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Special Duties Pilot John M Billings

Special Duties Pilot By John M Billings

Special Duties Pilot by John M Billings


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Summary

This is one man's story of a remarkable lifetime of flying, both in peace and in war.

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Special Duties Pilot Summary

Special Duties Pilot: The Man who Flew the Real 'Inglorious Bastards' Behind Enemy Lines by John M Billings

If there was ever a man who was born to fly, it is John M. Billings. He took his first plane ride in 1926, began taking piloting lessons in 1938, and joined the US Army Air Force in July 1942\\. After training he was assigned to fly Consolidated B-24 Liberator long-range bombers. He joined the 825th Bombardment Squadron of the 484th Bombardment Group. After flying fifteen daylight strategic bombing missions, Billings was selected for assignment to the 885th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) (Special). As its designation suggests, the 885th was no regular bombing unit. The 885th specialized in flying top secret, low-altitude missions at night in support of the clandestine operations of the OSS and the Special Operations Executive. The unit's covert missions included parachuting OSS and SOE agents and supplies deep inside German territory. The most eventful and dangerous of Billings' thirty-nine secret missions with the 885th was his assignment in February 1945 to clandestinely insert a three-man OSS team, code-named _Greenup_, into Austria. The drop zone selected for the _Greenup_ insertion was located on a glacier in a valley surrounded by mountains in the middle of the snow-covered Alps. Billings and his crew finally found the weather in the Alps clear enough to spot the drop zone, slip their unwieldy B-24 between the mountain peaks and descend to an altitude just a few hundred feet above the moonlit snow. On Billings' signal, the OSS agents parachuted right on target. The insertion of this OSS team was the inspiration for the feature film _Inglorious Bastards_. However, Brad Pitt's vengeful character was far removed from the leader of the _Greenup_ team, Fred Mayer, who achieved success by infiltrating enemy ranks to gain vital intelligence. After the war, John Billings flew with Trans World Airlines and Eastern Airlines. He also flew more than 300 'Angel Flight' airlift missions which involve the specialized aerial transportation of critically ill medical patients. This is one man's story of a remarkable lifetime of flying, both in peace and in war.

About John M Billings

JOHN M. BILLINGS took his first plane ride in 1926, began taking piloting lessons in 1938, and carried on flying ever since. Having joined the US Army Air Forces in July 1942, he was assigned to fly the Consolidated B-24 Liberator bomber. He completed fifty-three missions during the war, thirty-nine of which were for the Office of Strategic Services (OSS), the wartime predecessor to the CIA, and the US Special Operations Command. After the war John was an airline pilot with TWA and Eastern Airlines. John is also rightfully proud of having flown 300-plus 'Angel Flight' airlift missions which involve the specialized aerial transportation of critically ill medical patients.

Additional information

CIN1526786265G
9781526786265
1526786265
Special Duties Pilot: The Man who Flew the Real 'Inglorious Bastards' Behind Enemy Lines by John M Billings
Used - Good
Hardback
Pen & Sword Books Ltd
20210730
248
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

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