Mel Crocker, Gary's Dad, was a radio operator on PBY Catalina aircraft in the South Pacific during World War II. He later spent eleven years collecting stories and accounts of pilots and crew members of PBY's during the war. Black Cats and Dumbos WWII's Fighting PBYs was finally published just two years before Mel's death in 1989. It went out of print after just two short printings.
In spite of the relatively few copies that were printed, it has become quite popular, albeit nearly impossible to get.
Gary & Lynda, are republishing Black Cats and Dumbos under their business name, Crocker Media Expressions. It should be available by mid July 2002. For availability and pricing, click here.