Because the B-29 Superfortress bombers dropped incendiary bombs on civilians, the Japanese didn’t consider captured airmen to be prisoners of war. They were classified as war criminals and beheaded.
Dean Sherman was a B-29 pilot who was shot down. One crewman died in the airplane. Two crewmembers were picked up by the navy and sent to a notorious, secret POW camp where they survived. The wounded copilot was sent to a Tokyo hospital that burned in a bombing; the Americans were left out of shelters so they would experience (and die) in fire bombings. The seven other crewmen were captured by the army and executed.
Sherman and his bride’s story is told through their letters. The story of a Japanese family (possibly not real) is also told to show what they experienced. As noted by the author, recreations in this book are fictionalized based on historical research. The dialogue among the crewmembers is purely guesswork.
As much of interest as the Shermans are the insights into the B-29. If an engine caught fire, bail out. The wing would likely fold. The Superforts could not take the punishment the Flying Fortresses could.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

An tragic and inspirational book regarding a pilot and his family during WW2. Good first hand accounts and stories makes this a good historical read.

Thank you to #NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.