“Movie” Memphis Belle, Deer Valley Airport, 2014Left - Vic Merkel (author, pilot)

Right - Keith Youngblood (Liberty Foundation)

“Real” Memphis BelleWright-Patterson / AF Museum, Dayton, OH

Never Forget - Honoring (World War II) HeroesAirmen and their B-17s

73 years ago Adolph Hitler threatened the world. Young airmen stepped forward to protect their

country. In return for freedom, they all paid a terrible

price. Our novels, “TailGunner: War Defines Us” and

“TailGunnerR3” are blended, real and fictional remembrances, set in WWII and its aftermath, the viewpoints are American and Hungarian.

Why Write The “TailGunner” Series”?

My brother, Walter “Buck” Merkel, Jr., joined the Mighty 8th (USAAF) United States, Army Air Force in 1942.

At 18, he served as a B-17 gunner on bomber (Amazin Maizie).

(“TailGunner: War Defines Us”) - is a tribute to his military service. 25+ missions, 260+ combat flight hours.

(“TailGunnerR3”) – inspired by Buck’s post-war struggle with battle fatigue (now - PTSD), also in Europe, it follows the life of a young Hungarian soldier (inspired by Bob Frommer) caught up in the Nazi invasion of Russia.

TailGunner: War Defines Us1939 - 1945

Authors – Victor Merkel & Ann Frommer Cover – Miles Abernethy

TailGunnerR3: Revenge, Redemption, Resolution1942 - 1958

Authors – Victor Merkel & Ann Frommer Cover – Miles Abernethy

Tail Gunner PositionTwo Browning Machine Guns

Amazin Maizie, B-17 crew - Buck, front, far right2nd crew shot down 8/7/44, 1 MIA, 9 POW

Ten Man Crew for the B-171. Bombardier2. Navigator3. Pilot4. Co-Pilot5. Top Turret

Gunner/Engineer

6. Radio Operator/Gunner 7. Ball Turret Gunner 8. Right Waist Gunner 9. Left Waist Gunner10. Tail Gunner

The tail gunner sat in the radio room for take-off and once airborne, assumed combat position.

To get there, he dragged his parachute behind, crawling around the tail wheel, on the way.

He perched on a low seat in a kneeling position. I call it - Harley Davidson position.

First objective of the Luftwaffe pilot was to eliminate the tail gunner.

Combat Position Of The B-17 Tail Gunner

Bringing the past to vivid life

We are disciples of Herman Wouk’s, “War and Remembrance”, and his philosophy.

In “TailGunner”, using Wouk’s guidance, you will witness “everyday people” caught up in the war’s fury.

Our active research (in person & media) of locations on two continents and historical facts have been reviewed by experts.

TailGunner: War Defines UsMajor Characters

Buck Remke – tail gunner stationed in England, young but hardened by war.

• He grew up in a rural community and graduated from a public high school.

Ilona Kovacs – London cabaret singer, 2 years older

than Buck and more sophisticated.• Born to an upper middle class family, she attended

upscale private schools

TailGunnerR3Major Characters

Istvan Kovacs – Ilona’s brother, naïve college student, joins Hungarian Army. Emerges as a battle weary, angry man.

Buck Remke – returning American veteran, still fighting the war – inside his mind. His family struggles to save him from spiraling downward into a black abyss.

Pip Remke – Buck’s son, orphan child in England, casualty of the war. Pip yearns for the father he never knew.

Veterans

• We Endorse: Honor Flight• Transporting WWII vets to Washington DC

IAVA – Iraq Afghanistan Veterans of America• **Veterans Crisis Line 800-273-8255

Wounded Warrior Project• **Hold fundraisers for veteran care

“Official Supplier” to Liberty Foundation Preserve B-17s For Future Generations

“TailGunner: War Defines Us” http://www.amazon.com/Tailgunner-War-Defines-Us-If-Let/dp/1481115669

“TailGunnerR3”

http://www.amazon.com/TailGunnerR3-Revenge-Redemption-Resolution-2/dp/1503069885