ACME DEPOT

BERT STILES
Serenade
Publications

Bert Stiles of Denver, Colorado, was one of among many who gave their lives while serving in the U.S. Army Air Forces in WWII, but he was one of a relative few who left a written legacy. His single book, Serenade to the Big Bird, was published posthumously and is broadly regarded as one of the great literary works to emerge from WWII.

Contents

• Introduction.
• Serenade: Published editions of Serenade to the Big Bird.
  
• Publications: Other works by and about Bert Stiles.

Introduction

As a B-17 co-pilot in the 401st Squadron of the 91st Bomb Group of the U.S. Army Eighth Air Force, Bert Stiles flew nearly thirty missions. His driving desire, however, was to fly the P-51 Mustang, and in September, 1944, he transferred to the 505th Squadron of the 339th Fighter Group. On November 26, 1944, Bert Stiles was killed in action when his plane crashed as it followed down an enemy FW-190, Stiles' first confirmed kill. This was his sixteenth fighter mission. Bert was 24 years old.

Serenade to the Big Bird had been finished by Bert during his time at a rest home prior to completion of his bombing missions, and was hoped by Bert to be published. The book, which eloquently and emotionally describes the life of Bert and his B-17 crews, was returned to his family and subsequently published, first in England.

Writing was Bert Stiles' passion and intended vocation, but his desire to fly and his sense of duty to his country were to leave us only guessing where Bert's talents would have led him. His life was indeed an unfinished story.

Photos

• A college group photo (Bert is standing, center, without shirt).

• Bert (kneeling, second from left) with B-17 crew.

• Bert (kneeling, second from right) with B-17 crew.

• Bert's grave marker at the Ardennes American Cemetary in Neuville-En-Condroz, Belgium. (Photo by Eric Dominicus)

Acknowledgments

Photo of Bob Cooper (left) and Roland Dickison (right) at a book signing event.

Updated: 20 November 2009.