Cover Design: Theo Orion
A Nice Piece of Flying
Stories of War, Memory, and Coming Home
Step into the shadowed aftermath of World War II with A Nice Piece of Flying, Robert J. Flood's masterful collection of short stories that lays bare the hidden battles fought long after the guns fell silent. Drawing from his own harrowing experiences as a B-17 bombardier and POW, Flood crafts five unforgettable tales that capture the quiet heroism, simmering resentments, and aching nostalgia of men forever changed by war.
From a desperate joyride in a stolen P-51 Mustang to a chance reunion at a national cemetery, these stories reveal the cracks beneath the surface of postwar America—where fathers and sons struggle for understanding, old wounds refuse to heal, and the line between glory and regret blurs with every passing year. Told in a voice as direct as it is compassionate, A Nice Piece of Flying invites readers to witness the moments of rebellion, reconciliation, and raw humanity that defined a generation.
Perfect for fans of literary fiction and historical drama, this collection is a moving tribute to the men who returned home, only to find themselves fighting for meaning in a world that no longer made sense. Discover the stories behind the silence.
Praise for the Book
"The stories are terse, tight, and emotional, as told by someone who’s been there."
Robert F. Landau, documentary filmmaker
"Well written and entertaining -- especially the first story. That's probably every ex-fighter pilot's dream."
David Heiman, F-15 pilot, USAF (Retired)
"A message in a bottle from the Greatest Generation"
Raul Ramos y Sanchez, author of Mustang To Paducah
"An exquisite walk through memory, nostalgia, and perseverance."
Dr. Roy Heidicker, Marine Corps veteran and retired 4th Fighter Wing historian
"Heartfelt. Bittersweet. Real. Funny. No bullshit."
Dean Parisot, Director (Galaxy Quest, Bill & Ted 3)
"Beautifully written and deeply moving."
Ellen Bari, Author; Curator, “Courage to Act: Rescue in Denmark” exhibit at New York’s Museum of Jewish Heritage
"A real pleasure to read…. Flood has a unique, honest style."
Shane Salk, Award-winning Audio Drama producer
"You know these people…. You feel a part of their lives."
Valerie Woods, Emmy-winning TV series Writer/Producer
The Short Stories
Five tales of memory, family, and the long shadow of war
"An exquisite walk through memory, nostalgia, and perseverance."
— Dr. Roy Heidicker, Marine Corps veteran and retired 4th Fighter Wing historian
About Robert J. Flood
Robert Flood was a bombardier on a B-17 over Hitler's Germany. He was shot down in March of 1944 and became a POW until 1945, when the Reich fell and he was liberated by Russian troops. Robert wrote the five stories in this collection in the late 1970s and early 1980s, thirty-five years or so after the war ended. Not war stories, they are about elements of everyday, stateside life. They are infused, however, with the emotional echoes of Robert's particular war and the distinctive tint it cast on the world of its combatants and their families.
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