Bats Outa Hell Over Biak by Ferguson, Max B - 1991

[Charleston, IL]: [self-published], 1991. First Edition. Glossy pictorial cover. Fine/none as issued. As New. Issued without dust jacket. 153 pages, 23 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations. Octavo. This is a story of the 499th Bomb. Squadron on Biak off the coast of New Guinea during WWII; I have strived to make it as accurate as possible. Most events are true. Charlie Phillips, Vic Tatelman, Corie Johnson, Henry Jepson and Robert Stewart are still living to attest to the accuracy of several episodes. Brig. General Richard Reinbold, our commanding officer, can verify events concerning administration. I did not keep a diary, but I have referred to the daily letters I wrote my wife for special events and dates. Many specific details of traumatic events have been supplied by living members of the squadron; they are crystal clear after over forty years. It is always difficult for an author to separate the reported events which might have happened.One fictitious character, Carl Zark, is a combination of Carl Conant, Lawrence Bannister, Bert Shaber and several Okies rolled into one. Zark's co-pilot, Paul Shores, is also fictitious. Everyone else mentioned is either a friend of the 499th or a member of the Squadron." Author & Publisher's website