A B-24 Pilot’s Letters Home
Memoir/WWII History
Date Published: May 27, 2025
Publisher: Acorn Publishing
In this posthumously published collection of letters and postal cards,
William “Bill” Hanchett shares his candid experiences as a
flight-school cadet, and later as an Army Air Forces pilot in command of a
B-24 Liberator bomber during World War II.
Through Bill’s first-hand accounts, we learn that mastering the art
of flying during wartime is about more than understanding engine throttle
and airspeed. It’s about wondering when you’ll be called to
fight and if you’ll be asked to betray your ideals. It’s about
working hard and documenting the days, dreaming about the future, and
longing for home.
An extraordinary primary document, Disgracefully Easy offers us a rare
glimpse inside the military in the 1940s, a time when Americans worried
about the fate of their great country and looked to the brave and courageous
to deliver them from fear. This unique collection will be long remembered as
an important addition to the annals of aviation history.
Interview
Tom Hanchett
Can you tell us a little about the process of getting this book published? How did you come up with the idea and how did you start?
From an early age I have been interested in history. I studied World War II, especially the Battle of the Bulge, for many years. My master’s thesis in history was on a unique American battalion that fought in the battle. After writing the thesis, I contributed historical articles to the battalion’s veteran association publication. I also published a short article about this battalion in a commercial magazine.
Of course, I always knew about my dad’s military service. In elementary school he gave me a book about the Army Air Forces which I pored over as a kid. It ended up serving as a reference for my book. I also remember seeing his uniform jacket hanging in a closet. There were other mementos too, a B-4 bag (like a suitcase) and a knee board that pilots strapped to one knee to make notes during a long flight. Finding his letters was a surprise to me and provided a new perspective on his service and on his family life during war years. The letters were found in a bundle buried in my father’s office closet in 2016 at the time he died. The idea for the book evolved from this foundation after I retired the next year.
What surprised you most about getting your book published?
I always knew that finding a publisher was difficult. Because I am an introvert, self-promotion and marketing are daunting because they do not come naturally to me.
Tell us a little about what you do when you aren’t writing.
I spend time with my wife, my best friend and partner in this enterprise. I visit my grandson and enjoy reading history books.
As a published author, what would you say was the most pivotal point of your writing life?
For this book, finding the letters was the pivotal moment, because they were a fresh, untapped primary source. A historian friend once told me that finding letters like these is a historian’s dream.
Where do you get your best ideas and why do you think that is?
As previously noted, my best ideas evolve from my interest in historical topics and reading about and researching the topics. While in high school I researched and wrote a short article about an army officer killed in World War II. I contacted people who had known this officer and they provided personal recollections which were used in the article, which was published in their veteran’s publication.
What is the toughest criticism given to you as an author?
While writing my thesis I was criticized for using too many military unit numbers, i.e., 30th Infantry, in my writing. As a history writer, I am very careful about documenting my sources. Sometimes in my effort to document facts, I may cite too many sources.
What has been your best accomplishment as a writer?
My best accomplishment as a writer has been the publication of Disgracefully Easy: A B-24 Pilot’s Letters Home. In addition to completing my master’s thesis, I am also proud of my work in the late 1970s as a news writer for MAINSTREAM magazine, a monthly publication which covered issues impacting people with disabilities.
How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have?
I do not have any unpublished or half-finished books currently, just many future ideas! For example, editing and publishing the letters my father wrote while attending Black Mountain College before his World War II service.
About the Authors
Thomas F. Hanchett
Now retired from federal civil service, Thomas Forster Hanchett holds a
bachelor’s degree in government and two master’s degrees, one in
history and one in public administration. In 2016, after his father
Bill’s death, he found over three-hundred letters Bill had written
during WWII. Given Tom’s interest in military history, it seemed only
natural that he be the one to edit and present his father’s letters in
manuscript form. Tom has also written historical and educational articles
for various publications. A native Californian, he resides in North San
Diego County.
William Hanchett
William “Bill” Hanchett (1922-2016) grew up in a wealthy family
in Evanston, Illinois. His father lost his municipal bond company business
during the Great Depression, changing their family’s lifestyle
drastically. Bill attended Black Mountain College, but his time there was
cut short because of World War II. He enlisted in the Army Air Forces,
rising from private to second lieutenant, and then to airplane commander of
a B-24 Liberator bomber. After the war, he continued his education,
worked as a civilian historian for the U.S. Air Force, and taught history
for over thirty years at San Diego State University. Bill authored numerous
articles and historical books, including The Lincoln Murder Conspiracies
(1983). He loved living in San Diego, California, where he spent time
sailing on the bay.
Social Media Links
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Instagram: @historiantom (Thomas Forster Hanchett)
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