P-38 Odyssey: Farmboy, Pilot, POW: Wartime journals and letters of Richard Butler compiled and annotated by his son Dick Butler

A dear friends father wrote this book, and I was able to find a reasonably priced copy on Amazon. I'm ever so glad I got the chance to read his memoirs, recounting how he survived and triumphed over his adversaries in aerial combat. His recounting of aerial combat is remarkable and taut with detailed descriptions of his heroism in the face of almost certain death. His book is a tribute to all of those who fought to preserve freedom a d our way of life. A book well worth reading, HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!!

My husband’s dad, a WWII Pilot, crashed on takeoff in a P38. He is noted in this book. This brought an incredible sense of closure

It's marvelous to have access to this information that I thought didn't exist. Thanks Dick for all your hard work

Very interesting book. I couldn't put it down.

The book P-38 Odyssey was a treasure to read. I was intrigued with the war time experiences of Richard Butler from beginning to end and looked forward to the evenings to read the book. The book didn’t disappoint; it was compelling, packed with details, actions, and fascinating information about the pilot’s experiences.Augmenting the journal and letters was the author making his way across Richard Butler’s path, including the POW camps and the January 1945 march. This book was superbly researched and written and used perspectives and stories of other POWs or their families. Maps, sketches, and past and current photographs were invaluable, but especially helpful was the creative format of the book. The pilot’s narrative and letters were on one page with gray pages opposite with text and details from other sources, sketches, photographs, and explanatory text, e.g., “Stalag Luft III.” I was able to get an inside view of the POW camps and the relationships among prisoners and Germans.The author once mentioned to me his project of writing about Richard Butler’s life as a pilot and POW, and a few years later I received an email that the book was available through Amazon. I commend the author for the enormous amount of time and effort, including traveling the route of his father in Italy and Germany, he took to honor his father, an honor richly deserved.