Michael Burgan - World War II Pilots: An Interactive History Adventure

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YOU are living through World War II. Its the early 1940s and airplanes, including bombers and fighters, are playing a major role in battle. You want to join the fight.

In this book youll explore how the choices people made meant the difference between life and death. The events youll experience happened to real people.

Chapter One sets the scene. Then you choose which path to read. Follow the links at the bottom of each page as you read the stories. The decisions you make will change your outcome. After you finish one path, go back and read the others for new perspectives and more adventures. Use your device's back buttons or page navigation to jump back to your last choice.

YOU CHOOSE the path you take through history.

World War II started in 1939 and involves dozens of countries. The wars roots are deep, going back to the end of World War I in 1918.

In World War I the winning countries called themselves the Allies. They blamed Germany for starting the war and wanted to punish it afterward. Germany had to give up some of its land and its military. The Allies, particularly France and Great Britain, also demanded that Germany pay for the damage it caused during the war.

Through the 1920s Germany became angry over this treatment. In 1933 a new leader came to power in GermanyAdolf Hitler. He promised to make Germany a strong, powerful nation again. He also wanted to punish people he thought had weakened Germany. This included the countrys Jewish citizens. He and his Nazi Party took away Jews legal rights and sent them to prison camps.

Through the 1930s Germany secretly strengthened its militaryincluding building a huge new air force. Then, starting in 1936, Hitler sent troops into parts of Europe where Germans lived, claiming the land for his country. Germanys invasion of Poland in September 1939 marked the beginning of World War II.

German soldiers marched in a victory parade after the invasion of Poland.

Italy, which became a partner of Germany, also wanted to spread its control. Italian leader Benito Mussolini sent troops into part of North Africa. In Asia, Japan was making a similar grab for new land. The Japanese, like the Germans and Italians, thought they had the right to rule other countries.

By 1939 military planners around the world saw airplanes as a key weapon. Planes were used to bring troops into battle as well as attack enemy forces. And the development of aircraft carriersships that carry aircraftmeant planes could carry out attacks far in the ocean.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese warplanes bombed the U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The planes killed more than 2,000 Americans. The United States quickly declared war on Japan. Japans partners, Italy and Germany, then declared war on the United States.

The countries of Germany, Italy, and Japan are known as the Axis powers. The Allies in this war are countries that oppose the Axis, including the United States, France, Poland, Great Britain, and many others as the war progresses.

As the war builds, you feel called to duty. You want to help defend your countryand you want to do it in the skies. You decide to become a pilot.

Its September 1939 and your town in Great Britain is in an uproar. German troops invaded Poland, and British leaders have promised to help the Poles. Your country declares war on Germany.

Your parents have heard the news about the war. Your father tells you, With the war coming, you have to sign up for National Service. That means you could be called up for the military.

Firefighters put out flames from German bombs during the Battle of Britain.

I know, you say. But I dont want to wait. I want to volunteer for the Royal Air Force.

A pilot! your mother wails. Why do you want to risk your life in the RAF?

You know Ive always wanted to fly, you reply.

Your mother fights back tears and looks at your father. He could ask for a , since we need him here on the farm, your father says. Your mother nods and looks at you.

You know your parents count on you. But so does your country. Germany might even invade Britain some day, just like it did Poland. You want to defend your homeland.

Your deferment is approved, but you still often think about flying. Not much fighting takes place in Europe for the rest of the year. Then in the spring of 1940, Hitlers armies begin to move again. On the radio you hear about the invasion of Norway and Denmark. Next, Belgium and the Netherlands are captured. And by June the Germans have taken France as well. You wonder if Britain will be next.

An attack finally comes in August. German planes attack the RAF aerodrome at Manston Air Base. Germanys continued air assault is soon known as the Battle of Britain. Soon the Germans have changed their targets. Instead of bombing military bases like Manston, theyve switched to Britains largest cities, including London.

You decide you have to act. You volunteer for the RAF and begin training. Just as you had hoped, youre learning to fly a fighter plane. And what a plane it isthe Spitfire, the newest and fastest British fighter. In it, you can soar at more than 350 miles per hour. You pass all your tests, are assigned to your , and begin flying in missions.

The Spitfires great speed allowed it to fly deep into enemy territory and escape quickly.

After a recent mission, you told the mechanic, Burt, that your engine wasnt working right. Youve got another mission today, but Burt hasnt had time to fix it yet. You probably shouldnt fly it. Maybe you can take Hendersons plane, Burt says. Hes too sick to fly.

You know exactly how your plane flies. Youll feel more comfortable in it. But it could be dangerous to fly before it is repaired.

You climb into Hendersons plane, take off down the runway, and head for the German planes approaching the coast. A voice comes in over your radio. Bandits at 5,000 feet, the controller says, referring to enemy planes. Looks like Me 109s.

I see them, you say. You line up the closest Messerschmitt 109 in your gun sight and press the gun button. Nothing happens! You press again and again, but still no bullets. In the confusion of switching to Hendersons plane, the armorer forgot to load the machine guns!

You turn again as the Me 109 shoots at you. Some of the bullets rip into your plane. They dont cause serious damage, though, and you fly on. But you cant do much to stop the Me 109s if you dont have any bullets.

Youre just about to head back to base when you see one of the enemy planes closing in on another Spitfire. You know the pilotArchie Nelson. You want to help him, but youre not sure what you can do without bullets.