Luck of the Draw, Frank Murphy
Luck of the Draw, Frank Murphy
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Luck of the Draw
My Story of the Air War in Europe

Author: Frank Murphy

Narrator: Elizabeth Murphy, Jonas Moore

Unabridged: 12 hr

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 02/28/2023

Synopsis

This audiobook is read by Jonas Moore, who stars as Captain Frank Murphy in the upcoming streaming series from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks, Masters of the Air. It also includes a foreword written and read by Elizabeth Murphy and CNN's Chloe Melas, daughter and granddaughter of Frank Murphy, respectively.

“In the pursuit of authenticity, of accurate history and undeniable courage, no words matter more than, ‘I was there.’ Read Luck of the Draw and the life of Frank Murphy and ponder this: how did those boys do such things?” —Tom Hanks

The epic true story of an American hero who flew during WWII, soon to be featured in the upcoming Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks TV Series, Masters of the Air.

Beginning on August 17, 1942, American heavy bomber crews of the Eighth Air Force took off for combat in the hostile skies over occupied Europe. The final price was staggering. 4,300 B-17s and B-24s failed to return; nearly 21,000 men were taken prisoner or interned in a neutral country, and a further 17,650 made the ultimate sacrifice.

Luck of the Draw is more than a war story. It’s the incredible, inspiring story of Frank Murphy, one of the few survivors from the 100th Bombardment Group, who cheated death for months in a German POW camp after being shot out of his B-17 Flying Fortress.

Now with a new foreword written by his granddaughter Chloe Melas of CNN, and daughter Elizabeth Murphy.

“A gripping, inspirational account of incredible bravery, resilience, and sheer will to survive. A truly extraordinary story!” —General David Petraeus, U.S. Army (Ret.)

A Macmillan Audio production from St. Martin’s Press.

About Frank Murphy

FRANK MURPHY survived months in a German POW camp after being shot out of his B-17 Flying Fortress. His bravery earned him the Prisoner of War Medal, Purple Heart, and Air Medal. The incredible stories of Murphy and his 8th Air Force’s 100th Bomb Group are featured in the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks TV Series, Masters of the Air.

About Chloe Melas

CHLOE MELAS is an entertainment reporter for NBC, covering breaking celebrity news, industry analyses and in-depth investigations. She currently resides in New York with her husband and two sons.

About Elizabeth Murphy

ELIZABETH MURPHY holds a Masters of English Literature from Northern Arizona University and is the author of numerous children's books. She currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia, where she was born and raised.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Sue

I read a lot of World War II fiction and found this memoir by Frank Murphy to be very interesting. I learned a lot of what really happened in the skies over Europe from this real member of the Greatest Generation. After the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, many young American boys joined the military. F......more

Goodreads review by Star

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for accepting my request to audibly read and review Luck of the Draw. Narrated by: Elizabeth Murphy; Jonas Moore Published: 02/28/23 Not for everyone. It is not a novel. This is nonfiction history and reads like an academic textbook. I had the audiobook. The nar......more

Goodreads review by Book.ishJulie

I love memoirs, and I love learning about WWII. What do you get when you combine these two loves? Frank Murphy's history book, Luck Of The Draw: My Story Of The Air War In Europe. I am shocked and amazed at the amount of research that went into writing this book; although I know others shared informa......more

Goodreads review by Zibby

Luck of the Draw is My Story of the Air War in Europe by Frank Murphy is an unbelievable story that takes place on August 17, 1942. When American bomber crews took off for combat in the hostile skies over occupied Europe, few returned. We lost 4,300 B-17s and B-24s, nearly 21,000 men became POVs, an......more

Goodreads review by Glen

I won this book in a goodreads drawing. A WWII pilot describes his time during the war, flying with the 100 Bombardment Group, which saw a lot of action over Europe. Very informative. I'm glad he wrote about it so the history of that unit is not lost.......more

Quotes

“In the pursuit of authenticity, of accurate history and undeniable courage, no words matter more than, ‘I was there.’ Read Luck of the Draw and the life of Frank Murphy and ponder this: how did those boys do such things?” —Tom Hanks

"Murphy describes some of the bloodiest air battles of the war as only a person who was actually there can. Luck of the Draw is a riveting and often harrowing must-read for anyone interested in military aviation, the second world war, or just plain real-life adventure." —John Orloff, writer, HBO’s Band of Brothers and Apple+'s Masters of the Air

"Originally published in 2001, this finely wrought memoir captures the fortitude and resilience of the "greatest generation"...Students of military history will appreciate Murphy’s detailed accounts of the Army Air Corp’s training program and a B-17 navigator’s responsibilities, while more casual readers will savor Murphy’s heartfelt tributes to comrades in arms. The result is a winning WWII story." —Publishers Weekly

"Navigator Frank Murphy’s propulsive account of the American bomber war against Nazi Germany is also a powerful and poignant memoir of survival in a German POW compound. The book’s heart-stopping account of the brutal Winter March of the captured Allied airmen across the heart of Hitler’s dying Reich places it with Twelve O’Clock High as a classic of World War II literature." —Donald L. Miller, author of Masters of the Air: The American Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany

“A gripping, inspirational account of incredible bravery, resilience, and sheer will to survive. Frank Murphy was a true American hero who served courageously in the skies over Europe during WWII and who then demonstrated extraordinary fortitude and determination in the face of unimaginable challenges as a prisoner of war. A truly extraordinary story!" —General David Petraeus, US Army (Ret.), former Commander of the Surge in Iraq, US Central Command, and NATO and US Forces in Afghanistan, and former Director of the CIA

“Ever wonder if you had what it took to stare death in the face and push it aside and go forth into the unknown? That is what these young airmen of the 8th Army Air Force accomplished every time they loaded up for another mission. Frank Murphy has eloquently described the harrowing experiences of a B-17 crew from the loss of crewmembers, confronting his own mortality and ultimately the trauma of incarceration as a prisoner of war. This account is partly to honor his noble brothers of the air but also a reminder to future generations of the heroic young men of the Bomber Command.” —Rick Perry, son of B-17 tail gunner 95th BG, 14th Governor of Texas, and 7th Secretary of Energy

“Every generation needs a spokesman for its endeavors. In this respect Murphy does the young men of VIII Bomber Command proud.” —Roger A. Freeman, author and Eighth Air Force historian

“I urge you to read Frank Murphy’s truly memorable story.” —Ian L. Hawkins, author and World War II historian

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