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SMAC355 The Navigator’s Letter

August 1, 2026 · 57 min

Show notes

Today we have a special guest Jan Cress Dondi author of The Navigator’s Letter The Navigator’s Letter, a USA Today bestseller and WWII narrative nonfiction, follows the Ploesti campaign through the experiences of two B-24 navigators, John B. and Bob—Jan’s uncle and father—friends from the same small Illinois town whose lives unfolded in strikingly parallel ways.

Sponsor:

https://pilotcounsel.com/

Talking Points:

The discovery of 500-600 wartime letters
• Why Ploesti matters
• Operation Tidal Wave—audacious as planned; obstacles in execution
• The two navigators’ parallel journeys, their voices throughout the book
• Research and personal connection
• Operation Reunion—overlooked humanitarian mission, forgotten history

Links:

The Navigator’s Letter: The True Story of Two WWII Airmen, a Doomed Mission, and the Woman Who Bound Them Together

Find The Book On Amazon:
https://amzn.to/4pNOHvi

https://www.aviationcareerspodcast.com/ Coaching, Courses, and Scholarships.

Upcoming Events and Air Shows:

https://FlySnf.org 2027 – April 6-11

Website: https://jancressdondi.com/
IG: @b24navigators
FB: The Navigator’s Letter
LinkedIn: Jan Cress Dondi

The post SMAC355 The Navigator’s Letter appeared first on Stuck Mic AvCast.

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