Tom Burkhalter

We Live in Fame: A Novel of the European Air War, February-June 1943 - No Merciful War Tom Burkhalter

Losses in the 8th Air Force day bombing campaign have been high, and with uncertain results. Prime Minister Winston Churchill persuades President Franklin D. Roosevelt to curtail the day bombing campaign in favor of RAF Bomber Command's strategy of bombing by night. General Henry H. "Hap" Arnold, in command of the US Army Air Forces, persuades the Prime Minister to give the Air Corps a year to prove the technique of daylight precision bombardment. The question remains, though: if the Air Corps has to change over to the night campaign, how will they do it?

Major Charles Davis has the requisite experience to fly with and learn from RAF Bomber Command. He accepts the mission of flying six operations in the most sophisticated air-defense environment on Earth: the night-time skies over Germany. The purpose of his mission is to be able, upon completion, to teach the Air Corps how to fight at night.

If he lives through those six missions.