The founder of FNP Military Press – John J. O’Neil of Malden Massachusetts

Our founder, John J. O’Neil started FNP Military Press as a publishing subsidiary of his former publishing company Food and Nutrition and Press. The company was started when a request was made from his former 8th Army Air Force B-17 crewmates Lt. Marshall Thixton (Bombardier) and Staff Sergeant George Moffat (Ball Turret Gunner) who had been writing a manuscript about their WWII wartime experiences. They sought the guidance of John (Tail and Waist Gunner) after reconnecting with him at their 8th Army Air Force Reunions in the early 1980s.

As an experienced publisher, John worked with Marshall and George on conducting research, text layout, design and editing their manuscript. The bond between the three of them that started so many years ago in a B-17 in the skies over worn torn Europe was strong. In 1993, prior to the manuscripts completion, George Moffat passed away after a long battle with cancer. Marshall continued on with the project and John committed to Marshall that upon completion he would publish the book in George’s honor. Marshall continued pursuing the completion of the book. John later acknowledged, "whatever we have accomplished, Marshall was the driving force." Marshall suddenly passed away on August 31, 1996 after suffering a massive heart attack.

The responsibility of completing their collaborative project fell on their crewmate, John. In 1998, FNP published Bomb’s Away by Pathfinders of the Eighth Air Force which was dedicated to all of the U.S. Army Air Forces Pathfinder Personnel both Air and Ground of World War II. The book tells the remarkable story of the 482nd Bomb Group and the Top Secret story of the U.S. efforts to use Air to Ground Radar on specially equipped B-17 and B-24 aircrafts in the Strategic Bombing campaign against Nazi Germany. With the publication of Bombs Away by Pathfinders of the Eighth Air Force, FNP Military Press was founded in Trumbull, CT in 1998.

In 1999, John was contacted by British author and military historian, Ian Hawkins, about republishing his now famous updated work The Munster Raid: Before and After. The Munster Raid: Before and After is the critically acclaimed work of the infamous Black Week Missions of October 1943. The U.S. Army Air Force, in its attempt to prove the validity of Daylight Strategic bombing, suffered huge losses in both bombers and air crews. The Sunday October 10, 1943 mission to Munster is known as one of fiercest and deadliest air battles in the European theater of operations.

The author of FNP Military Press’s next book was shot down on that Sunday in October of 1943. In 2000, FNP Military Press began to work with former POW and100th Bomb Group Navigator, Frank D. Murphy. Frank was a member of Crew 31 100th Bomb Group 418th Bomb Squadron. On his twenty-first mission to Munster, Frank was forced to jump from his B-17 after taking direct hits from his manuscript titled Luck of the Draw Reflections on the Air War in Europe. It was published in 2001 and is considered one of the finest books on the Air War in Europe ever published.

In 2004, FNP Military Press published No Foxholes in the Sky by Harry Conley. It is the first hand account of one WWII’s most famous Bomb Groups of the 8th Army Air Force, the 95th Bomb Group. Harry Conley was the veteran of over 89 combat missions and a former 95th Bomb Group Squadron C.O. He was an original member of the 95th and offers a unique perspective into the development, training, and deployment of the 8th Army Air Force Bomb Group.

In 2006, after a brief illness, FNP’s founder passed away. The torch was passed on to his son, John J. O’Neil, III who is committed to building upon the work of his father and to continue to grow FNP Military Press into the finest Military Publisher in the world.

In 2006, FNP Military Press moved its offices to Atlanta, GA. and consolidated its business and publication operations.

In 2007, FNP Military Press took its first step into creating a broader presence in the world of military publishing by redesigning and launching our web site. Our goal is to become the trusted source for all U.S. Army Air Force publications while providing resources for those interested in U.S. Army Air Force history and operations. In addition to our FNP titles, FNP Military Press is proud to provide quality publications on U.S. Army Air Force operations from other quality publishers through our FNP Military Press Web Site. Currently, FNP Military Press has several projects and manuscripts under review. We look forward to creating a greater awareness of our story, our books, and our authors in the months and years to come.

The current staff of FNP Military Press along with late author Frank D. Murphy enjoy a memorable ride on B-17 "Fuddy-Duddy", Lawrenceville, GA

Our Founder, the late John J. O’Neil, along with his wife Lillian, stand with some of their grandchildren in Mighty 8th Tee Shirts.

As a family owned and operated business, our future is bright. Our founder left us with an incredible legacy from which to build and grow our business. We have had opportunities to meet many fascinating and heroic figures of the U.S. Army Air Forces and WWII. With our third generation of family members now beginning to work for our company, we remain committed to continue to grow and evolve into the premier military publisher and retailer in the world. Our founder insisted on ensuring that each manuscript was historically accurate and our publications were produced to the highest standards and qualities. We remain dedicated to publishing and selling only the finest publications and merchandise available. All of our FNP titles are published in the USA to the highest quality standards. Thank you for allowing us to share a little "about us".