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Brian Murphy
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81 Days Below Zero: The Incredible Survival Story of a World War II Pilot in Alaska's Frozen Wilderness Hardcover – June 2, 2015

by Brian Murphy (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,640 ratings
Editors' pick Best Nonfiction
See all formats and editions
"A riveting...saga of survival against formidable odds" (Washington Post) about one man who survived a World War II plane crash in Alaska's harsh Yukon territory
Shortly before Christmas in 1943, five Army aviators left Alaska's Ladd Field on a routine flight to test their hastily retrofitted B-24 Liberator in harsh winter conditions. The mission ended in a crash that claimed all but one-Leon Crane, a city kid from Philadelphia with no wilderness experience. With little more than a parachute for cover and an old Boy Scout knife in his pocket, Crane now found himself alone in subzero temperatures. Crane knew, as did the Ladd Field crews who searched unsuccessfully for the crash site, that his chance of survival dropped swiftly with each passing day.

But Crane did find a way to stay alive in the grip of the Yukon winter for nearly twelve weeks and, amazingly, walked out of the ordeal intact.

81 Days Below Zero recounts, for the first time, the full story of Crane's remarkable saga. In a drama of staggering resolve and moments of phenomenal luck, Crane learned to survive in the Yukon's unforgiving wilds. His is a tale of the capacity to endure extreme conditions, intense loneliness, and flashes of raw terror-and emerge stronger than before.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    264 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Da Capo Press
  4. Publication date
    June 2, 2015
  5. Dimensions
    6.25 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0306823284
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0306823282
  8. See all details
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The Amazon Book Review
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Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A gripping story."
―Kirkus Reviews

"A solid entry in the perennially popular canon of real-life adventure stories."
―Booklist

"A riveting tale of survival."
―BookPage

"This would be a great read at the beach on a hot summer day...An interesting sage of survival against formidable odds."
―Washington Post

"[An] excellent volume...Murphy crafted a volume that is superbly written, thoroughly researched, and is unique within this popular genre. Crane's incredible story of survival deserves to be known by a far greater audience. That is why 81 Days Below Zero is such a valuable contribution."
―Military Review

"[A] thrilling true story...Many have been the tales of man against nature, the struggle for survival among icy peaks in a howling wilderness--some fictitious (Jack London's "To Build a Fire"), others far too true ("Alive"). Few if any have chronicled such an epic battle as this, the journey of a lone airman from near death to life, in the course of which might be seen a series of miracles, fortified by his indomitable will to survive...It is a well-told tale."
―Roanoke Times

"A primer for anyone looking for information on extreme weather survival."
―New York Journal of Books

"Murphy vividly describes Crane's World War II Alaskan ordeal."
―Military Officer

"Leon Crane's amazing story is recounted in great detail. The author relates the young aviator's harrowing tale in smooth prose, which beckons the reader to continue reading. There are many survival stories of airmen and sailors adrift at sea and how they beat the odds. This story reveals how one flyer endured an experience just as extreme and lived to tell about it."
―World War II History Magazine

"[Murphy] manages to transport the reader to a cold and isolated arctic landscape through vivid descriptions...A satisfying read for military aviation buffs and anyone with an interest in Alaska history during the war years."
―Alaska History

"An epic tale and one that will hold the attention of anyone interested in Alaska, World War II history, survival, or operations in the extreme cold...This story's value lies in giving us an understanding of how it is possible to survive in the harshest conditions on almost nothing but wits, guts and determination."
―Association of the United States Army

"This is a well written book which should be of interest to anyone who likes aviation history, survival stories and the will to live when confronted with seemingly impossible odds."
―Military magazine

"Murphy relays the incredible survival story in subzero conditions with masterful suspense."
―Jacksonville Journal-Courier

"An exciting, caring, and interesting story."
―Portland Review of Books

"[A] sharply detailed, gripping account...The reader shivers with Crane as he ponders each next step through a desolate Alaskan forest when a warm day during the winter of 1943 is zero degrees Fahrenheit...A fresh, vivid, film-worthy tale of World War II survival."
―Charleston Post and Courier

"Gripping...Murphy perfectly captures Crane's predicament of trying to survive in some of the most brutal terrain and weather on the planet...This book is an epic story of one man's will to survive in a harsh environment."
―Collected Miscellany

About the Author

Brian Murphy, a journalist and author, has reported around the world for The Associated Press for more than twenty years. He joined the Washington Post in 2014 and lives in Athens, Greece.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Da Capo Press; First Edition (June 2, 2015)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0306823284
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0306823282
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.7 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 1,640 ratings

About the author

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Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy

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Brian Murphy is a journalist at the Washington Post. He joined the paper after more than twenty years as an award-winning foreign correspondent and bureau chief for The Associated Press in Europe and the Middle East. He has two previous books and currently lives in Washington, DC, with his wife Toula Vlahou.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
4.2 out of 5
1,640 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Daniel T. Davis
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book!
Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2024
Verified Purchase
Great book. Lots better than a good novel because it's real.
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Serena
4.0 out of 5 stars Audible Version--Terrific Story
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
Great story, good narrator!

Some people have criticized the book because the survival story was padded with side stories. That is mostly because after the original interviews and news came out Mr. Crane was not particularly interested in rehashing his amazing story. I think he felt that what he survived was not that interesting a story because he did what he thought he had to do--what anyone would do--if they wanted to survive. He didn't feel he was a hero. And, he might have felt luck played a big part in his survival.

Still, it is a riveting story and I think the extra stories and sidelights are related and interesting.

A great story to listen to on long car trips or while exercising. My husband and I both enjoyed it. My only regrets about audiobooks is that we can't see the pictures. So, I usually buy the book after listening to true survival stories so we can see the all the photos.
One person found this helpful
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Thomas
5.0 out of 5 stars great story of survival in the frozen wilderness
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2023
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This is an account of the lone survivor of a 1943 plane crash in the wilds of Alaska, the people who searched for him, and also the people who went looking for the wreckage and bodies more than a half-century later. It's pretty good - if you ever wondered how someone with minimal equipment and no training could have survived in minus-zero temperatures, and what their thought process might have been, you'll enjoy this book. I know I did.
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Mr. R.
3.0 out of 5 stars Alaska, truly the last frontier.
Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2022
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John Crane was lucky and strong. Mentally and physically strong. Not body builder strong but capable of enduring great physical stress. Walking thru knee deep snow tugging a heavy man-made sled packed with provisions…oh all this in extreme cold. Twenty, thirty, thirty-five degrees f below zero, with extreme wind. Turns out the habit of the old timers of building sturdy cabins in remote areas saved his life. The tradition held that the cabin be stocked with food and materials necessary for survival. Otherwise poor old John would be dead, for sure. But he went on to live a fruitful life enjoying his fame but also keeping parts of his story very private. Lots of extra stuff in this book. Chapters featuring his ordeal can be easily found and enjoyed.
3 people found this helpful
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Jeffrey T. Munson
4.0 out of 5 stars An Exciting Story of Hardship, Survival, And Triumph
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2015
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On December 21, 1943, Leon Crane and the rest of the crew of his B-24 bomber took off from Ladd field in Alaska. The purpose of their mission was to run tests on the propellers of the plane. The mission ended in disaster; the plane crashed and Crane was the only survivor. In this book, author Brian Murphy describes the flight, crash, and Crane's struggle to survive.

Crane managed to bail out of the stricken bomber, but he was not nearly prepared for what he was about to endure. He had forgotten his cold-weather mittens, and all he had of consequence with him were 40 matches and a boy scout pocket knife. For the next 81 days, Crane somehow managed to survive in Alaska's harsh wilderness. He used his parachute to sleep in and carefully rationed his matches for making fires. Fortunately, he stumbled upon an abandoned cabin which contained food and other useful items. It wasn't until much later that he came upon a person living in the wilderness who was able to help him get back to his base.

"81 Days Below Zero" is a harrowing tale of endurance and survival. The book not only tells Crane's story, but also that of crash investigators that searched over the plane years later. These investigators were also able to discover other human remains within the wreckage and have them positively identified. This book serves as a testament to Crane's struggle to survive, endure the unendurable, and emerge healthy and strong. Highly recommended.
5 people found this helpful
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ROBERT DEMRO
5.0 out of 5 stars true story
Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2024
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good read
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Ingrid B. Jacques
5.0 out of 5 stars A riveting true story
Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2023
Verified Purchase
This is an interesting survival story that I wanted to get to my dad for Christmas. He was happy to get it.
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N. Bowers
4.0 out of 5 stars The author recounts an amazing survival tale of a WWII air pilot that survives ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 7, 2018
Verified Purchase
The author recounts an amazing survival tale of a WWII air pilot that survives 81 days in the Alaskan wilderness. All the research for the book was done posthumous to the main character, Leon Crane. This is an impressive display of research and reading this quilted story is satisfactory amazement in itself.
I enjoyed the book because I learned about the Alaskan wilderness and contemplated temperatures I would never even dream of experiencing. To learn of rivers producing and cracking four feet thick ice and -50 F temperatures is just awe inspiring. I also enjoyed learning the war history and the relevance of Alaska’s geography and the role it played in Russian-American relations during the time. I had not idea Alaska was even relevant to WWII but it really was an important military hub that helped the efforts to defeat Hitler.
I will contemplate Leon’s survival instincts for a long time and wonder if I would be able to last as long as he had. His level-headed decision-making at different points in his journey was phenomenal. His incredible will to live during his journey is an inspiration, and after he was returned to base, his humility as described by the author is just fantastic.
Lastly, I enjoyed the book because here in New England, temperatures have recently dropped to sub zero and while I would very much like to complain, I found myself incapable of whining about my circumstance as I was reading about this man, Lean Crane, who survived much worse on much less. The book has left me with a lasting gratitude on life and appreciation for my own comfortable surroundings!
It’s a pretty easy and fast read. I recommend it! There are parts in the book where I think "ok the author is really far-reaching his research", but this weakness is easy to overlook if you focus on the primary story.
25 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Good Read
Reviewed in Canada on August 5, 2020
Verified Purchase
Well written and flows nicely. Interesting account or a survival journey with additional historical information to add to the interest. It is always interesting when humans take on nature and win.
One person found this helpful
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TimBob
4.0 out of 5 stars Author Brian Murphy keeps you there
Reviewed in Canada on May 3, 2023
Verified Purchase
A good book. The author told the story well and kept things interesting. I would recommend it to people who want to read a bit about the war, old war planes and of course survival in the cold icy north.
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Ken Taylor
3.0 out of 5 stars Too many "filler" pages.
Reviewed in Canada on January 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
The author admits that getting detailed information about this event was difficult because in later life the person who survived did not want to talk about his experience.
The author could have written a factual account of this remarkable survival story in a less lengthy form, but evidently, he wanted to write a good size book.
Unfortunately, although competent, the author adds length to the story by including too much information about people that most of us are not really interested in... we can only speculate that his imagination helps to embellish and fill in other spaces.
4 people found this helpful
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Gilmond Savoie
5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it.
Reviewed in Canada on October 17, 2019
Verified Purchase
Did not want to put it down. The few pictures made it that much more real.
Read it.
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Tyler Keay
4.0 out of 5 stars Good book
Reviewed in Canada on March 19, 2023
Verified Purchase
If you like survival stories this checks the box.
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