The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and Missions of

The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and Missions of Joseph Heller's 340th Bomb Group in World War II

After the publication of his bestselling novel Catch-22, Joseph Heller usually chose to deny that any of his richly drawn characters were based on his actual war mates. However, to those who served with Heller in the 340th Bomb Group the novelâ€™s characters were indeed recognizableâ€•the hard-drinking, vengeful, and disillusioned Chief White Half Oat, young, sliced-in-half Kid Sampson, shrieking, frenzied Hungry Joe, Colonel Cathcart, General Dreedle, Yossarian and that capitalist supreme, Milo Minderbinder. In this book, written and colorfully illustrated by the daughter of the 340th Bomb Groupâ€™s commander, Colonel Willis Chapman, we finally encounter the real men and combat missions on which the novel was based. While Hellerâ€™s fully developed characters stand solely, solidly and uniquely on their own merits, The True Story of Catch-22 proves that any resemblance to persons living or dead is, in fact, actual. This three-part book blends fact, fancy, and history with full-blown original illustrations and rare, previously unpublished photos of these daring USAAF flyers and their Corsican-based B-25 Mitchell. Along with descriptions of the 340thâ€™s real wartime events, the work includes twelve men of the Bomb Group relating twelve richly told tales of their own. Now all of the men upon whom Heller based his characters are gone. However, the last survivor, George L. Wells, was an extraordinary combat pilot who tied the record for the number of bombing missions flown in WWII with 102. George, the model for Catch-22s Capt. Wren, is the common thread who weaves through this book, allowing the reader to truly feel the war and even thumb through George's well-worn mission book describing attacks on Axis ports, ships, bridges, and the notorious Brenner Pass. In this book the reader will discover that truth is indeed as fascinating as fiction! Author Patricia Chapman Meder has been a professional artist in both fine and commercial art for the past 35 years, 13 of them in Europe. When Catch-22 was published it was quickly apparent that this book was based on the Bomb Group her father commanded in World War II. This true-life parallel book thus begged to be written. Pat Meder has also written a full-color companion work to "The True Story of Catch-22," containing her delightful original artwork and caricatures of the individuals, "The True Story of Catch-22 Illustrated".

Country	USA
Author	Patricia Chapman Meder
Binding	Hardcover
EAN	9781612001036
Edition	1st Edition, 1st Printing
ISBN	1612001033
Label	Casemate
Manufacturer	Casemate
NumberOfItems	1
NumberOfPages	240
PublicationDate	2012-08-21
Publisher	Casemate
ReleaseDate	2012-09-04
Studio	Casemate

The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and Missions of Joseph Heller's 340th Bomb Group in World War II

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