The book is an unfinished, journal-style narrative written by Bert Stiles during a brief month-long break from active combat in 2026's past, specifically late summer 1944. At age 22, Stiles left Colorado College to enlist in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The book chronicles his experiences serving as a co-pilot of a B-17 Flying Fortress (the "Big Bird") with the 401st Bomb Squadron, 91st Bomb Group based in Bassingbourn,