Characters
The protagonist who was an Olympic runner before he became a WWII soldier.
Louis Zamperini
Where does Louie Zamperini grow up?
Torrance, CA
In the military, what is Louie's role on the flight crew?
Bombardier
In the later years of the war, what Allied plane is seen flying over Tokyo and Naoetsu?
B-29 Superfortress
Louie's mother who never stopped believing that her son was alive, even after he was reported dead.
Louise Zamperini
A sadistic leader of two different POW camps, where he subjects prisoners to extreme physical abuse.
The Bird
Who serves as Louie's original running coach?
What name do Louie and the crew members give their plane?
Super Man
How does Louie overcome his nightmares and alcohol addiction?
Through religious practices
Louie's devoted brother who serves as his initial running coach.
Pete Zamperini
Louie's friend and Super Man crewmate who also survives the crash of the Green Hornet and cruel treatment as a POW.
Russell Allen Philips ("Phil")
Where does Louie attend College?
USC
After training, where do Louie's crew wait for action?
Hawaii
After the first POW camp, Ofuna, to what location is Louie taken next?
Omori, a POW camp outside Tokyo
The third man to survive the wreck of the Green Hornet. He joins the Super Man crew after some of the crewmates are killed.
Francis McNamara ("Mac")
A Japanese leader of Ofuna who beats Bill Harris when he discovers Bill's maps and dictionary.
The Quack
What kind of reputation does Louie have as a child?
Mischievous, defiant, disobedient (stole, got into fights, ran away, etc.)
What information do the men share during the raft journey?
Descriptions of Louise's cooking
What does Louie find carved on the cell wall at Kwajalein?
The names of other servicemen
A brilliant POW who has photographic memory and strong language abilities.
William "Bill" Harris
Louie's quiet father whose voice is seldom heard in the book.
Anthony Zamperini
When Louie competes in the Olympics, where are those games held?
Berlin, Germany
What were some of the reasons planes crashed while pilots were flying? (List at least three challenges)
1. Mechanical problems
2. Tropical Weather
3. Runways were too short
4. Human error
What confirms for Louie's family that he did not die at sea?
A propagandist recording Louie makes
Louie's wife who comes from a privileged background and is a free spirited young woman whom Louie meets after the war.
Cynthia Applewhite Zamperini