and a Prayer

By: Harry H. Crosby
Narrated by: Chris Monteiro
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Publisher's summary

They began operations out of England in the spring of '43. They flew their Flying Fortresses almost daily against strategic targets in Europe in the name of freedom. Their astonishing courage and appalling losses earned them the name that resounds in the annals of aerial warfare and made the "Bloody Hundredth" a legend.

Harry H. Crosby—soon to be portrayed by Anthony Boyle in the miniseries Masters of the Air developed by Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg—arrived with the very first crews, and left with the very last. After dealing with his fear and gaining in skill and confidence, he was promoted to Group Navigator, surviving hairbreadth escapes and eluding death while leading thirty-seven missions, some of them involving two thousand aircraft. Now, in a breathtaking and often humorous account, he takes us into the hearts and minds of these intrepid airmen to experience both the triumph and the white-knuckle terror of the war in the skies.

©1993, 2000 Harry H. Crosby (P)2023 Tantor

What listeners say about A Wing and a Prayer

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love love love the history

Crosby was excellent in his story.
My Grandfather flew with him.
It sure is something to hear your Grandpa's name mentioned.
Very personal to me & touching

Forever Thankful 🇺🇲

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Fantastic storytelling

Crosby is a very talented writer, he made me feel so many things and I was able to imagine each scene like I was there. He did not glorify the war, but simply portrayed the good, bad, and ugly of it

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A great example

A must read for every generation So they can remember why and how they have freedom And to who they owe for that freedom

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A personal view of challenges, loss, and enduring

This book brought home all the details left out of historical literature of the air war in Europe. My father was a navigator on B-17s and I now know why he did not talk about his time flying. When a name was listed and the title "my friend", then "gone" repeatedly, I can only imagine the sorrow he felt and the horror he saw. Crosby wrote with an openness that brought all that he and others went through into a more human focus. Well worth the read.

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The greatest sacrifice

What stood out the most to me as a son of a World War II veteran was the tremendous loss of life and sacrifice that our American,
Canadian and British men made for this war. The bloody 100th was a story of tremendous loss and one needing to be told.

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Author Crosby has written an autobiography of his experiences during WWII in the 8th Air Force. I read it because this book was the basis of the mini-series, "Masters of the Air" which did not do justice to Crosby's character. "Masters" writers obviously took license with the book upon which it was based. The book reinforced two things from my career as an Air Force (SAC) navigator during the 1970s-1980s.. 1. In 30 years, nothing changed with respect to the way that navigators are treated. 2. Strategic Air Command's character was forged by the 8th Air Force over Europe during WWII. Crosby after "Masters" includes several more war stories and his lifetime decisions. An excellent read.

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great book

after reading and watching the masters of the air this book was a great 2nd perspective to add to the story of the 100th. Over all a great book!

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Epic story.

Really liked that it was in the 1st person. Added depth to the story. Recommend it to WW2 buffs.

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Wonderful narration and story telling!

Such a great book! Hats off to the 100th and all those who served in ww2

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The True Story behind Masters of the Air

Despite being named after Don Miller’s book, this is the book that Apple’s Masters of the Air is based on. It’s an excellent primary source of the bomber war over Europe. As a former USAF Nav, Crosby really captures the essence of being aircrew in my opinion.

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