This
book is a true story about one person's memories and experiences
from the early 1920's to the end of World War II in 1945. It embraces
the time in my life when I was impressed by the events of World
War I from my father's stories about his exploits in that war and
all my recollections about the changing scene in world events leading
to World War II.
It also includes the part I played in it as a B-17
Bombardier in the 8th Air Force. I kept a diary during my time in
the service and recorded, as much as possible, everything I experienced
along with accounts of the 31 combat missions I was on.
I have tried to reveal a variety of personal and
unusual experiences, that should hold your interest from cover to
cover. It includes first hand accounts of what it was like to fly
dangerous, exciting and many times tragic combat missions over Germany
from the time we were briefed about the target we were to bomb to
the time we returned to our base in Nuthampstead, England.
The final combat mission flown by the Eighth Air
Force to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia on April 25,1945 is described in
detail which you will find fascinating, nerve racking and tragically
sad for two crews in our Bomb Group only two weeks before the War's
end.
This book also will touch on unusual and unexplainable
events that spared my life, which border on extra sensory perception
that may be hard to believe but nevertheless happened.
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More About
the Author,
Leonard Streitfeld
and "Hell
from Heaven".
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Dr.
Leonard Streitfeld, the author of "Hell From Heaven" was born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania in 1922. His memories are captured in this fascinating
book from the time he was a child to the time he spent in the United
States Army Air Corps from 1942 to 1945. He kept a diary during his
entire term of active duty and gives accurate accounts of his thirty-one
combat missions over Germany as a bombardier in a B-17. There are
many intriguing and dramatic stories from others who were sole survivors
after their planes were shot down and became prisoners of war.
First hand accounts are given of the
panic within the plane as the plane tumbled from the skies and how
they were lucky enough to parachute out before the plane crashed and
exploded. There are many unexplainable quirks of fate that made survivors
out of some and spelled death for the unlucky ones.
For those of you who want the thrill
of going on a combat mission over Nazi Germany in a B-17 from start
to finish with all the dangers that occurred from being shot at by
German fighter planes and anti-aircraft guns to fighting the elements
at 25,000 feet, this book is for you.
If you are interested in what life was
like in the Eighth Air Force at an American Air Base in England during
WWII along with the experiences they had in towns around the base
in Nuthampstead and London, England which includes some romance, then
this book is for you. If you are interested in psychic and unbelievable
events that took place, then for sure you will enjoy reading this
book.
There are approximately 80 pictures and
graphics in this book with some of the pictures being in color that
have been reproduced from motion pictures. Dr. Streitfeld O.D., presently
resides in Hammonton, New Jersey with his wife Mary. He has three
children, Steve, Rick and Linda as well as four grandchildren.
He is active in the Eighth Air Force
Historical Society, 398th Bomb Group Memorial Association, American
Legion, V.F.W., J.W.V., Associate Member of the Smithsonian Institute,
Millville Army Air Field Museum, Hammonton Historical Society and
several other Organizations including being a director in the Greater
Hammonton Chamber of Commerce.
Recently he was elected to the Hammonton
Public School Board of Education and was voted Hammonton Citizen of
the Year in 1991. He has written many editorials for the local newspaper
but this is his first attempt at writing a book, and has already started
another.