Synopses & Reviews
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING AUTHOR STEPHEN COONTS BRINGS TO LIFE THE MOST THRILLING MOMENTS AND THE MOST LEGENDARY FLYERS IN AIR WARFARE In this collection of true tales of aerial combat, you'll meet some of the greatest figures in aviation history from all nations: American, British, German, Japanese, and more. Witness the courage and charisma of America's first air hero, Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker, whose exploits set the standard for all fighter pilots to follow; "The Doolittle Raid," in which sixteen B-25 Bombers struck hard at the heart of the Japanese empire; "The Flight of Enola Gay," the mission that changed the world forever; and "The Last Ace," an original account of the first victory of Vietnam jet ace Captain Steve Ritchie.
These are not stories about airplanes, but rather of the heroes who flew them -- of the steady hands, bold hearts, and raw nerve that it takes to survive when the sky becomes a battlefield.
Review
Kirkus Reviews A glorious medley celebrating heroes of yesteryear's aerial wars....Coonts rescues some genuine treasures from undeserved obscurity.
Review
Sport Aviation Awe-inspiring....The best twenty-six stories of aerial combat a person is likely to find.
Synopsis
Some of the greatest figures in aviation history share their most thrilling moments in this epic volume. These are authentic, unforgettable accounts of lives lived on the edge at full throttle, of war at its worst, and men at their best. Available for the first time in paperback, this unique collection of real-life tales of aerial warfare fought by American, British, German, Japanese and other pilots is sure to appeal to aviation buffs of all ages.
Table of Contents
First air hero /Arch Whitehouse--An overrated pastime /James McCudden--Hero's life /Eddie V. Rickenbacker--Reprieve /Alan C. Deere--Scramble /Richard Townshend Bickers--Spitfire tales /Larry Forrester--Spitfires get the Kommodore /Edward H. Sims--Doolittle raid /Ted W. Lawson--Kimigayo /Gordon W. Prange, Donald M. Goldstein, Katherine V. Dillon--Saved for another day /Joe Foss, Donna Wild Foss--Target: Hong Kong /Robert L. Scott, Jr.--Long flight home /Robert S. Johnson, Martin Caidin--Fighter pilot's Christmas / Gregory "Pappy" Boyington--Stars stillshine /Philip Ardrey--Runner /Hans Ulrich Rudel--Greatest ace /Raymond F. Toliver, Trevor J. Constable--Cross of lead /Adolf Galland--Last Samurai /Martin Caidin, Fred Saito--Flight of Enola Gay /Gordon Thomas, Max Moran Witts--Spad pilot /Rosario Rausa--Ia Drang Valley /Robert Mason--Filthy little war /Jack Broughton--Professionals /John B. Nichols, Barrett Tillman--Carrier pilot /Frank Elkins--Hotdoggin' it /Hugh L. Mills, Jr., Robert Anderson--Last ace /Stephen Coonts.