Lost in the Pacific, 1942: Not a Drop To Drink

Gr 6–9—The date is October 21, 1942, and somewhere over the Pacific Ocean a lone B-17 runs low on fuel. In order to avert a crash, the pilot and copilot choose to attempt to land the plane on the surface of the ocean amid 20-foot swells. They are successful, and thus begins the survival struggle of eight men in three tiny life rafts. Olson skillfully tells of the physical and mental torture the men endured, floating for 22 days with no protection from the elements and with limited amounts of food and water (two oranges, a small bird, a few fish, and a little bit of rainwater). Much of the narration focuses on Col. Eddie Rickenbacker's role in the men's survival. Some of the crew were eventually spotted and rescued by a search plane, while others were saved by people from the island of Funafuti. Only one did not survive the ordeal. The clearly written text is engaging and accompanied by numerous black-and-white photos. However, one sentence erroneously states that the president, not Congress, declared war. Clippings from newspapers and magazines are included in the back matter.