The True Story of Catch 22: The Real Men and Missions of Joseph Heller's 340th Bomb Group in World War II,New

After the publication of his bestselling novel Catch22, Joseph Heller usually chose to deny that any of his richly drawn characters were based on his actual war mates. However, to those who served with Heller in the 340th Bomb Group the novels characters were indeed recognizablethe harddrinking, vengeful, and disillusioned Chief White Half Oat, young, slicedinhalf Kid Sampson, shrieking, frenzied Hungry Joe, Colonel Cathcart, General Dreedle, Yossarian and that capitalist supreme, Milo Minderbinder.In this book, written and colorfully illustrated by the daughter of the 340th Bomb Groups commander, Colonel Willis Chapman, we finally encounter the real men and combat missions on which the novel was based. While Hellers fully developed characters stand solely, solidly and uniquely on their own merits, The True Story of Catch22 proves that any resemblance to persons living or dead is, in fact, actual.This threepart book blends fact, fancy, and history with fullblown original illustrations and rare, previously unpublished photos of these daring USAAF flyers and their Corsicanbased B25 Mitchell. Along with descriptions of the 340ths real wartime events, the work includes twelve men of the Bomb Group relating twelve richly told tales of their own.Now all of the men upon whom Heller based his characters are gone. However, the last survivor, George L. Wells, was an extraordinary combat pilot who tied the record for the number of bombing missions flown in WWII with 102. George, the model for Catch22s Capt. Wren, is the common thread who weaves through this book, allowing the reader to truly feel the war and even thumb through George's wellworn mission book describing attacks on Axis ports, ships, bridges, and the notorious Brenner Pass. In this book the reader will discover that truth is indeed as fascinating as fiction!Author Patricia Chapman Meder has been a professional artist in both fine and commercial art for the past 35 years, 13 of them in Europe. When Catch22 was published it was quickly apparent that this book was based on the Bomb Group her father commanded in World War II. This truelife parallel book thus begged to be written. Pat Meder has also written a fullcolor companion work to 'The True Story of Catch22,' containing her delightful original artwork and caricatures of the individuals, 'The True Story of Catch22 Illustrated'.Table of ContentsForeword by Scott CarpenterIntroductionPART I GEORGE, JOSEPH HELLER, AND THE BEST DAMNED BOMB GROUP THERE IS1: George: Unwitting Ancestor Of Captain Wren2: Joe: Who Shares The Same DNA As Yossarian3: The Mission: The Common Denominator4: Bill, Solid; Colonel Cathcart, Splintered5: Bob: From Neighbors Orville And Wilbur, To Catch22s General Dreedle6: George, AgainPART II MEET THE HEROESPART III THE 340TH BOMB GROUP SPEAKS: TWELVE TRUE TALES7: Paul Gale Speaks: Vesuvius Speaks We Listen8: Ward Laiten Speaks: I Am 7K9: Herb Barclay Speaks: Chaff Over The Target10: Frank B. Dean Speaks: We Lose The Question Mark11: R.M. Johnston Speaks: Short Snorter12: Beryl Graubaugh Speaks: Doc Figures In One Of My Favorite War Stories13: Ben Kanowsky Speaks: Charlie14: Hal Lynch Speaks: The Bridge At Parma15: John Rapp Speaks: Petrified With Fear16: David Mershon Speaks: The Saga Of 7F, Willie17: Frank B. Dean Speaks: A Lady Leaves The 310th18: Olen Berry Speaks: Briefing TimeInteresting FactsAfterwordAppendix A: Georges Mission BookAppendix B: Training During CombatEndnotes