When Heroes Flew: Black Thursday

Late 1943: The fate of the air war in Europe hangs in the balance, and Colonel Matt Barrington carries the weight of thousands of lives on his shoulders.

Colonel Matt Barrington knows the cold calculus of WWII strategic bombing. As one of the masterminds behind the US 8th Air Force’s daring raids into Nazi Germany, he’s accustomed to making decisions that send men to their deaths. But when a mission goes terribly wrong, resulting in the loss of 60 bombers, the weight of command threatens to crush him.

Seeking solace from his guilt-ridden insomnia, Matt finds unexpected comfort in the arms of Charlotte, an English widow, who understands the true cost of the war. Their budding romance offers a glimmer of hope amidst the chaos of conflict. But as the casualties mount, Matt realizes he can no longer lead from behind a desk. Determined to share in the risks his men face, Matt volunteers for a dangerous bombing raid, returning to the skies alongside the soldiers he sends into battle. But surviving one mission only deepens the weight of his guilt.

Haunted by loss and driven by an unyielding sense of duty, Matt defies direct orders and enters the cockpit once more. In a heart-stopping raid high above occupied Europe, he faces not only the lethal forces of the Luftwaffe and their deadly new weapons but also the demons that have long plagued him—and his last chance at a future with Charlotte. As flak bursts around his B-17 and enemy fighters close in, Matt must confront the ultimate question: In the crucible of war, can one man’s actions truly make a difference?

In Black Thursday, former U.S. Air Force officer and MWSA gold medalist H.W. “Buzz” Bernard delivers a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the devastating human cost of victory in the skies over World War II Europe.

Author Biography

H. W. “Buzz” Bernard is a bestselling, award-winning novelist. A retired Air Force Colonel and Legion of Merit recipient, he also served as a senior meteorologist at The Weather Channel for thirteen years. He is a past president of the Southeastern Writers Association and member of International Thriller Writers, the Atlanta Writers Club, Military Writers Society of America, Willamette Writers, and Pacific Northwest Writers Association. Buzz and his wife live in Kennewick, Washington, along with their fuzzy, strangely docile Shih-Tzu, Stormy… probably misnamed.