WINTER JOURNEY

through the

NINTH

During World War II, the Army Air Corps commissioned well-known travel author Harry A. Franck to write the story of the Ninth Air Force in the European Theatre of Operations. Major Franck's orders from the highest command gave him unprecedented access to the members of the Ninth—from Lt. General Hoyt S. Vandenberg on down. His book is full of insights into the day-to-day lives of warfighters and civilians alike. Major Franck interviewed and quoted over 200 airmen and ground crew in the book, and his ability to speak multiple languages allowed him to communicate with and draw material from French citizens, German prisoners and liberated concentration camp inmates. The resulting manuscript, "Winter Journey through the Ninth" was completed in 1945, but has only now been published for the first time. 

Were YOU in the Ninth? Are you in this book?

We're offering a free copy of "Winter Journey through the Ninth" to anyone Major Franck interviewed and wrote about in the book. Check here to see the names mentioned in the book!  In exchange, we'd love to hear more of your story. Write to us at webmaster@harryafranck.com.

Ways to order:

Winter Journey through the Ninth is a soft-cover book that lists for $21.95, ISBN 0-9705948-0-1. There are several ways to get your very own copy:

The story of "Winter Journey" as told in the "The Stevens Indicator", April 2002

Read "Bringing Words to Life", the gripping tale of how "Winter Journey through the Ninth" came to be published by Prince of the Road Press (including why we called it "Prince of the Road Press"!) The Stevens Indicator is the alumni magazine of Stevens Institute of Technology.

Read other reviews of "Winter Journey through the Ninth"

"This book is an absolute gem! Harry Franck's efforts cover the Ins and Outs of the largest Tactical Air Force ever conceived from Normandy to the end of the war in Europe. Here, one will find what the landscape offered, what the civilians, as well as the military thought about what they were doing and a series of detailed explanations of how Ninth Air Force was organized and operated. Franck pulls no punches in any of his observations and that is particularly valuable to scholar and buff alike in these days of political correctness. The reader will be rewarded with information that usually must be gleaned from multiple sources, including the intricacies of close air support, an art that had to be relearned over again in Korea and in Viet Nam! Franck's genius is his ability to give the reader the feeling of 'being there.' This is not a re-telling of how Germany was strategically pounded from the air, rather observations on the Air organization that moved with the ground troops and often died helping them push through to victory. This book is a Keeper!"
--
Hoyt S. Vandenberg, Jr.
--Major General, USAF (Ret.)

"In sum, this book is a firsthand account of the American tactical air war in France during the last months of World War II by a careful, experienced, nonflying observer. The author conveys both the spirit of the day and details available nowhere else, giving us feelings and facts about the last months of the war from an American perspective.
... Winter Journey offers refreshing and often critical views on some familiar subjects while adding a number of interesting details. As such, students of tactical airpower in World War II should consider this book a “must” addition to their libraries."
--Kenneth P. Werrell

--Aerospace Power Journal, Winter 2001

Entire Review by Mr. Werrell, Aerospace Power Journal

 

Review by CDT Brian Anthony, West Point

Review in "Marauder Thunder", May 2001

 

Review in "Michigan Today" (University of Michigan, Harry's Alma Mater)

Read Excerpts from "Winter Journey through the Ninth"

 

Harry goes for a ride on an A-26

Harry visits "Bombay"