In spring 1942, eighteen-year-old Bill Gemmill was eager to serve his country. After a recruiter stamped his paperwork “Deferred,” Bill reluctantly agreed to pursue a college football scholarship. It was the crash of a ferried bomber behind his frat house that changed his life and spurred him on to war.

Following fourteen months of training, Bill’s vision of fighting from the air finally took shape as his bombardier insignia was pinned by the girl he had to leave behind. Within a month, he and his crew were on their way to Southern Italy.

After more than twenty successful missions, on 22 November 1944, disaster struck: Bill and his crew were hit badly. Unable to re-cross the Alps, the decision was made to abandon ship. Parachuting into the Yugoslavian countryside, Bill found himself alone. Would he find his way back to Italy or end up in the hands of German allies? Would he be reunited with his crew? Ultimately, would he survive?

Like so many veterans, Bill was reluctant to tell his story, but later in life he opened up to his daughter. Blue Yonder is Bill’s story of becoming a man in the midst of defending his country … as seen through Susan Gemmill’s eyes.

“From romances to tears, to the camaraderie and affection for his fellow crewmen, it is a soliloquy on wartime in the skies. There are no side comments on strategies and tactics. She rightly sticks to the subject: the life of a bombardier and his mates during a hellish time. This book is eminently worth reading.”
—Nicolas Van Gelder, former associate editor of CASCADES magazine