Stephen Coonts, America’s foremost writer of aviation fiction, presents the most dramatic true stories ever told of men in aeriel combat. From World War I to Vietnam, here are full-throttle accounts of war at its worst—and men at their best.

American, British, German, Japanese—join their aces to skim the clouds in wood-and-fabric biplanes; shave the treetops in adrenaline-fueled helicopter battles; and scream off an aircraft carrier’s swaying decks into dogfights conducted at the speed of sound. You’ll meet and experience the world’s most thrilling aviation legends, including:

·Captain Eddie V. Rickenbacker, America’s first air hero, whose legendary exploits set the standard for all fighter pilots to follow.
·“The Doolittle Raid,” the story of the famed bombing run by sixteen B-25 Mitchells into the heart of the Japanese empire.
·“The Flight of Enola Gay,” the mission that changed the shape of war and of history—target: Hiroshima
·“The Last Ace,” an original, never-before-published account by Stephen Coonts of the first victory of Vietnam jet ace Captain Steve Ritchie
·Plus many more!

These are not stories about airplanes, but rather of those who flew them—of the steady hands, bold hearts, and raw nerve that special bravery that helped these men return to tell their tales, WAR IN THE AIR is an epix of tradgedy and courage writ large against the sky.