Story of a daredevil bomber pilot and his misfit crew who fly their lone B-17 into the teeth of the Japanese Empire in 1943, engage in the longest dogfight in history, and change the momentum of the War in the Pacific—but not without making the ultimate sacrifice. Pilot Captain Jay Zeamer and the bombardier Sergeant Joseph Raymond Sarnoski, cannot convince his superiors to give him his own plane, teams up with Sarnoski to recruit a crew of fellow misfits to rebuild a dilapidated B-17 bomber from spare parts in the base’s junkyard.

Lucky 666 has all the elements of a great book, but ultimately it does not deliver. Drury uses the now standard non-fiction method of telling a core story that keeps the readers attention, there is a mystery driving it forward with strong character and narrative, while hanging from this thread is backstory and tangent. The problem is the book is 90% back story and tangent, while the core story turns out to be only so-so. The tangents are basically a kitchen sink of well known events in the Pacific theater during the first few years. We get treatments of Midway, the assassination of Isoroku Yamamoto, Doolittle Raid etc.. but this is not a history of the Pacific War so there are large gaps, making it feel superficial. There are much better books on these big-picture subjects while this book should be focused on the plane and its crew. But then the amount of biographical back story is numbing and ultimately not rewarding. I loved Drury's Fox Company, it had sustained gripping narrative, it's a wonderful book. This is scattered by comparison. The problem is less Drury's writing ability as the limitations of the topic and how he structured the book. It would have been improved if he spent more time in the air with the crew describing what it is like to be in a plane, the mechanics, the roles each played, etc.. closer to the people with less big picture and backstory. ( )

Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission, tells the story of a group of aviators fighting in the South Pacific during World War II facing not only the Japanese, but also limited planes, limited spare parts, competing personal goals by superiors, and miserable living conditions. Even in the face of such odds, men overcame and did the seemingly impossible at great personal risk and cost.

Frequently books tell of an event without giving you a sufficient understanding of the historical context. Thankfully, Lucky 666: The Impossible Mission does not. Author Bob Drury spends a considerable portion of the book introducing the people involved in this amazing mission, explaining the related battles and strategies underway, sheds light on the equipment and battle conditions, and much more. Then, he gives a realistic and exhilarating description of the mission that these brave men undertook to save thousands of lives. Lucky 666 is a great read for understanding American ingenuity, sacrifice, and what men can do when given (or taking) the freedom to achieve. ( )

Great book.

Primarily follows the career of one Army Pilot's exploits in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Full of WWII history and facts. Interesting and educational. ( )

Set in the Southwest Pacific during World War II “Lucky 666” is really three stories in one book. The first story is a history of the Fifth Airforce that operated in the bleak, early days of the Pacific War when men and equipment left over from other theatres struggled to halt the Japanese advance and begin the long road to Tokyo. The second story is that of a volunteer mission to photograph Bougainville in advance of American offensives. The third is personal relationship between pilot Jay Zimmer and his bombardier Joe Sarnoski.

The part I appreciate the most is the history of air war in support General MacArthur’s forces. This book introduces the reader to the leaders, most prominently Gen. George Kenney, MacArthur’s air chief, and the men who maintained and flew the planes. In other readings I had heard of the generals and admirals, New Guinea, Guadalcanal and Bougainville, Midway, the Coral and Bismarck Seas and other names, but this narrative and the maps place them in context, show their relationships to each other gave me a greater understanding of this theatre of the war than I had gathered from other reading. The details of the aircraft, such as the bombing sight, that was an important advance, the cold and thin air with which the aviators contended and the cramped quarters and danger which the gunners endured convey a sense of reality to the reader.

The saga of Luck 666 ’s run reconnaissance over Bougainville is an adventure that stimulates awe and admiration. The B-17 bomber, the number of which ended in 666, was salvaged by its crew, modified for this specific mission, manned by volunteers, went against overwhelming odds and brought back the pictures that guided the next offensive and altered the march across the Pacific. The accounts of the fight put out and the punishment endured are a match for any novel.

The tale of Jay and Joe is, I suppose, like many born in war. I will leave it at that so you can experience the same suspense that I did.

Authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin have crafted a history and intertwined it into an adventure that keeps you turning the pages for what comes next. It is an outstanding read for anyone interested in World War II or aerial warfare. ( )