From Winston Groom, the best-selling author of
Forrest Gump, Shiloh 1862, and Vicksburg 1863, comes the
fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who
defined aviation during the great age of flight. These
cleverly interwoven tales of their heart-stopping
adventures take us from the feats of World War I through
the heroism of World War II and beyond, including daring
military raids and survival-at-sea, and will appeal to
fans of Unbroken, The Greatest Generation, and Flyboys.
With the world in peril in World War II, each man set
aside great success and comfort to return to the skies
for his most daring mission yet. Doolittle, a brilliant
aviation innovator, would lead the daring Tokyo Raid to
retaliate for Pearl Harbour; Lindbergh, hero of the
first solo flight across the Atlantic, would fly combat
missions in the South Pacific; and Rickenbacker, World
War I flying ace, would bravely hold his crew together
while facing near-starvation and circling sharks after
his plane went down in a remote part of the Pacific.
Groom's rich narrative tells their intertwined stories -
from broken homes to Medals of Honour (all three would
receive it); barnstorming to the greatest raid of World
War II; front-page triumph to anguished tragedy; and
near-death to ultimate survival - as all took to the
sky, time and again, to become exemplars of the spirit
of the greatest generation. From barnstorming to flying
blindfolded, a famous kidnapping to secret spying, a
daring raid, and a survival tale that will keep you
riveted, this book has it all. Groom's reputation for
both history and storytelling ensure that this book will
stand as an important account for years to come. Amazing
revelations: never-before-told tales of the characters
who shaped early aviation.
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