Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 7:04 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Lucky's Life - The Book
PostPosted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 11:53 am 
Offline

Joined: Wed Apr 16, 2014 4:05 pm
Posts: 25
I am extremely happy to announce the publishing of Lucky's Life! It is available now in ebook version on Amazon - Lucky's Life by Donald Larson.

The color paperback version (630 pages - Retail $45) can be viewed/ordered at https://www.facebook.com/luckyslifevc38/ Please visit the facebook page and hit LIKE!

Description:

The story of my uncle, William Rudolf Larson- nicknamed "Lucky" by his fellow pilots, is the account and authentic voice of a WWII TBF pilot told in his own words from more than 60 family letters and postcards to his proud parents and his kid-brother - my father. Lucky served on the USS Nashville before WWII, participated on the Doolittle Raid as a SOC pilot, and then trained in the new Avenger plane before shipping out to the Solomon Islands and bombing Japanese positions during the Bougainville Campaign of 1943. Several of his aviation exploits were chronicled in the Chicago Daily News, the Oakland Tribune, the Divide County Journal, and the Williston Herald. Lucky's letters to his home were saved in a pinewood Naval trunk for 70 years within the family. Upon researching his life, the War Diary of his radioman was discovered and filled in the rich WWII history of Lucky and his fellow VC 38 squadron. Recent declassified mission reports of VC 38's heroic actions during the Bougainville Campaign also provide an insight into Lucky's war experience and air battles. Sadly, Lucky never returned to the family farm in rural Divide County, North Dakota. Lucky was posthumously awarded the Air Medal. This book includes condolence letters from family members and VC 38 pilots, along with their individual stories and photographs. 43 TBF mission reports and over 150 unpublished WWII-era photographs and maps are included.

Contents
Preface v
Acknowledgments xi
Guide to Abbreviations and Acronyms xiii
INTRODUCTION
The Early Years & Family Background xvii
CHAPTER 1
Time at US NAS Pensacola Florida 1
CHAPTER 2
Days Aboard the USS Nashville (1940 to 1942) 15
CHAPTER 3
VGS-21 Days — West Coast 58
CHAPTER 4
VC 38 Days — California, At Sea, Guadalcanal, & Munda Point 80
CHAPTER 5
The Aftermath 141
Epilogue 197
Contributors: 208
APPENDIX A
Study Myself 211
APPENDIX B
William Rudolf Larson Background Items 249
APPENDIX C
USS Nashville War Diary April 18 1942 Doolittle Raid 297
APPENDIX D
Lucky’s Flight to Tanaga 315
APPENDIX E
Intelligence Reports & War Diaries 325
APPENDIX F
Tribute to VC38 471
APPENDIX G
The Making of Lucky’s Life 587


Please share with family and friends.

Sincerely,

Don Larson
Portland, Oregon


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 1 post ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 9 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group