The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of captain John Yossarian, a u.s. Army air forces b-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th squadr...The novel is set during World War II, from 1942 to 1944. It mainly follows the life of captain John Yossarian, a u.s. Army air forces b-25 bombardier. Most of the events in the book occur while the fictional 256th squadron is based on the island of pianosa, in the mediterranean sea, west of Italy.