CONTENTS

Foreword by Scott Carpenter

Introduction

PART I — GEORGE, JOSEPH HELLER, AND “THE BEST DAMNED BOMB GROUP THERE IS”

1: George: Unwitting Ancestor of Captain Wren

2: Joe: Who Shares the Same DNA as Yossarian

3: The Mission: The Common Denominator

4: Bill, Solid; Colonel Cathcart, Splintered

5: Bob: From Neighbors Orville and Wilbur, to Catch-22's General Dreedle

6: George, Again

PART II — MEET THE HEROES

part III — THE 340TH BOMB GROUP SPEAKS: TWELVE TRUE TALES

7: Paul Gale Speaks: Vesuvius Speaks — We Listen

8: Ward Laiten Speaks: I am 7-K

9: Herb Barclay Speaks: Chaff over the Target

10: Frank B. Dean Speaks: We Lose the Question Mark

11: R.M. Johnston Speaks: Short Snorter

12: Beryl Graubaugh Speaks: Doc Figures in One of My Favorite War Stories

13: Ben Kanowsky Speaks: Charlie

14: Hal Lynch Speaks: The Bridge at Parma

15: John Rapp Speaks: Petrified with Fear

16: David Mershon Speaks: The Saga of 7-F, Willie

17: Frank B. Dean Speaks: A Lady Leaves the 310th

18: Olen Berry Speaks: Briefing Time

Interesting Facts

Afterword

Appendix A: George's Mission Book

Appendix B: Training During Combat

Endnotes