"The Fall of Fortresses" by Elmer Bendiner, G.P. Putnam' Sons, New York, 1980.

There are three themes to this book: (1) Personal Memoir (2) Refutation of Strategic Bombing and (3) Experiences of Anti-Semitism. On the first level, this is the personal story of Elmer Bendiner as a navigator in a B17 during the crucial campaign year of 1943. Mr. Bendiner relates how he became a navigator, the inconsistencies of life in the Army Air Corps and the difficulties of flying to bomb an enemy target. His writing has a light tone, almost forgiving, even when he discusses critical incidents, such as his pilot aborting too many times.

The second theme begins the book, as E. Bendiner recounts the mission against Schweinfurt, August 17, 1943. Then, throughout the book, Mr. Bendiner develops a case against strategic bombing, even though, at the time, it appeared logical to strike the ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt ...and all the other targets that were indispensable for the German war effort. He even quotes Albert Speer, Hitler's Minister for Production, to show that strategic bombing was not as effective as the generals were claiming.

Finally, the third theme, Anti-Semitism, is implicit through out the book. Bendiner first became aware of it when, as young boy, he lived in the "...Appalachian isolation of ...Pennsylvania" and the Ku Klux Klan had as ritualistic enemies a "...handful of Jews, Catholics and very few blacks." (P. 30). You slowly become aware that Mr. Bendiner is Jewish. He even makes light of this when he relates that his "...Armenian friend, the son of a Christian minister but blessed with an aquiline nose of majestic proportions" bore the brunt of the anti-Semite jokes. (P. 37) It is only at the end of the book that you realize how important being Jewish was to E. Bendiner, as he describes walking away from an officer who had insulted "your people".

This is an excellent book, well written and a worthy personal story that documents the experiences of one man in the Army Air Corps of World War II.

As a writer and historian who is currently reading one book after another on the air war waged by the 8th and 15th Air Forces over Europe, I am amazed at how each book brings something new and valuable to the rich literature on the topic. Elmer Bendiner brings several unique angles to the literature, and this makes his book well worth reading. First, he brings the prose style of a writer and poet, content not to merely tell the story by stringing words together. This may make the book a little less accessable to some who look only for a good story, but for those willing to contemplate the subtleties of language, the reward is great. Second, though the book follows Bendiner's whole tour, it focuses on Second Schweinfurt, a particularly brutal mission, and Bendiner is not content to tell the story of Second Schweinfurt or any of his other missions merely from his viewpoint at the time, limited as it had to be. He has researched the motivations for the strategy of daylight precision bombing, delved into the personalities of the leaders, both political and military, and, where he feels necessary, he voices his own thoughts on the wisdom or errors made by the men at the top who made the decisions that, one way or another, ended up sending men to their deaths. Third, Bendiner spends time developing the characters of his crewmates, in particular his pilot and bombadier (Bendiner was a navigator). These character studies are well-drawn and fascinating. Bendiner flew in '43, a year when the Luftwaffe still ruled the skies. Fighter escort was primitive and extremely limited. Unescorted, the B-17's and B-24's were no match for the fighters of the Luftwaffe. Bendiner's crew had its share of hairy missions. On one, they are forced to ditch in the Channel and float, seasick and with diminishing hopes, for hours hoping for rescue. Bendiner has just found out he is a father, and his crewmates vote to try for England even though it would be safer to bail out or fly to Switzerland--the decision made by the crew is an unselfish one made so that Bendiner can see his new child sooner. A touching scene in the book, and a frightening one, for survival was by no means assured and all the men knew it. Unfortunately, this book is out of print at present. I found the copy at the public library, and I imagine any larger library would have access to it. Also, used copies are available through Amazon.com. I highly recommend this book and feel it is well worth the effort to track it down.

This book, written in a fresh style and full of insights instead of fact reciting, replaces a hundred readings of history textbooks about Cordoba's caliphate. For this alone you should read it, even if Jewish history or muslim Cordoba didn't use to stir your interest. It is a short, rare jewel.

Arabs and Jews together once built an elegant kingdom in the southern half of Spain. They brought treasure and legislated. Their physicians practiced and taught the profession and Jewish diplomats brought glory to the Arab rulers. Others thought it a paradise because no one went hungry, the poor had some hope of riches, and the slaves could hope for freedom. An engaging history well seasoned with wit.