SMAC355 Navigator's Letter

Today we have a special guest Jan Cress Dondi author of The Navigator's Letter The Navigator's Letter, a USA Today bestseller and WWII narrative nonfiction, follows the Ploesti campaign through the experiences of two B-24 navigators, John B. and Bob—Jan's uncle and father—friends from the same small Illinois town whose lives unfolded in strikingly parallel ways. Preflight: Sponsor: https://pilotcounsel.com/ Cruise Flight: Talking Points: The discovery of 500-600 wartime letters • Why Ploesti matters • Operation Tidal Wave—audacious as planned; obstacles in execution • The two navigators' parallel journeys, their voices throughout the book • Research and personal connection • Operation Reunion—overlooked humanitarian mission, forgotten history Carl's favorite picture in the book: John B. Using the E6B Question suggestions: • Discovery of a footlocker containing 500–600 wartime letters from John B. andBob—What was it like reading them for the first time, and when did you realize there was a book hidden inside • Why was the Ploesti campaign so important to the outcome of World War II? • The strategic importance of Operation Tidal Wave; what went wrong? • While the letters kick-started the project, you often say your whole life prepared you to write this story. What do you mean by that, and how did your father influence that journey? • How did your 30-year career as a litigation paralegal help you uncover and reconstruct events that happened more than 80 years ago? • During your research, was there a discovery that changed your understanding of your father, your uncle, or the war itself? • Operation Reunion is considered the largest air evacuation in history. Why is this extraordinary mission so little known today? • Were there moments when the emotional weight of the story forced you to step away from the project? • How researching and writing The Navigator's Letter gave her new insights into duty, loyalty, sacrifice, courage, and love. • If your father and uncle could read The Navigator's Letter today, what do you think they would say? After Landing Checklist: Pick Of The Week: No pick of the week if an interview. Links The Navigator's Letter: The True Story of Two WWII Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman Who Bound Them Together Find The Book On Amazon: https://amzn.to/4pNOHvi https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/ Coaching, Courses, and Scholarships. Upcoming Events and Air Shows: FlySnf.org 2027 – April 6-11 Website: https://jancressdondi.com/ IG: @b24navigators FB: The Navigator's Letter LinkedIn: Jan Cress Dondi