I received a copy of this book from Hachette Books in exchange for an honest review.

Although unintentional, it seems fitting that I'm posting this review on Remembrance Day. Indestructible is the true story of Pappy Gunn, an American pilot in WW2 who moved heaven and earth to free his family from a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. Pappy was former Navy, living in the Philippines as a civilian with his young family. He ran a fledgling airline, and flying was an integral part of who he was. But in the chaos of the Japanese bombing and subsequent invasion, Pappy ended up in Australia with the American Army, while his family was forced into the Santo Tomas civilian POW camp. Thus began a 3 year fight to liberate his family. But it wasn't just a fight against the Japanese army, it was also a fight against American military bureaucracy, time, distance, and limited flight technology. And in the end, he became a legend.

This biography is not a dry read. It's told in a story-like manner, complete with reproduced conversations and detailed battle descriptions. Bruning explores the emotions Pappy must have experienced while separated from his family, going far beyond facts and figures detailing his contributions to airborne warfare. Bruning also delved deep into the Gunn family experience in the POW camp - he interviewed one of Pappy's sons, resulting in a nuanced and emotional narrative that doesn't hold back.

While not perfect (Bruning can get pretty repetitive), this book is definitely worth reading if you are interested in the history lesson.

4/5