I read Mr. Lawson's book so far back I can't remember, I loved the story of the "Ruptured Duck". Their harrowing exploits after the crash landing were as enthralling as Kennedy's crew of "PT-109", another book I read long ago. It is interesting after reading the book and then seeing pictures of the bombers taking off the carrier that one of the pictures is probably the Duck. From what I remember in the book he had forgotten to switch to full flaps and nearly dropped off the deck into the water, one of the planes disappears from camera view, could have been the Duck.
That entire generation of people will be sorely missed. I have an old 94 year old buddy that was at "The Bulge", last year he fell and broke his arm high up near the shoulder. We all thought we'd loose him, he recovered and while at home recuperating went to get out of his chair and fell, breaking his hip. They screwed him together and he's recovering at home. I visit when I can and he swears he's going to be driving again this Spring. Ten years ago he had a heart attack, gal bladder surgery and something else all in one year, tough old bird. As my dad once said when he met some of my fishing buddies. "Son, you can't fly like an eagle when you hang around with turkeys."
