Join the SPL and author John E. Happ on the birthday of the US Air Force, as Happ recounts the discovery of an old leather briefcase in his family home. 

The contents of that case revealed the true-life saga of his father’s participation in deadly cadet training and violent air missions when aviation as an industry was still in its infancy. Happ’s book, The Navigation Case, recounts the drama and sacrifice expended by America’s pioneering pilots during the greatest campaign in U.S. Air Force history. This story gives context for all the Pacific war stories from Pearl Harbor, Guadalcanal, Midway Island, and Iwo Jima, up to the avoidable catastrophes of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

This program is presented in partnership with the Somerville Department of Veterans' Services. 

About John E. Happ:

John E. Happ is a contributing author to the Journal of the American Revolution, has written for the World War One website The 75th Artillery C.A.C., and the adventure magazine Atlantic Coastal Kayaker. 

Questions? Contact Kerry: keodonnell@somervillema.gov