Harry's War

Harry's War: A World War II Memoir, the story of the USAAF's 30th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, comes to life with 150 photographs.  

Harry's War is an engaging personal story about World War II aviation. Captain Harry Runyan served with the 30th Photo Reconnaissance Squadron, US Army Air Forces, in the European theater, collecting hundreds upon hundreds of photographs during his duty overseas. These stunning, thought-provoking images of planes, places, men, and battlefields come together to tell the tale of an oft-overlooked, yet extremely vital fact of how the Allies achieved victory in Europe. Harry's War shares stories about logistics, aerial reconnaissance, aircraft, jets, and rockets, and the men behind the men behind the guns -stories delivered by an engineering officer who later became a leading member of the NASA team that developed the X-15 and the Space Shuttle. Award-winning author and military historian John V. Quarstein melds Runyan's letters, field notes, and photographs to provide this inside look at one American soldier's service "Over There."  

Praise for HARRY'S WAR 

"There are many books and stories about the squadrons and fighting men of the Second World War; yet, rarely comes a story told from the point of view of a young engineering officer, in a fast-moving reconnaissance squadron, tasked with keeping pace with the front lines. When Harry Runyan's son, Gerry, first shared the original photographs taken by F-5 pilots during their deployment, I was fascinated by the snapshot they provided of the war from the air and on the ground. I knew this had to be documented. Armed with Harry's memories, noted author and historian John Quarstein brings this story and its history to life." - Joseph C. Ritchie Jr., former F-14 Naval Flight Officer; Research Engineer, NASA Langley Research Center; Board President, Virginia Air and Space Center, Hampton, Virginia

"The further removed we are from the Second World War, the less we understand what the Greatest Generation did. Harry's War gives us a unique perspective, one that informs us of the sacrifice, courage, and dedication of the Americans who fought with our allies to bring the world's most evil empire to an end. Having watched my father train and go off to this war in the Pacific, Harry's War brings back many memories from those critical years. Thankfully, Harry Runyan wrote down his story so every generation can know what it was really like to live in this era and fight in this war." - Tuck McAtee, Lt. Col., USAF (Ret.), Vietnam veteran and recipient of DFC with Oak Leaf Clusters, fighter pilot and test pilot with 265 combat missions