Norbert Ostrye

A Memoir Norbert Ostrye

The book traces the growth of a young man on a farm in Western New York during the great depression, through what became a thirty-year career spanning the time frame from WW II through the Korean War and the Vietnam Conflict in the United States Air Force. It describes in much detail, the training prior to and during some of the combat and other operational missions. He covers the interaction of the various crew members and the importance of their duties. Some of the fun stuff as in extra curricular activities including gold panning in Alaska, intramural sports, hunting and fishing as well as bush flying.

During the period immediately following the end of the Berlin Airlift he was assigned to an organization whose mission was the collecting of electronic intelligence against what was at that time, our most worthy adversary, the Soviet Union. While much of that activity is still classified and cannot be elaborated on, US News and World Report did manage to publish a Special Investigative Report. The author uses much of the report by permission. It was risky business and some of the missions are described in detail and many of our losses are enumerated. Some of our crewmembers are still unaccounted for.

The author pays many compliments to his family and especially his wife for their unquestioning support and help during times of great stress. The importance of a good Air Force wife cannot be overstated.