A powerful firsthand account that carries readers from the deadly skies over Nazi Germany to the infamous prison camps of the Third Reich, revealing one young airman's extraordinary courage, endurance, and determination to survive against overwhelming odds.

Fresh out of navigation school, Lieutenant Fred Freiberger arrived in England expecting to gain experience before seeing combat. Instead, he was almost immediately swept into the relentless Allied bombing campaign over Nazi Germany. Flying with the legendary Eighth Air Force, he guided B-17 bombers through relentless anti-aircraft fire, enemy fighter attacks, and treacherous weather, where every mission demanded flawless precision, and every flight could be his last.

Written with remarkable immediacy and unforgettable detail, Salt on My Tail places readers inside the cramped confines of a Flying Fortress, capturing the fear before takeoff, the mounting tension as crews approached their targets, and the split-second decisions that separated survival from catastrophe. Freiberger vividly recreates the deep bonds forged among bomber crews, the routines of life on an English airfield, and the emotional toll of flying into danger day after day.

Everything changes when Freiberger's B-17 is shot down during the pivotal Schweinfurt-Regensburg Raid of August 17, 1943. Captured by German forces, he spends nearly two years imprisoned in Stalag Luft III?the notorious prisoner-of-war camp later immortalized by The Great Escape. Together, his experiences in combat and captivity create a remarkable testament to resilience, courage, and the unbreakable spirit of the generation that fought World War II, offering an unforgettable personal perspective on one of history's greatest conflicts.