After 75 years, the story of the WWII B-17 tail gunner Gene Moran, who fell four miles without a parachute and LIVED is finally being told. Gene was a Wisconsin farm boy who fought in history’s greatest aerial conflict and survived a four-mile fall without a parachute. But after his capture by the Germans, his ordeal was just beginning. Tailspin is much more than an incredible war story. It’s a compassionate portrait of an aging veteran finally revealing the traumatic memories he kept inside for more than sixty years. It’s also the story of the author’s own trial: raising two young sons as he lost his wife to cancer, all while trying to tell Gene’s story before it’s too late. Tailspin is a heartwarming testament to enduring the worst that history and life can deal to ordinary men and coming out on top. John Armbruster, the author of Tailspin, will present Gene’s story on Thursday, July 21st at 7pm at the Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center. John lives in Viroqua, Wisconsin and spent countless hours interviewing Gene in order to share his story with the world. John will also have artifacts and displays representing Gene’s experiences. There will be a book signing after the program, with books available to purchase in the gift shop.
