The Innocent Cadet: Becoming a World War II Bombardier

Earning his bombardier's wings was much more difficult than he imagined. Physical training was brutal, academics rigorous and flying exhausting, but he had a passion for succeeding. At times reaching his goal seemed very much in doubt. Entering the Army Air Corps at 18 in 1943 after leaving his loving and religious family, Charles "Norm" Stevens was suddenly among men of many backgrounds, some differing markedly from his. The contrast served to emphasize his innocence. He decided to try to understand and accept others who had different values without losing his own set of principles. Appearing boyish, he endured ribbing from others who were older and more mature, more manly. As training progressed he found he could compete both physically and mentally with most of them. Homesickness was constantly with him, but was softened by his desire for new adventures and experiences. His quest to become a bombardier drove him to excel in his classes, physical training, gunnery school and the rigors of the bombardier school at Midland, Texas. He finally graduated, earning his silver bombardier's wings and a commission as a second lieutenant. As a bombardier on a B-17 crew, he sharpened his skills in bombing and navigation in the high altitude skies over Louisiana and the South. He began the grim task of preparing for combat missions, rising early in the morning and flying at over 20,000 feet on oxygen for long hours. He made out his will and power of attorney with the rest of the men, then boarded a troop train bound for Nebraska where his crew would pick up a new B-17 to fly to England and combat, a bloody business he knew very little about. His combat experiences appear in his previous book, An Innocent at Polebrook: A Memoir of an 8th Air Force Bombardier, published in 2004.