Six weeks before Pearl Harbor, Keith Mason received a $150 uniform allowance, a pair of silver wings, and his first assignment as a flight instructor: Randolph Field, Texas. Two years later, he was Squadron Officer in the 460th Bomb Group, 15th Air Force in Spinazzola, Italy - flying the harrowing combat missions he dreamed of as a boy in rural Iowa. As a memoir of one man's war years, Mason provides insight on the inner workings of serving as an airman during World War II: facing stultifying boredom, stupefying incompetence, paralyzing fear, and stunning success. Details of how crews were selected for combat missions, of the necessity to occasionally break up crews, and of select missions in which Mason was a participant are important additions to the history and literature of this often neglected theater.

The Awakening -- Getting There -- Enlisting : on to Primary Training School, Corsicana, Texas -- To Basic Flight School, Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas -- To Advanced Flying School, Kelly Field, San Antonio -- Assignment to Randolph Field : Flight Instructor -- Post Pearl Harbor : Instructing at Randolph Field -- To Enid Army Air Base, Enid, Oklahoma -- To B-24 Transition School, Fort Worth, Texas -- To Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona -- Assignment to the 460th Bombardment Group, Savannah, Georgia -- To Mitchel Field, New York -- To Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida -- To Oudna, Tunis -- Flight to Spinazzola, Italy -- The Air Base : Getting Settled -- FIrst Mission and Aftermath -- The Great American Nissen Hut Heist -- The Operations Office : Personnel and Problems -- Firearms and Complications -- Ravin' Haven -- Replacement Crews -- Sky Warriors -- The Nature of the Beast -- My Watershed Mission -- Fear and Faith -- Mental Disconnect and Lapses -- Recreation -- Of Chickens and Italy -- The This Love of Mine Incident -- Medals -- Rough Times -- Last Mission and Homeward Bound -- Postscript.