On accepting the brief for Bombs Away from General of the Air Force[dubious – discuss]Henry H. Arnold, Steinbeck wrote to his wife "It's a tremendous job I've taken on and I have to do it well."[2] He was commissioned to write it as part of an effort to increase Air Force recruitment and morale.
Steinbeck traveled more than 20,000 miles in 30 days with photographer John Swope to various Air Force bases in the United States with the assignment of documenting the various jobs needed to form a bombing team.[3] In particular, he relates the stories of six men and describes their respective duties. They are the pilot, navigator, bombardier, crew chief, gunner, and radio man.[4]
