1st Lieutenant Dallas Books was a B-24 pilot who made the Supreme Sacrifice during the Second World War during a mission over Germany. He was the son of Fire Chief and Mrs. Oliver T. Books and brother of Duane. His wife Gratia Owen Books and son Robert Dallas Books, age 2 1/2, resided with her parents at Durand. Lt. Books was a graduate of Eau Claire High School and the State Teachers College . He entered the air corps in 1940 and received his training at Muskogee, OK and Randolph Field, TX. He was Commissioned at Kelly Field, TX in June of 1941. After the outbreak of war, he did coastal patrol work on the East coast. Prior to going overseas, he was an instructor at an A-20 school. He then attended B-25 school in South Carolina, and B-17 school in Florida and took intensive training in B-24 at Clovis and Alamogordo, N.M. He was qualified to fly any type of army plane. Lt. Books flew overseas in December of 1943 and was on his 8th mission when shot down. On his 1st mission over Germany, he earned the Presidential Citation as well as the admiration of his crew and base commander when he landed on the runway in his B-24 "Sweet Chariot" with the nose wheel shot off. It was understood that you had to be tough and on the ball if you wanted to fly with the Books Crew, but that's the way the crew wanted it. His death was a shock to his family, community, and country. Over 60 years later he is still missed by his family.
1st Lieutenant Dallas Books was a B-24 pilot who made the Supreme Sacrifice during the Second World War during a mission over Germany. He was the son of Fire Chief and Mrs. Oliver T. Books and brother of Duane. His wife Gratia Owen Books and son Robert Dallas Books, age 2 1/2, resided with her parents at Durand. Lt. Books was a graduate of Eau Claire High School and the State Teachers College . He entered the air corps in 1940 and received his training at Muskogee, OK and Randolph Field, TX. He was Commissioned at Kelly Field, TX in June of 1941. After the outbreak of war, he did coastal patrol work on the East coast. Prior to going overseas, he was an instructor at an A-20 school. He then attended B-25 school in South Carolina, and B-17 school in Florida and took intensive training in B-24 at Clovis and Alamogordo, N.M. He was qualified to fly any type of army plane. Lt. Books flew overseas in December of 1943 and was on his 8th mission when shot down. On his 1st mission over Germany, he earned the Presidential Citation as well as the admiration of his crew and base commander when he landed on the runway in his B-24 "Sweet Chariot" with the nose wheel shot off. It was understood that you had to be tough and on the ball if you wanted to fly with the Books Crew, but that's the way the crew wanted it. His death was a shock to his family, community, and country. Over 60 years later he is still missed by his family.
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