New Version of the Book Coming Out Soon

Okay, it's been almost a year since my last post! I won't bore you with the why's except to say that I've been working on a greatly expanded edition of the book of Dad's letters. The new title is only slightly different. You can find Warhawk: Letters From Out of the Blue at www.createspace.com/3629633 or at www.amazon.com (and search for the title). The new book contains all the letters and telegrams of the original edition, plus some new ones, and corrects previous errors. More importantly, I have spent the last year researching the background of the air war in North Africa. You can now know what was going on with the 57th Fighter Group's 66th Fighter Squadron when each letter was written. Missions flown, friends shot down, and events happening around the camp are all chronicled during the eleven months Guy was flying combat sorties. The book should be available in a couple of weeks or so. If you're interested in this phase of WWII (1942-43) in the Mediterranean Theatre of Operations, please check out the book.

Book of Guy's WWII letters now available!

LETTERS FROM OUT OF THE BLUE: The Correspondence of Guy O. Denton, USAAF, from North Africa during WWII, by D.G. "Rocky" Denton is now available from Amazon (put the main title in quotes to search for it, or include the subtitle, or use author's name). You may also go to: www.createspace.com/3516216. This book contains some 70 plus letters written by Lt. Guy Denton, a P-40 fighter pilot with the famed 57th Fighter Group, to his future bride. In them he talks about the effects of desert isolation, the boredom between combat missions, humorous things that happened in his unit, as well as the tragedy of personal loss as friend after friend was shot down by the German Luftwaffe. Anyone interested in the history of World War II or even likes a good love story should find this book engrossing. Happy reading!

Rocky Denton

Upcoming book

I am in the process of putting out a book of Dad's letters. Entitled "Letters From Out of the Blue", they consist of some 70-plus letters written to my mother between September, 1942 and November, 1943. Most were written from North Africa, where he served with the famed 57th Fighter Group, first in the 65th Fighter Squadron (the "Fighting Cocks", then in the 66th FS ("Exterminators"). It will be available through Amazon, hopefully before the end of the year. Besides the obvious historical interest, these letters chronicle a love story. I will publish some excerpts from them in future posts so readers can get a taste of their wit, humor, and wisdom.

In the meantime, visit the 57th Fighter Group website at www.57thfightergroup.org.

Introducing Guy O. Denton

Guy Denton was my father. He wrote some 70-plus letters to my mother from North Africa. To read their story is to gain a glimpse into the quintessential "Greatest Generation" couple. Both my parents grew up in the Great Depression, lost loved ones in the greatest military conflict in world history, and raised a family through the "Leave It to Beaver" fifties and the social revolution of the sixties. As time goes on, I will share with you vignettes of their life, especially through Dad's letters to Mom before he finally got her to agree to marry him. I'll post photos of that time as well. I hope you enjoy them.

Welcome to "The Blue"

"The Blue" was the name the British gave to the vast North African desert, due to its appearance on a typically hot day. This site is dedicated primarily to the American pilots of the 57th Fighter Group who served in Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia during the Second World War. More specifically, it is devoted to information about Guy O. Denton, of the 65th and, later, the 66th Fighter Squadrons from about September, 1942 through August, 1943. However, this may prove to be only a starting point. The site may branch out as time goes on. We shall see.

The above photo shows, as best I can ascertain, Class 42-G (graduated July, 1942), Luke Field, Arizona. Guy Denton is in the front row, kneeling, second from the right.

Welcome to my blog. I hope you find something of interest here.

Rocky Denton