#47 Flyboys, the book

I read a review of this book in USAToday this morning. (Another review here) Was puzzled by one quote from the author. "Few realize the U.S. killed more Japanese civilians than soldiers and sailors." He should have added: "It has always been thus in war." Chapter 20 of "A War to be Won" by Williamson Murray and Allan R. Millett, states: "World War II was the most undiscriminating destroyer of peoples and resources in modern history. . . this much is known: WWII killed at least twice as many innocents as soldiers, of whom at least 21 million died. The Axis states lost more than 3 million civilians, and the Allies at least 35 million, more than 28 million of whom were Russians and Chinese."

The only bigger loss of life than civilians in war time comes from death by government design and decree (democide), as in Nazi Germany, Communist China, Soviet Union, and countries like Uganda, Rwanda, Iraq and North Korea. Megadeath site

"The general theme of James Bradley's FLYBOYS centers on nine American Navy pilots and crewmen who were shot down in action over Chichi Jima while trying to destroy the Japanese communication station that fed information to its forces throughout Asia. Eight of these men were captured [and killed]. One was rescued by a nearby submarine and eventually became President of the United States."