The True Story of Catch-22

The True Story of Catch-22, the authoritative companion to Joseph Heller’s Catch-22, is written and illustrated by the daughter of the 340^th Bomb Group’s final commander and seed for the factitious Colonel Cathcart, a doubtful honor.

This edition is enriched by the inclusion of a bold center section of full-color illustrations of Catch-22’s characters as they surge forward to face their true-life counterparts in the manner of Catch-22 – sometimes irreverent, sly, subtle, and always absurdly funny.

Also introduced are rare and amazing films of the Group, untouched since WWII ended, that were discovered deep in the National Archives. From this footage copious never before published stills are here extracted. Astonishingly they contain substantial, unique, and touching appearances by Joseph Heller himself – warrior before writer.

The True Story is the final piece to the puzzle that is Catch-22. It is relevant. It is important. And in the words of astronaut Scott Carpenter, “Fact is indeed better than fiction and this book is a great read about fact.”

Clips from the True Story of Catch-22

Want to learn more about the 340th Bomb Group in World War II?

“As Adolf Hitler moved into power he promised his country an end to the humiliating conditions caused by World War I.   He began re-creating and preparing the German army for a war of conquest. Here was rising a man, unimposing at 5’9” and 150 pounds, with a flattened haircut, a scrap of a moustache, and dead-serious eyes. A father-thwarted artist’s passion had simmered inside of him but now he was mutating into a fanatical and tyrannical alpha male who, in the ensuing few years, would declare, “Brutality creates respect.” “Go ahead,” he commanded, “kill without mercy. After all, who remembers today the Armenian Genocide.” He was to decree that the Nazi Party “ should not become a constable of public opinion, but it must dominate it. It must not become a servant of the masses, but their master!” – page 18

“With disbelief and great curiosity, Chapman arrived just in time to experience one very rare and very mammoth volcanic eruption as it (Vesuvius) hurled and spewed its molten guts directly over their airfield. The thundering, sky-splitting explosion proceeded to bury everyone and everything under a foot and a half of black, basketball-sized rock, clinkers, and ash. It was as if Vesuvius the Magnificent had just been waiting to display its awesomeness. The force of its punch was of such magnitude that bombs and flak seemed the merest of play toys by comparison. Two months later Joseph Heller arrived, perhaps grateful to miss this scarring event that he would have relished.” – page 21

“The B-25s operated during the entire winter months of 1944 from the island of Corsica. This winter was not to be taken lightly at altitude. Mother Nature may have railed against man’s weakness for wars by trying to clear her skies with icy, finger-freezing, mind-numbing cold, to which George’s 98^th mission attests.” – page 28

“With sweat and tears and the sand of character for mortar, out of the stepping-stones of misfortune the 340^th has built itself a great foundation. Nothing can happen to it anymore – both Vesuvius and Hitler have become incidental.” –Gil Robb Wilson, page 90

Illustrations from the True Story of Catch-22

The ‘True Story of Catch-22 has 322 pages of fascinating history and an abundance of rare, previously unpublished photos. Order your copy here for $39.95