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The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight
Written by gifted storyteller Winston Groom (author of Forrest Gump ), The Aviators tells the saga of three extraordinary aviators--Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle--and how they redefine heroism through their genius, daring, and uncommon courage.
This is 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 Harbor; 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 Honor (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."
This is 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 Harbor; 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 Honor (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."
464 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2013
About the author
Winston Groom
38 books570 followersWinston Francis Groom Jr. was an American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for his book Forrest Gump, which was adapted into a film in 1994. Groom was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Mobile, Alabama where he attended University Military School (now known as UMS-Wright Preparatory School). He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Army ROTC, and graduated in 1965. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Groom devoted his time to writing history books about American wars. More recently he had lived in Point Clear, Alabama, and Long Island, New York.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 479 reviews
August 3, 2014
With this look at three of the giants of American interwar aviation, Winston Groom has once again written a very accessible history. Mr. Groom looks at the lives and accomplishments of Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh and Jimmy Doolittle. All three were military pilots, though Mr. Lindbergh never flew on active duty, all three overcame life difficulties in reaching their prominence in aviation.
In writing their story, Mr. Groom keeps their tales separate. This book is almost like three biographical sketches in one. Starting with Eddie Rickenbacker, he looks at each man and how they affected the advance of aviation in the interwar yrs. Mr. Lindbergh’s contribution is obvious, but both Rickenbacker and Doolittle also made major contributions. Rickenbacker as President of Eastern Airlines was heavily involved with the successful commercialization of aviation. Mr. Doolittle’s contribution was in the advance of cockpit instrumentation that allowed pilots to fly in all weathers. He was also a very successful test pilot.
Mr. Groom just doesn’t tell the story of the three men’s aviation accomplishments, he also tells there personal stories. From Rickenbacker’s near death in a DC-3 crash in 1941, the kidnapping of Lindbergh’s oldest child, to Doolittle’s feelings of failure after his famous Raid in 1942, the stories are all well done.
In telling Lindbergh’s story, the author looks at his involvement in the America First movement and his trips to Nazi Germany prior to the war. He does put the best possible spin on his statements. Groom’s thesis seems to be the Goring, Udet and the leadership of the Luftwaffe pulled the wool over Lindbergh’s eyes and a competent intelligence officer would have seen through it. He also excuses his anti-Semitic statements by basically that they were no different the feeling of most Americans at the time.
All three men had eventful careers in World War II. Doolittle’s career is obviously better known, but both Rickenbacker and Lindbergh made significant contributions. Lindbergh, as a civilian consultant, managed to get to the southwest Pacific and helped both the Marines and AAF in developing techniques to better manage fuel consumption, thus increasing the range of fighter aircraft. In doing this, he also managed to talk the commanders into letting him fly combat missions. He eventually flew 50 split between the Marines and the AAF.
Rickenbacker also had an eventful WW II. On a speaking trip to the Southwest Pacific, the aircraft he was riding became lost and he spent 3 ½ weeks lost at sea before being found. His lessons learned from this experience led to changes in survival equipment and how it was stowed in aircraft.
One weak point – there are some minor factual errors that should have been caught. Other than that I found this a very enjoyable and quick read. I highly recommend this for aviation enthusiasts and people interested in the interwar period. I give this a solid 4 stars.
In writing their story, Mr. Groom keeps their tales separate. This book is almost like three biographical sketches in one. Starting with Eddie Rickenbacker, he looks at each man and how they affected the advance of aviation in the interwar yrs. Mr. Lindbergh’s contribution is obvious, but both Rickenbacker and Doolittle also made major contributions. Rickenbacker as President of Eastern Airlines was heavily involved with the successful commercialization of aviation. Mr. Doolittle’s contribution was in the advance of cockpit instrumentation that allowed pilots to fly in all weathers. He was also a very successful test pilot.
Mr. Groom just doesn’t tell the story of the three men’s aviation accomplishments, he also tells there personal stories. From Rickenbacker’s near death in a DC-3 crash in 1941, the kidnapping of Lindbergh’s oldest child, to Doolittle’s feelings of failure after his famous Raid in 1942, the stories are all well done.
In telling Lindbergh’s story, the author looks at his involvement in the America First movement and his trips to Nazi Germany prior to the war. He does put the best possible spin on his statements. Groom’s thesis seems to be the Goring, Udet and the leadership of the Luftwaffe pulled the wool over Lindbergh’s eyes and a competent intelligence officer would have seen through it. He also excuses his anti-Semitic statements by basically that they were no different the feeling of most Americans at the time.
All three men had eventful careers in World War II. Doolittle’s career is obviously better known, but both Rickenbacker and Lindbergh made significant contributions. Lindbergh, as a civilian consultant, managed to get to the southwest Pacific and helped both the Marines and AAF in developing techniques to better manage fuel consumption, thus increasing the range of fighter aircraft. In doing this, he also managed to talk the commanders into letting him fly combat missions. He eventually flew 50 split between the Marines and the AAF.
Rickenbacker also had an eventful WW II. On a speaking trip to the Southwest Pacific, the aircraft he was riding became lost and he spent 3 ½ weeks lost at sea before being found. His lessons learned from this experience led to changes in survival equipment and how it was stowed in aircraft.
One weak point – there are some minor factual errors that should have been caught. Other than that I found this a very enjoyable and quick read. I highly recommend this for aviation enthusiasts and people interested in the interwar period. I give this a solid 4 stars.
February 26, 2017
This book deals with the three aviation pioneers Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker and Jimmy Doolittle who are responsible for their achievements to the development of aviation history.
All three men have on thing in common: all contributed to the development of the American aviation. Rickenbacker became the top US flying ace in World War I, Doolittle became the top military test pilot in the 1920s and of course renowned by the Tokyo Raid and Lindbergh became the most famous man alive by flying from New York to Paris.
In this book, Winston Groom traces their lives from their boyhoods until their deaths. Rather then being an biography, central theme in this book are the attributions they made to the American aviation. He handles the most remarkable events which defined them personally and places them in the context of political events.
By solely concentrating on these attributions, the book may not earn the title of biography. However, especially in the case of Lindbergh, the author attempts to give his opinions about Lindbergh, the events surrounding the trial of Richard Hauptmann (“The Crime of the Century”) and his controversial views on Nazism and communism before America’s involvement in World War II. This would not be a problem if Groom would have focussed more on the developments of aviation in general, but this unfortunately is not fully addressed.
Overall, this book is a fine one, with a good, sometimes dry, narrative style which serves well as an introduction to the three aviators, but anyone who expects a comprehensive biography may be left somewhat disappointed.
All three men have on thing in common: all contributed to the development of the American aviation. Rickenbacker became the top US flying ace in World War I, Doolittle became the top military test pilot in the 1920s and of course renowned by the Tokyo Raid and Lindbergh became the most famous man alive by flying from New York to Paris.
In this book, Winston Groom traces their lives from their boyhoods until their deaths. Rather then being an biography, central theme in this book are the attributions they made to the American aviation. He handles the most remarkable events which defined them personally and places them in the context of political events.
By solely concentrating on these attributions, the book may not earn the title of biography. However, especially in the case of Lindbergh, the author attempts to give his opinions about Lindbergh, the events surrounding the trial of Richard Hauptmann (“The Crime of the Century”) and his controversial views on Nazism and communism before America’s involvement in World War II. This would not be a problem if Groom would have focussed more on the developments of aviation in general, but this unfortunately is not fully addressed.
Overall, this book is a fine one, with a good, sometimes dry, narrative style which serves well as an introduction to the three aviators, but anyone who expects a comprehensive biography may be left somewhat disappointed.
March 14, 2022
Books like this leave me speechless. Unbelievable epic that really happened. Moreover, this is several real life hero characters, each with several of their monumental adventures. And each one of them influenced the aviation in paradigm-changing ways. Phenomenal book with huge re-reading value. Kudos to all the work put in, it really shows.
August 3, 2016
As with the Generals, Groom portrays three pioneers of flight, Lindbergh, Rickenbacker and Doolittle.
All three men certainly in their younger years living on the edge in an area of flight where many lost their lives due to faulty equipment, weather, and poor flying techniques.
I was amazed by Rickenbacker's life, not only a WWI ace, but survives a brutal crash in Atlanta, then crashes in the South Pacific during WWII, and is adrift for as many weeks, with survivors battling the weather the sea and the possibility of being captured up by the Japanese.
Doolittle, always pushed the envelope in pushing planes as far as possible including testing early flying instruments by flying only with their use blindfolded on take off. Then with his famous daring raid over Tokyo in 1942, and escape back to the allies, which made him a legend.
Lindbergh at 25, of course most famous by his flight to Paris which made him world famous and rich, the kidnap, and the prewar years of distance and disillusion from America , and his work during WWII to redeem himself.
These men truly were true heroes in many ways, and Groom does a fine job of narrating their lives.
All three men certainly in their younger years living on the edge in an area of flight where many lost their lives due to faulty equipment, weather, and poor flying techniques.
I was amazed by Rickenbacker's life, not only a WWI ace, but survives a brutal crash in Atlanta, then crashes in the South Pacific during WWII, and is adrift for as many weeks, with survivors battling the weather the sea and the possibility of being captured up by the Japanese.
Doolittle, always pushed the envelope in pushing planes as far as possible including testing early flying instruments by flying only with their use blindfolded on take off. Then with his famous daring raid over Tokyo in 1942, and escape back to the allies, which made him a legend.
Lindbergh at 25, of course most famous by his flight to Paris which made him world famous and rich, the kidnap, and the prewar years of distance and disillusion from America , and his work during WWII to redeem himself.
These men truly were true heroes in many ways, and Groom does a fine job of narrating their lives.
October 15, 2020
I found this book on a shelf at a friend of the family's house. Said friend of the family is a huge history and armed forces buff, he has a massive shelf of historical biographies, half of which were already on my to read list and the other half which were added while I was there, but I saw this one and it looked really interesting. I don't know much about the history of flight, so I pulled up my overdrive account, discovered that the audio book was there and have been lost for several weeks.
Wow.
I really dislike history classes. I started disliking them when I read 'Things my teacher never taught me' and the dislike has continued to grow with nearly every biography or nonfiction history book I've read. How can textbooks take something so interesting as the lives of other people and turn it into something boring, dull, and trite. No wonder young people today are so lacking in historical knowledge, who wouldn't be, after being taught in such a nonsensical way? This book was awesome. I learned so much by listening to this book. I remember learning about Charles Lindbergh, I knew about his plane The Spirit of St. Louis, and I knew that he was the first to cross the Atlantic, and there we go. Nothing else. I barely knew about Jimmy Doolittle, I had heard of the Doolittle raiders, but couldn't tell you what they had done, and Eddie Rickenbacker...never heard of him.
Man. The lives of these men were intense! Charles Lindbergh lost a child in a kidnapping murder scheme, just hearing the passages taken from his and his wife's journals had me sobbing as I was going around cleaning out horse stalls. There's an image for you. Here I am shoveling manure and bawling my eyes out. The poor horses must have wondered what possessed me. I never knew that he had gone through that. And that wasn't all! Did you know that he invented the first heart bypass pump?! I didn't. Did you know that Eddie Rickenbacker was marooned in the open sea for twenty four days? I didn't. Did you know that Charles Lindbergh received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of presents from all over the world because everyone was so impressed at his feat? I look at that and wonder what happened to us. When was the last time when the entire world, literally, united in cheering on the achievement of a single person? Malala, maybe. But, maybe not, because there are people that are still targeting her. When was the last time that the world united in a roar of victory, when something we all thought was impossible was shown to be achievable? The moon landing? Are we just not reaching for worthy goals anymore? Have we become so obsessed with our own comfort that we aren't striving towards something amazing anymore? Or are we just too divided we can't unite on recognizing something amazing? I don't know. I was just really impressed with the outpouring of support, praise and adulation that Lindbergh received. He got pictures from the Children of the Rocky Mountains. He got models of The Spirit of St. Louis cut into diamonds, and made from spun silk...how would you even do that?!? He was recognized by governments with medals, by schools with degrees, and by groups with honorary memberships, and then the best thing about it, is that he donated all of it. I would love to go see that collection. It's probably worth millions now.
More than that though, I was astonished by my own removal from this history. I don't know, it seemed like a really long time ago. Then I found out that most of these people lived into the 2000s. I realized, dang, airplanes haven't been around all that long. Reading about Lindbergh's flight across the ocean made me realize just how stupendous of an achievement that was. He flew at a maximum of a couple thousand feet. He tended to stay just a couple hundred feet above the ocean...in a plane made of fabric...without a pressurized cabin...without any real navigation instruments...just think about that for a second. Think of the sheer audacity and chutzpah behind the attempt. It was amazing.
I may not know the dates of the flight across the Atlantic, but I know the struggles these men went through, I know their conflicts with the media, their definition of courage and patriotism. I can guarantee I won't forget the lives of these three men after listening to this book, isn't that what learning history should be about?
Wow.
I really dislike history classes. I started disliking them when I read 'Things my teacher never taught me' and the dislike has continued to grow with nearly every biography or nonfiction history book I've read. How can textbooks take something so interesting as the lives of other people and turn it into something boring, dull, and trite. No wonder young people today are so lacking in historical knowledge, who wouldn't be, after being taught in such a nonsensical way? This book was awesome. I learned so much by listening to this book. I remember learning about Charles Lindbergh, I knew about his plane The Spirit of St. Louis, and I knew that he was the first to cross the Atlantic, and there we go. Nothing else. I barely knew about Jimmy Doolittle, I had heard of the Doolittle raiders, but couldn't tell you what they had done, and Eddie Rickenbacker...never heard of him.
Man. The lives of these men were intense! Charles Lindbergh lost a child in a kidnapping murder scheme, just hearing the passages taken from his and his wife's journals had me sobbing as I was going around cleaning out horse stalls. There's an image for you. Here I am shoveling manure and bawling my eyes out. The poor horses must have wondered what possessed me. I never knew that he had gone through that. And that wasn't all! Did you know that he invented the first heart bypass pump?! I didn't. Did you know that Eddie Rickenbacker was marooned in the open sea for twenty four days? I didn't. Did you know that Charles Lindbergh received hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of presents from all over the world because everyone was so impressed at his feat? I look at that and wonder what happened to us. When was the last time when the entire world, literally, united in cheering on the achievement of a single person? Malala, maybe. But, maybe not, because there are people that are still targeting her. When was the last time that the world united in a roar of victory, when something we all thought was impossible was shown to be achievable? The moon landing? Are we just not reaching for worthy goals anymore? Have we become so obsessed with our own comfort that we aren't striving towards something amazing anymore? Or are we just too divided we can't unite on recognizing something amazing? I don't know. I was just really impressed with the outpouring of support, praise and adulation that Lindbergh received. He got pictures from the Children of the Rocky Mountains. He got models of The Spirit of St. Louis cut into diamonds, and made from spun silk...how would you even do that?!? He was recognized by governments with medals, by schools with degrees, and by groups with honorary memberships, and then the best thing about it, is that he donated all of it. I would love to go see that collection. It's probably worth millions now.
More than that though, I was astonished by my own removal from this history. I don't know, it seemed like a really long time ago. Then I found out that most of these people lived into the 2000s. I realized, dang, airplanes haven't been around all that long. Reading about Lindbergh's flight across the ocean made me realize just how stupendous of an achievement that was. He flew at a maximum of a couple thousand feet. He tended to stay just a couple hundred feet above the ocean...in a plane made of fabric...without a pressurized cabin...without any real navigation instruments...just think about that for a second. Think of the sheer audacity and chutzpah behind the attempt. It was amazing.
I may not know the dates of the flight across the Atlantic, but I know the struggles these men went through, I know their conflicts with the media, their definition of courage and patriotism. I can guarantee I won't forget the lives of these three men after listening to this book, isn't that what learning history should be about?
December 6, 2020
I knew Groom from his fiction, but his history is tremendous. He is David McCullough-esque in his ability to weave the narrative of history together. I learned so much from this book and was captivated for the duration.
December 22, 2020
This book examines the lives of Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, and Charles Lindbergh, and it demonstrates that these men – who all did heroic deeds and helped bring aviation from its infancy to not only military power but also innovated safety, navigation, and fuel efficiency advances that made commercial flight possible and safe. Each of them had flaws and controversies, but these imperfect men made great contributions, as well.
Notable in this book is the defense of Charles Lindbergh – besmirched by FDR’s administration as pro-Nazi, a label that carries forward to today – as fearful of Nazi power (while admiring the resurgence of industry within the country but condemning the mistreatment of the Jews, even years before the war), Groom sets the record straight by describing events in the pre-war years and present unvarnished flaws that Lindbergh had without jumping to unwarranted conclusions.
There are good accounts – lengthy enough to give detail but only a portion of the material about the subjects – of Doolittle’s raid, Lindbergh’s cross-Atlantic flight, and Rickenbacker’s ordeal of being lost in the Pacific. These are the most famous events for the three of them (as well as Rickenbacker’s World War I service), but are not the majority of the book, something that would have been easy for Groom to do.
Groom shows both the flaws and the virtues of these men – great in their times and pioneers of the world we live in.
Notable in this book is the defense of Charles Lindbergh – besmirched by FDR’s administration as pro-Nazi, a label that carries forward to today – as fearful of Nazi power (while admiring the resurgence of industry within the country but condemning the mistreatment of the Jews, even years before the war), Groom sets the record straight by describing events in the pre-war years and present unvarnished flaws that Lindbergh had without jumping to unwarranted conclusions.
There are good accounts – lengthy enough to give detail but only a portion of the material about the subjects – of Doolittle’s raid, Lindbergh’s cross-Atlantic flight, and Rickenbacker’s ordeal of being lost in the Pacific. These are the most famous events for the three of them (as well as Rickenbacker’s World War I service), but are not the majority of the book, something that would have been easy for Groom to do.
Groom shows both the flaws and the virtues of these men – great in their times and pioneers of the world we live in.
May 10, 2023
What an incredible group of men that promoted aviation at a time when it was extraordinary dangerous. Rickenbacker, Doolittle, & Lindbergh. Doolittle I knew from the raid over Tokyo. Lindbergh from the 1st flight from New York to Paris & the kidnapping. Rickenbacker I knew almost nothing of him.
These fellows had so much more going on with them than just the one event. Groom sets up each of their early lives. He shows their introduction to airplanes & that was so different for each. Each was an innovator & quite brilliant. Each served their countries. Each married interesting women. Each overcame incredible setbacks. They all lived well into old age. Heroes, each of them.
The author does a great job weaving the story back and forth. The section on the fame the Lindberghs dealt with was sad & lead to the kidnapping it would seem. Rickenbacker’s story on the sea was heart rending. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
These fellows had so much more going on with them than just the one event. Groom sets up each of their early lives. He shows their introduction to airplanes & that was so different for each. Each was an innovator & quite brilliant. Each served their countries. Each married interesting women. Each overcame incredible setbacks. They all lived well into old age. Heroes, each of them.
The author does a great job weaving the story back and forth. The section on the fame the Lindberghs dealt with was sad & lead to the kidnapping it would seem. Rickenbacker’s story on the sea was heart rending. I enjoyed this quite a bit.
December 19, 2020
The best book I have listened to this year and of the best ever. Did not know that much in depth about the three. So, it was very interesting to get to know more about them, on the backdrop of bits of relevant twentieth century history. With aviation technology history in between. Robertson Deans 'Morgan-Freeman-ish' voice is the icing on the cake.
September 19, 2016
I’m not sure quite how to characterize this entertaining and informative slice of (American) aviation history presented through the interlaced biographies of the three dominant (again, American) aviators in the era following the Wright Brothers: Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle. It’s an interesting approach, particularly since any number of books (including autobiographical works, including a Pulitzer Prize winner) focus on each of the three protagonists and a number of their individual experiences (such as the first non-stop transatlantic (NY to Paris) flight, dog-fighting in WWI, and the WWII raid on Japan). But, if you had the pleasure, last year, of reading McCullough’s intriguing Wright Brothers biography/history, this is a fully engaging sequel (even if it published earlier), propelling aviation history into a far more modern age.
There’s a lot going on here, as flight evolves from novelty to increasingly dominant roles in war, initially WWI, but also WWII, and, to much a lesser extent passenger transportation. (Indeed, there is almost no discussion of freight transportation, although mail is often a factor, but – to be clear – this is by no means a definitive history of air mail or, for that matter, aviation history.) Some readers may chafe at the not-infrequent chronological leaps and backtracks; telling three loosely related, occasionally overlapping stories, frequently means revisiting similar temporal bands and major events (and key players) in what can be a slightly disorienting and jumbled manner.
More biography than history (to my mind), this is much more a story of three men, giants in the field, all destined to become household names, more so than a discussion of their machines. Having said that, the book spans the era of propellers – from fragile aircraft built with wood frames and cloth exteriors to powerful machines deploying oxygen to achieve high altitude flight. Accordingly, jet engines receive only passing reference.
While the author is clearly (and, arguably, appropriately) awed by the three pioneers’ achievements, and - for that matter - the word “epic” fits well in the title, he maintains a good faith effort throughout to at least introduce each of their flaws, failures, foibles and imperfections. There have been far less glowing accounts written, particularly of Lindbergh, but the author at least acknowledges the chinks in the armor.
As for the stories, what can you say? This is the stuff of legends! Aside from their larger-than-life impact on American aviation, these three pilots, innovators, path-breakers, and celebrities led incredible lives, traveling and, in many ways, dramatically changing an ever-shrinking globe. Each was, in their own way, unimaginably brave, lucky (and unlucky), (unbelievably) resilient, dogged and relentless, creative, immune to the constraints that bind mortal men, and able to reinvent themselves time and again.
Truly extraordinary men capable of extraordinary achievement. Remarkable stuff.
There’s a lot going on here, as flight evolves from novelty to increasingly dominant roles in war, initially WWI, but also WWII, and, to much a lesser extent passenger transportation. (Indeed, there is almost no discussion of freight transportation, although mail is often a factor, but – to be clear – this is by no means a definitive history of air mail or, for that matter, aviation history.) Some readers may chafe at the not-infrequent chronological leaps and backtracks; telling three loosely related, occasionally overlapping stories, frequently means revisiting similar temporal bands and major events (and key players) in what can be a slightly disorienting and jumbled manner.
More biography than history (to my mind), this is much more a story of three men, giants in the field, all destined to become household names, more so than a discussion of their machines. Having said that, the book spans the era of propellers – from fragile aircraft built with wood frames and cloth exteriors to powerful machines deploying oxygen to achieve high altitude flight. Accordingly, jet engines receive only passing reference.
While the author is clearly (and, arguably, appropriately) awed by the three pioneers’ achievements, and - for that matter - the word “epic” fits well in the title, he maintains a good faith effort throughout to at least introduce each of their flaws, failures, foibles and imperfections. There have been far less glowing accounts written, particularly of Lindbergh, but the author at least acknowledges the chinks in the armor.
As for the stories, what can you say? This is the stuff of legends! Aside from their larger-than-life impact on American aviation, these three pilots, innovators, path-breakers, and celebrities led incredible lives, traveling and, in many ways, dramatically changing an ever-shrinking globe. Each was, in their own way, unimaginably brave, lucky (and unlucky), (unbelievably) resilient, dogged and relentless, creative, immune to the constraints that bind mortal men, and able to reinvent themselves time and again.
Truly extraordinary men capable of extraordinary achievement. Remarkable stuff.
July 27, 2016
For whatever reason, 2013 saw renewed interest in Charles Lindbergh, to the point where reading about him--sometimes on his own, sometimes as part of a larger historical narrative--became downright nauseating. (As a simple man almost entirely focused on aviation, Lindbergh and his accomplishment become tiresome almost immediately.) Lynne's Olsen's
Those Angry Days
attempted to depict Lindbergh and Franlin Delano Roosevelt as lead opponents in the run-up to World War II, with Lindbergh the isolationist and Roosevelt the interventionist; needless to say, Olson's attempt at making both men into bitter adversaries fell a little flat--the two men only met once, and both had greater antagonists beyond each other. Lindbergh's crossing of the Atlantic Ocean featured prominently in Bill Bryson's
One Summer: America 1927
, though Bryson's focus on that year's many key players--Coolidge, Capone, Ruth, Byrd, Ford, Dempsey, Sacco and Vanetti--allowed him to weave a grand quilt without over-indulging in too much of one figure or the other. And Richard Moe's Roosevelt's Second Act, concerning Roosevelt's unprecedented push for a third presidential term, coupled with the growing war in Europe, assigned Lindbergh to supporting-actor status, if that, though he was still treated as though he and Roosevelt were opponents in a public-opinion boxing match.
Winston Groom's The Aviators does right not only by Lindbergh but by history itself. His three subjects--Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, and Jimmy Doolittle--were all pioneering aviators alive at roughly the same time who each had a direct and profound impact on World War II...and other than a slight mention of their similarities in the book's opening pages, which includes the role played by an absent or deceased father during their formative years, Groom leaves them alone to follow their own historical paths without forcing each of their narrative paths to cross. Groom could easily have turned his book into a thesis on aviation supported by the connections between each man--in fact, his lengthy subtitle seems to suggest this is the focus of his just-as-lengthy work--but he keeps them separated, not just by their roles in the same world events, but in chapters all their own. Rarely if ever throughout the 450-plus pages of Groom's book do the men meet, even in rhetorical flourishes, and everyone--Groom, his subjects, and his readers--are better for it.
This review was originally published at There Will Be Books Galore.
Winston Groom's The Aviators does right not only by Lindbergh but by history itself. His three subjects--Eddie Rickenbacker, Charles Lindbergh, and Jimmy Doolittle--were all pioneering aviators alive at roughly the same time who each had a direct and profound impact on World War II...and other than a slight mention of their similarities in the book's opening pages, which includes the role played by an absent or deceased father during their formative years, Groom leaves them alone to follow their own historical paths without forcing each of their narrative paths to cross. Groom could easily have turned his book into a thesis on aviation supported by the connections between each man--in fact, his lengthy subtitle seems to suggest this is the focus of his just-as-lengthy work--but he keeps them separated, not just by their roles in the same world events, but in chapters all their own. Rarely if ever throughout the 450-plus pages of Groom's book do the men meet, even in rhetorical flourishes, and everyone--Groom, his subjects, and his readers--are better for it.
This review was originally published at There Will Be Books Galore.
January 24, 2023
I'm somewhat torn about this book. The subjects give Groom plenty of fodder for great, exciting storytelling and he makes the most of it. There's no denying the world-changing heroics of Rickenbacker, Doolittle and Lindbergh and the author smartly tells their stories alongside each other, with fun moments of overlap as their worlds collide. A biography of this length on any one of these men might have been fleshed out with minutiae that could have bogged down the flow and overwhelmed the reader with factoids. By combining their stories, the reader gets a great overview of the early history of aviation through the lens of three of its major players, coming to a head with their involvement in World War II. Rickenbacker's harrowing tale of crashing into the Pacific, where he and 6 of his crew mates survived for 24 days is spellbinding and was the highlight of the book for me.
However, I was appalled by Groom's transparent disdain for FDR and his administration, as well as his apologist attitude toward Lindbergh. The author practically does literary back flips to try to explain away Lindbergh's objections to America's involvement in WWII, ultimately stating his view that the pilot's heroics should override any later behavior. And he only begrudgingly mentions Lindbergh's familial indiscretions (he fathered 7 children by 3 German women while married to Anne Morrow Lindbergh), claiming that it's the fault of the scandal-hungry public that he feels compelled to mention it at all. I'm sorry, but these are now documented facts about the man and deserve as much a place in his story as his flying exploits if you're trying to give us a full picture of him. Does it tarnish Lindbergh's legacy? That's for us, the reader, to decide. I find it reprehensible that a historian would think it okay to let his personal feelings and politics seep into his writing.
I'm truly sorry for these missteps on Groom's part, because they have besmirched what is otherwise a very enjoyable read. But I won't be able to think about this book without remembering that the author overstepped his bounds and tried to twist his narrative to support his personal views. And for that reason, I'm pretty sure I won't read another book by Winston Groom.
However, I was appalled by Groom's transparent disdain for FDR and his administration, as well as his apologist attitude toward Lindbergh. The author practically does literary back flips to try to explain away Lindbergh's objections to America's involvement in WWII, ultimately stating his view that the pilot's heroics should override any later behavior. And he only begrudgingly mentions Lindbergh's familial indiscretions (he fathered 7 children by 3 German women while married to Anne Morrow Lindbergh), claiming that it's the fault of the scandal-hungry public that he feels compelled to mention it at all. I'm sorry, but these are now documented facts about the man and deserve as much a place in his story as his flying exploits if you're trying to give us a full picture of him. Does it tarnish Lindbergh's legacy? That's for us, the reader, to decide. I find it reprehensible that a historian would think it okay to let his personal feelings and politics seep into his writing.
I'm truly sorry for these missteps on Groom's part, because they have besmirched what is otherwise a very enjoyable read. But I won't be able to think about this book without remembering that the author overstepped his bounds and tried to twist his narrative to support his personal views. And for that reason, I'm pretty sure I won't read another book by Winston Groom.
December 28, 2016
A good read -- if you don't let the facts get in the way. It is too bad that an otherwise engaging and enjoyable read is ruined by mistatement of widely-known historical information. For example, Groom says that 700,000 men were killed during the battle of Verdun - when the figure is more like 300,000. Groom also states that Hitler "conquered Sweden," when in fact Sweden was a neutral country. Also, he writes that when Hitler signed the non-aggression pact with Stalin, communists around the world dropped their oppostion to Hitler and supported Nazi Germany.
I was not reading the book in fact-checking mode, and it makes you wonder about the integrity of the rest of the information in the book.
I was not reading the book in fact-checking mode, and it makes you wonder about the integrity of the rest of the information in the book.
January 20, 2016
Actually 4.5
I really enjoy Groom's writing style. He has a way of making the past feel immediate and fresh. Unlike with many other authors, I never get lost in his battle scenes. These three men detailed in this book were all quite remarkable. I was particularly impressed by the author's balanced depiction of Lindbergh, I felt like I saw him as a much more complete person than emerged from Bryson's recent book One Summer: America, 1927. I know a lot more about aviation history and about both World Wars than when I started and I enjoyed myself along the way.
I really enjoy Groom's writing style. He has a way of making the past feel immediate and fresh. Unlike with many other authors, I never get lost in his battle scenes. These three men detailed in this book were all quite remarkable. I was particularly impressed by the author's balanced depiction of Lindbergh, I felt like I saw him as a much more complete person than emerged from Bryson's recent book One Summer: America, 1927. I know a lot more about aviation history and about both World Wars than when I started and I enjoyed myself along the way.
July 29, 2016
The author is a great storyteller. I had heard of Doolittle and Rickenbacker but only vaguely so I really enjoyed reading about their lives. Amazing to think of how the three, including Charles Lindbergh, contributed to aviation. (I did not know that the two halls at the US Air Force Academy are named after Hap Arnold and Mitchell, also aviation military pioneers.)
Those guys had "9 Lives" especially Rickenbacker. I mean, he was an ace in WW I. Then he was in a terrible crash in Atlanta and I don't know how he survived that. And then he was on that life raft in the Pacific for 24 days. Having been on a boat in the Coral Sea for a few hours, being tossed around and feeling nauseated, just days after reading about him on the sea, I could not believe how he survived. I'd read and seen the movie about the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Another amazing story. And those guys continued to serve during WW2, some losing their lives.
Those guys had "9 Lives" especially Rickenbacker. I mean, he was an ace in WW I. Then he was in a terrible crash in Atlanta and I don't know how he survived that. And then he was on that life raft in the Pacific for 24 days. Having been on a boat in the Coral Sea for a few hours, being tossed around and feeling nauseated, just days after reading about him on the sea, I could not believe how he survived. I'd read and seen the movie about the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo. Another amazing story. And those guys continued to serve during WW2, some losing their lives.
December 29, 2014
A very well written history of three heroes of early avation: Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and Eddie Rickenbacker. The writing was very accessible and showed me signs of these men I never knew about.
Because of Lindbergh's actions against Roosevelt, I had always disliked him. However, this book showed me so much more about him that I want to know more.
If you are interested in American or aviation history or if you just enoy biography, I recommend this!
Because of Lindbergh's actions against Roosevelt, I had always disliked him. However, this book showed me so much more about him that I want to know more.
If you are interested in American or aviation history or if you just enoy biography, I recommend this!
May 22, 2023
I’m afraid I don’t have the words to describe how great this book is. As one other reviewer said “it leaves you speechless”. The author has done a wonderful job and I look forward to reading more of his books.
August 10, 2023
I really enjoyed reading this history. There was so much about each of these men and their accomplishments that I did not know. Groom does a very credible job on honing in on the more significant details of their lives, and how each of them contributed to the field of aviation.
One fact that stood out for me was the character of these men. Though men of the world in ways that I do not admire in any individual, they were good men. They were not greedy, self-serving, or unprincipled. They used their influence to advance and improve the role of aviation in ways meant to benefit others. They had courage, and what has been called "grit." They seem to be men made for the time in which they lived, and they deserve to be remembered for the men they were, and the contributions they made to the aviation industry in particular, and to our world in general.
Groom writes with an engaging style, and he accomplished the feat of weaving together the lives of three men whose lives represented different generations, backgrounds, and experiences. Eventually, all three lives intersected over the course of World War 2, which is what makes their life stories worth weaving together.
If you love history and biography, I suspect you will find Aviators fascinating. Highly recommended.
One fact that stood out for me was the character of these men. Though men of the world in ways that I do not admire in any individual, they were good men. They were not greedy, self-serving, or unprincipled. They used their influence to advance and improve the role of aviation in ways meant to benefit others. They had courage, and what has been called "grit." They seem to be men made for the time in which they lived, and they deserve to be remembered for the men they were, and the contributions they made to the aviation industry in particular, and to our world in general.
Groom writes with an engaging style, and he accomplished the feat of weaving together the lives of three men whose lives represented different generations, backgrounds, and experiences. Eventually, all three lives intersected over the course of World War 2, which is what makes their life stories worth weaving together.
If you love history and biography, I suspect you will find Aviators fascinating. Highly recommended.
June 2, 2024
I reached about the half way point of this book and set it aside. The initial bits, which were back story for the three men, was interesting. However, after that it became dry as dust. So and so fought in this battle. He performed this maneuver and brought down this plane. Next day, more of the same. D-R-Y. I just couldn't anymore.
September 9, 2015
We probably take it for granted now that we can fly across the country in a few hours or halfway around the world in the better part of a day. Travel by air is commonplace now, but it wasn't always so. In the early days of aviation, airplanes were for daredevils to entertain in barnstorming shows. Even after the First World War, few in America thought the airplane had much use, even in the military. But one who saw its great potential was Eddie Rickenbacker, America's most successful "flying ace" from WWI with 26 enemies shot down. He later went on to influential roles in developing America's air industry, and even used his fame to inspire pilots in WWII, even crashing in the Pacific Ocean and spending 24 days drifting in lifeboats until he being rescued.
The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight by Winston Groom profiles three of the most influential aviators in history. Doolittle saw that airplanes could never become truly effective as long as pilots had to fly by their own observations, especially when limited by foggy and cloudy conditions. He was the first to take off and land in a canvas-covered cockpit, using only rudimentary instruments. He later led America's response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor with the "Doolittle Raid," where American planes bombed Japan in April 1942 - a raid that had very far-reaching implications and was the beginning of turning the tide in the war. And Charles Lindbergh is famous for being the first person to fly from New York to Paris in his plane "The Spirit of St. Louis," but his contributions during WWII are seldom known or remembered.
Winston Groom has written a fascinating and superbly readable triple biography of these inspirational men. His accounts of Rickenbacker's exploits in WWI dogfights and the crashes he endured and Doolittle's Raid on Japan put you on the edge of your seat and are hard to put down. Lindbergh's historic flight is every bit as exciting, and the kidnapping of Lindbergh's child is emotionally wrenching to say nothing of the trials he faced with the paparazzi of his day. My only complaint is that by alternating among the three men they easily blended together (being so similar to begin with) and I found it hard to mentally keep track of and remember their individual accomplishments. Also, the book is so highly praising and inspiring that I couldn't help feel that part of the story was being glossed over. Groom addresses this in the final pages by saying "I don't know why it is these days that this dirty linen has to be aired... about otherwise decent and interesting people, but the public seems to demand it." I agree with him but it doesn't make for a very balanced read (also some might simply reject it as hagiography); nonetheless, he briefly mentions some of the shortcomings of these otherwise inspiring heroes (and his explanation of some of Lindbergh's less inspiring behavior and comments prior to WWII was entirely reasonable). But I still found it a fun and exciting read and enthusiastically recommend it.
The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight by Winston Groom profiles three of the most influential aviators in history. Doolittle saw that airplanes could never become truly effective as long as pilots had to fly by their own observations, especially when limited by foggy and cloudy conditions. He was the first to take off and land in a canvas-covered cockpit, using only rudimentary instruments. He later led America's response to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor with the "Doolittle Raid," where American planes bombed Japan in April 1942 - a raid that had very far-reaching implications and was the beginning of turning the tide in the war. And Charles Lindbergh is famous for being the first person to fly from New York to Paris in his plane "The Spirit of St. Louis," but his contributions during WWII are seldom known or remembered.
Winston Groom has written a fascinating and superbly readable triple biography of these inspirational men. His accounts of Rickenbacker's exploits in WWI dogfights and the crashes he endured and Doolittle's Raid on Japan put you on the edge of your seat and are hard to put down. Lindbergh's historic flight is every bit as exciting, and the kidnapping of Lindbergh's child is emotionally wrenching to say nothing of the trials he faced with the paparazzi of his day. My only complaint is that by alternating among the three men they easily blended together (being so similar to begin with) and I found it hard to mentally keep track of and remember their individual accomplishments. Also, the book is so highly praising and inspiring that I couldn't help feel that part of the story was being glossed over. Groom addresses this in the final pages by saying "I don't know why it is these days that this dirty linen has to be aired... about otherwise decent and interesting people, but the public seems to demand it." I agree with him but it doesn't make for a very balanced read (also some might simply reject it as hagiography); nonetheless, he briefly mentions some of the shortcomings of these otherwise inspiring heroes (and his explanation of some of Lindbergh's less inspiring behavior and comments prior to WWII was entirely reasonable). But I still found it a fun and exciting read and enthusiastically recommend it.
February 23, 2014
I saw a review of this book in the WSJ and added it to my list of books to check out at the library. I am glad I did, Groom has written a very readable look at three American aviation pioneers and their accomplishments. All three men did not have a father in the picture they came from poor backgrounds but did have a strong mother figure.
Rickenbacker, was a WWI flying ace and he started commercial aviation in the US. He made and lost fortune in the great depression but came back to create another. He was called upon by his government many times to help with tour to bring up troop morale. He pushed for more to happen with aviation in the USA but many felt it was a fools folly at the time and that air power was not feasible or important.
Lindbergh, as we many of us know made the trans Atlantic solo flight from New York to Paris. The flight was a challenge to see how far a plane could fly a look to the future someday of commercial aviation. There was a $25000 prize awarded to the man who accomplished the feat. Lindbergh made his money barnstorming and had to go to friends to help raise the money he needed to build the plane to attempt this flight. Others had already tried and died trying to accomplish the trip. He was in a race against at least two other teams who had announced their intentions. It was this successful flight that threw Lindbergh into the limelight of the press and the paparazzi of the time period. They were so ridiculous on one occasion to get a picture they ran over a family dog showing no signs of concern or care for what they had done. Lindbergh grew to hate and his efforts to avoid the press led the press to write whatever if felt wether it was true or not. Groom takes the time to give Lindbergh his day in court for speeches that were taken out of context or missed what Lindbergh was trying to point out. Before WWII, LIndbergh was with those that did not want to get dragged into WWII, the majority of the country was war weary and still recovering financially from WWI and the Great Depression. Many in Roosevelt's cabinet including Roosevelt wished to stomp the life out of Lindbergh.
Dolittle, led an air raid against Tokyo which turned the tide of the WWII in the allies favor. His air raid combined with cryptographers who finally figured out the Japanese code helped to close the gap and eventually win the Pacific Theatre of the war.
All three men allowed themselves to be human guinea pigs in various aspects of aviation to show that it could be done and that they themselves would not ask anyone else to do it unless they themselves did it too. They were adventurers, heroes and of course men who were flawed but who all had a strong love for their country and who were willing to die for their country.
I will be adding this book to my own library what a great reference on these men. Highly recommend!
Rickenbacker, was a WWI flying ace and he started commercial aviation in the US. He made and lost fortune in the great depression but came back to create another. He was called upon by his government many times to help with tour to bring up troop morale. He pushed for more to happen with aviation in the USA but many felt it was a fools folly at the time and that air power was not feasible or important.
Lindbergh, as we many of us know made the trans Atlantic solo flight from New York to Paris. The flight was a challenge to see how far a plane could fly a look to the future someday of commercial aviation. There was a $25000 prize awarded to the man who accomplished the feat. Lindbergh made his money barnstorming and had to go to friends to help raise the money he needed to build the plane to attempt this flight. Others had already tried and died trying to accomplish the trip. He was in a race against at least two other teams who had announced their intentions. It was this successful flight that threw Lindbergh into the limelight of the press and the paparazzi of the time period. They were so ridiculous on one occasion to get a picture they ran over a family dog showing no signs of concern or care for what they had done. Lindbergh grew to hate and his efforts to avoid the press led the press to write whatever if felt wether it was true or not. Groom takes the time to give Lindbergh his day in court for speeches that were taken out of context or missed what Lindbergh was trying to point out. Before WWII, LIndbergh was with those that did not want to get dragged into WWII, the majority of the country was war weary and still recovering financially from WWI and the Great Depression. Many in Roosevelt's cabinet including Roosevelt wished to stomp the life out of Lindbergh.
Dolittle, led an air raid against Tokyo which turned the tide of the WWII in the allies favor. His air raid combined with cryptographers who finally figured out the Japanese code helped to close the gap and eventually win the Pacific Theatre of the war.
All three men allowed themselves to be human guinea pigs in various aspects of aviation to show that it could be done and that they themselves would not ask anyone else to do it unless they themselves did it too. They were adventurers, heroes and of course men who were flawed but who all had a strong love for their country and who were willing to die for their country.
I will be adding this book to my own library what a great reference on these men. Highly recommend!
August 6, 2018
It takes a very skilled writer to accomplish what Winston Groom has done in The Aviators. He weaves the tales of Rickenbacker, Doolittle, and Lindbergh into seamless whole.
It’s a great book, filled with fascinating stories of perhaps the three most fascinating characters in the history of aviation, outside of the Wright brothers themselves. Groom tracks all three characters in a fairly tight chronology, writing a virtual biography of each man. The most confusing feature of the book for me will probably be the favorite feature for other readers: the accounts of the three are intertwined at the chapter level. This chapter might be devoted (wholly) to Lindbergh, the next chapter to Doolittle, and so on. It definitely holds your interest. But the net effect for me as a reader was that—other than the single major event that defined their lives (Rickenbacker: WWI ace; Lindbergh: first cross-Atlantic flight; Doolittle: the 1942 raid on Tokyo)—I became confused as to who did what. The three tales converge in World War 2, as each man has something of significance to contribute to the war effort.
Groom’s writing style is excellent. Rather than projecting the cold distance of the academician, the writing is warm and accessible, more of a story-telling format. The book is meticulously footnoted, and Groom does an good job of presenting both sides of points that are in dispute among historians. He’s not afraid to render his own ideas on the matter, even when disputing a majority opinion.
In a nice touch Groom takes each man’s story all the way to their death, and then writes a clear-eyed retrospective on their lives.
If you are researching the early days of aviation, or are merely fascinated by its history, this book is a must-read. Five stars.
It’s a great book, filled with fascinating stories of perhaps the three most fascinating characters in the history of aviation, outside of the Wright brothers themselves. Groom tracks all three characters in a fairly tight chronology, writing a virtual biography of each man. The most confusing feature of the book for me will probably be the favorite feature for other readers: the accounts of the three are intertwined at the chapter level. This chapter might be devoted (wholly) to Lindbergh, the next chapter to Doolittle, and so on. It definitely holds your interest. But the net effect for me as a reader was that—other than the single major event that defined their lives (Rickenbacker: WWI ace; Lindbergh: first cross-Atlantic flight; Doolittle: the 1942 raid on Tokyo)—I became confused as to who did what. The three tales converge in World War 2, as each man has something of significance to contribute to the war effort.
Groom’s writing style is excellent. Rather than projecting the cold distance of the academician, the writing is warm and accessible, more of a story-telling format. The book is meticulously footnoted, and Groom does an good job of presenting both sides of points that are in dispute among historians. He’s not afraid to render his own ideas on the matter, even when disputing a majority opinion.
In a nice touch Groom takes each man’s story all the way to their death, and then writes a clear-eyed retrospective on their lives.
If you are researching the early days of aviation, or are merely fascinated by its history, this book is a must-read. Five stars.
November 28, 2021
Yet another piece of US propoaganda.
March 7, 2022
Insightful, interesting, and educational! Great book, with some very good insight into all three heroes. Despite the differences in their backgrounds and some of their attitudes, all three were repeatedly willing to put their lives on the line for their country. While Doolittle and Rickenbacker were more straightforward, I think Mr. Groom did an excellent job of handling the attitudes (and some of the reasons) behind the persona of Lindbergh. I think it was written very objectively, and gave good insight into public reactions.
This book was extremely well-researched and well-written. My only complaint is that it was difficult to match up the "timelines" of the three, especially early on. (Although it did come together a little better in the WWII years.)
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration was excellent.
This book was extremely well-researched and well-written. My only complaint is that it was difficult to match up the "timelines" of the three, especially early on. (Although it did come together a little better in the WWII years.)
I listened to the audio version of this book. The narration was excellent.
November 1, 2018
What a great overview of the history of flight through three of the earliest pioneers after the Wright Brothers. I knew precious little about Mr. Lindbergh and absolutely nothing about Mr. Rickenbacker and Mr. Doolittle. Three absolutely amazing individuals with all their heroic and all their flawed attributes on parade in this book made it a very interesting read. Highly recommended.
March 29, 2020
A lively history of these three men, marred somewhat by errors in historical details. In addition to those errors already mentioned in other reviews, the author attributes the invention of firing between the propeller blades to the French instead of the Germans (Anthony Fokker). Still, well worth reading.
June 10, 2021
Winston Groom's writing is fantastic. I love a good narrative history book, and he does them SO well. While I wasn't very familiar with Eddie Ricknbacker (I only knew him as a WWI flying ace), I would've told you I was pretty familiar with Charles Lindbergh and Jimmy Doolittle. Yet I learned SO much about their contributions to flight and WWII. I couldn't put it down.
June 29, 2017
And you thought you knew them.
As a lover of history, war, and aviation to follow in depth, robust accounts of the full and expanded lives of these great Americans was a privilege . A must read ,real, for everyone...
As a lover of history, war, and aviation to follow in depth, robust accounts of the full and expanded lives of these great Americans was a privilege . A must read ,real, for everyone...
July 30, 2017
Excellent. Don't miss this. Lives filled with action and heroic deeds. Not necessarily outstanding in their ideas and personal affairs but when it came to standing with their country they walked the walk.
April 9, 2020
From Winston Groom, my favorite Civil War author/historian, The Aviators is a great look into the lives of three of the most influential pilots, their lives and their contributions to the advancement of aviation. Great read.
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