Learn how Junior high and high school students change the course of history, in 1943, by instigating enough war bond sales to buy a B-17 Bomber. The extraordinary tale of how high school students were able to raise enough money, during WWII, to buy a B-17 bomber and the incredible 'spirit' that led alumni, seventy-two years later, to solve the mystery of what happened to the bomber." During WWII, to help fund the war effort, junior high and senior high students at South High School in Grand Rapids, Michigan took part in the “Buy a Bomber” program initiating over $375,000 in War Bonds and Defense Loan Stamps sales, allowing them to purchase a B-17 Bomber. They christened the bomber, "The Spirit of South High," after which it flew off never to be heard from again, until now. " A fascinating and little known story about the home front in World War 2. All students of History should take note about what can be done when one puts their mind to it." Donald M. Goldstein, Ph.D. Co Author of At Dawn We Slept and Miracle At Midway“ "Writing in the simple, unadorned terms of small-town America during wartime, Warren, a writer from the South High class of 1962, captures the patriotism and community spirit that sparked the students to canvass door-to-door.”“...This bit of local history is a reminder of unheralded resolve and determination by students during WWII. ” Publishers Weekly/Book Life "When Americans were called upon to 'do their part' following the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack, the students of South High School in Grand Rapids, Mich., did more than their share with their contribution to the 1942 'Buy a Bomber' campaign.Writing in the simple, unadorned terms of small-town America during wartime,Warren, a writer from the South High class of 1962, captures the patriotism and community spirit that sparked the students to canvass door-to-door. She chronicles the eager pupils who raised more than $75,000 in sales of war bonds and Defense Loan stamps in order to buy a fighter plane. The drive continued to bring in donations and the students subsequently collected more than $300,000 to purchase a B-17 bomber, which was named The Spirit of South High. (Unfortunately, the bomber crashed in a farmer's field during a training mission in bad weather.) Warren honors the school leadership, students, and local merchants with lofty praise, while noting some additional government support. This bit of local history is a reminder of unheralded resolve and determination by students during WWII." - Publishers Weekly/BookLife "A fascinating, little known story about the home front in World War 2. All students of History should take note about what can be done when one puts their mind to it." - Donald M. Goldstein, Ph.D., Co-author of At Dawn We Slept and Miracle At Midway "I read Sandra's book. It is well written and researched. I recommend it for the history, the human faces and stories, and the superb writing." - Julie Murphy, Ph.D. Licensed Professional Counselor "Can a group of high school students change the course of history? They could-and did-during World War II when they persuaded their school and town to help them raise money to buy two planes and several landing craft. This exciting story, in a time when we all helped each other and when brave young men fought to preserve freedom, tells of a harrowing final flight of the bomber that they bought." - James T. Webb, Ph.D., President of GreatPotential Press, anamateur historian, and a civilian pilot with 4,000+ hours of flight time. "...You have published this book at a time in life when our national spirit is low...Maybe this book will help ignite 'I'm proud to be an American!'" - Sallee Wiltrakis Ballard, SHS Class of 1962 "Thank you for writing We Bought A WWII Bomber. I gave it to my 95-year old father for his birthday. The book prompted him to speak of his WWII experiences for the first time. My brother and I sat mesmerized for over two hours amazed to learn all he had lived through." - Bruce Fisher, Son of a WWII Veteran "Sandra Warren's account of one 'special' B-17 bomber that crashed in the tiny mountain community of Meadows of Dan near the Blue Ridge Parkway in Southern Virginia is nothing short of remarkable. Her dedication to uncovering the full story of along neglected piece of local history here is praiseworthy, but her extensiveresearch highlights the overall story of national unity in support of World War II on the home front as well." - John Reynolds, Patrick County Historical Society, VA "I was a nine year old child in London in 1944 and my family and friends all thought Americans had lots of extra food because they sent it to us. We, the English, were starving because of the German U-boat raids. I'm shocked to learn that Americans sacrificed so that we could eat!" - Frederick Hardy, Charlotte, NC "When I was seven years old, I attended the dedication of 'The Spirit of South High.' Following graduati