Discovery of an A6M Zero An incredible find in the New Guinea Jungle Justin Taylan
In drawn out drama paralleling a TV crime-scene investigation show, Justin Taylan takes us through first the discovery of the wreckage of a Zero then the painstaking details of determining the identity of the remains still in the cockpit. When all was done, the fate of Ensign Kaoru Yamaguchi was finally known and he was symbolically laid to rest in his native Japan.
Historic Flight of Betty Jo From Hawaii to New York in record 1947 time Warren Thompson
It was the dawn of one era and the dusk of another as jets quickly began to replace propeller-driven aircraft. Even so, for a brief moment two determined Air Force pilots, Lt. Col. Thatcher and Lt. Ard became headline news when they piloted their P-82B Twin Mustang all the way from Hawaii to New York city in a butt-numbing 14.5 hours. Their story is one of endurance and planning.
When Chivalry Was Not Dead Thunderbolt pilot earns the ultimate praise Tim Grace
Drifting down in his parachute, his Thunderbolt a spiraling pyre of smoke and flame below, “Tote” Talbott saw the four Messerschmitts coming toward him and knew it was the end. He had just shot down two of their comrades, but as the airplanes circled him, each pilot gave him a salute. True warriors respect other warriors.
The Expendables Premature detonation of bombs takes pilots’ lives Walter Boyne, John Lowery
Bad things happen to people in wars. That’s what war is all about, but when airplanes begin exploding on their own, the deaths are even more senseless. And that was the case when F-105s began exploding on the way to missions, or even when hooking up to a tanker for refueling. The cause of the explosions only came after an intense investigation by Capt. John Morrissey and the case went all the way back to WW II.
Flight to Glory Howard Hughes and his flying boat get even with Congress George J. Marrett
Howard Hughes was a giant in so many ways but even a giant sometimes backs himself into a corner and that’s exactly what happened when Hughes told the Congressional investigating committee that if the HK-1 Hercules didn’t fly, he’d leave the country. It was a very black and white thing to say and left him no outs: he had to fly the airplane and the story of how hard he pushed after the congressional hearings to put the Hercules into the air has never been told from the many inside perspectives gathered by author George Marrett.
An Exquisite Tri-motor Restoration The 70-year story of the Dornier DO 24ATT Walter Boyne
When the term “Tri-Motor” is used, the mental image is normally that of a corrugated Ford “Tin Goose” but Henry wasn’t the only one to build tri-motor airplanes. In fact, the configuration was fairly common at one time, but few have such a unique history as the Dornier DO 24ATT Dr. Dornier’s grandson has returned to the air. Historian/novelist extraordinaire, Walter Boyne, tells the tale of a tri-motor that has to be seen to be believed.
