Serenade to the Big Bird

When Bert Stiles wrote this book, the war was still raging across the world. It was 1944, he had just completed a horrific tour of duty as a B17 co-pilot, and the memories were fresh in his mind. Even though Bert seemed to be a somewhat sensitive man, some of his words have a callous feel to them. He talks about the officers and enlisted men forming a baseball team, and "..after the Schweinfurt raid, we had to replace the whole infield"-Simply put, so many men had been killed on that mission, no one was left to play on the team. Bert was an intelligent man, a good writer, but he lacked the experience to know when to back out of the war. Passive, intelligent, creative people do not make good fighter pilots. Bert was killed in action shortly after writing his memoirs.

In 1969 I had the pleasure to visit with Richard White a co-pilot in a B-17 during World War II. His plane was shot down over Berlin in 1944 and he spent some months in a German Stalag. He told me that if I really would like to know how it was that I should read this book. I have read it. It is awesome! It is written in a style that had me totally engrossed from start to finish.

This book chronicles the life of Bert Stiles, who was killed during the war. Considering when the book was written speaks wonders for Berts insightfulness, and understanding of humanity. This book is wonderful from an historical aspect, as Bert gives us some indepth insights into life in the air and on the ground during the air war over Eurpoe. Bert also gives us something else, even more wonderful, his understanding on both sides of the battle of the people involved. Bert had a unique sense of what this war was doing to people, and just how the world would percieve it years into the future. Bert gave his life for us during those years, flying the fighter he always wanted, but his words sail on through time, to inform us even today.

1st Lt Bert Stiles was killed in action November 26 1944 while flying an escort mission to Hanover. He is buried in the Ardennes National Cemetery near Liege Belgium. Bert completed a tour of duty (35 missions) in heavy bombers during the spring and summer of 1944. He flew with the 91st Bomb Group out of Bassingbourn, England. Instead of returning to the United States, he volunteered for a tour of duty in fighters. Subsequently he was assigned to the 339th Fighter Group and flew the North American P-51 fighter. However, he took one month off from combat in the late summer of 1944 and wrote his classic story, SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD. Tragically he was killed in action about three months later. Reportedly, he was a victim of `Target Fixation' and chased an enemy plane he was following too close to the ground. His mother recovered the manuscript from his effects and acquired a publisher. The extraordinary literary talent of Bert Stiles is undeniable. However, his ability to remain objective while actively participating in a bloody conflict shows the strength, true courage and dedication of the man. Roger Freeman writer and historian of the Eighth Air Force gave credit to the valuable contribution of Bert Stiles when he stated, "Bert Stiles has become the unofficial spokesman for all Americans who flew with the Eighth Air Force." This is true. SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD tells the story as it was, while it was happening. A total of one hundred fourteen men from the 91st Bomb Group lie buried beside Bert Stiles in the Ardennes Cemetery. Though their lips are stilled, Bert's words live on, and he speaks for every one of his fallen comrades. SERENADE TO THE BIG BIRD was first published in England in 1947. It generated a loyal following of European admirers. Eric Dominicus, a Belgian who made a pilgrimage to the Ardennes Cemetery to honor the fallen flier, made the above photo. Eric reports, "I read aloud the last chapter from Bert's fine book. It was an emotional moment!"

I was born ten years to the day after the first 8th Air Force mission against Berlin (March 4, 1944). I was a fourteen year old boy when I first read Serenade to the Big Bird by Bert Stiles. I was touched deeply by this real life account by a real and genuine man - not a hero or a warrior - but a young man just doing his duty.This book is ironic in the true sense of the word. Bert Stiles didn't know he was writing his masterpiece. He was just recording his thoughts about life, love, war and death - without the slightest bit of selfconciousness. What he delivers is brilliant; an honest look into the heart, mind and soul of a real citizen soldier, a twenty-three year old in world gone insane.This small volume is packed with all the emotions of war. There are highs, lows, and the dull boredom of military existence. Through it all, Stiles expresses his humaness and shares his observations. His skillful writing lets the reader experience the pain of loosing buddys in combat as well as the simple pleasure of enjoying fresh strawberries in English countryside - all within a few pages. Hanging over the entire narrative is the readers awareness that Stiles is writing his own epitaph.This book survived the war. Bert Stiles did not. He's buried in Belgium along with thousands of his comrades, a victim of the carnage he had to experience in order to create such a beautiful literary legacy.Find this book and read it.