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Terror of the Autumn Skies: The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I | 
 enlarge | Author: Blaine Pardoe
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $11.36
You Save: $13.59 (54%)
New (28) Used (9) from $11.36
Avg. Customer Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 277290
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 320
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9 x 6 x 1.1
ISBN: 1602392528
Dewey Decimal Number: 940.44973092
EAN: 9781602392526
ASIN: 1602392528
Publication Date: July 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Why buy used when BRAND NEW IS THIS LOW! Mailer packaging recycled materials for a cleaner, greener world.
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Product Description
A biography of the "Arizona Balloon Buster," the first pilot to win the Congressional Medal of Honor.
Frank Luke, Jr., was an unlikely pilot. In the Great War, when fliers were still "knights of the air," Luke was an ungallant loner, a kid from Arizona who collected tarantulas, shot buzzards, and boxed miners. But during two torrid weeks in September 1918, he was the deadliest man on the Western Front. In only ten missions, he destroyed fourteen heavily-defended German balloons and four airplanes, a rampage unequalled even by the dreaded von Richtofen, and the second highest American tally of the entire war. Cocksure and constantly reprimanded, Luke was actually under arrest on the day of his final flight, but he stole a plane to join the fatal action that won him the first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to a pilot.
Blaine Pardoe retraces and refreshes Frank Luke's story through recently discovered correspondence. What emerges is a portrait of a life out of an "Old West" that was, by the late Teens, colliding with modernity. Frantic, short, and splendid, the life of Frank Luke dramatizes the tragic intervention of an American spirit in the war that devastated Europe. 30 b/w photographs.
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| Customer Reviews:
 Very enjoyable read! September 3, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
A very enjoyable read. Anyone with an interest in the history of US aviation or military aviation will appreciate the attention to detail in this book. Mr. Pardoe obviously did a tremendous amount of work to ensure that Frank Luke is portrayed as not only an incredible WWI Flying Ace, but also as a human being with the usual foibles, drama and faults we all have. His interest and commitment to Frank Luke's story is apparent in each chapter as he describes the events of his life from his promising start in Phoenix, to his tragic end in Europe. Mr. Pardoe paints a picture of how brave and - quite frankly - crazy these Aces were by carefully describing what it must have been like in a dog fight, with little more than stiffened fabric as feeble protection. I appreciated how Mr. Pardoe focused not only the events surrounding the circumstances of Mr. Luke's death, but also the richness and depth of his short life. He brings the reader along for the ride with the extreme joy of the wonder of flight, and the sacrifices everyday heros must sometimes make.
An exciting and revealing account of the great "Balloon Buster" July 15, 2008
5 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is a wonderful read. Mr. Pardoe does a great job providing the reader a glimpse into the entire life of Frank Luke. Not only does he do a masterful job of describing the battles fought by Frank Luke in the Great War, but he also provides an insight into his life and the people who he knew and held dear. Mr. Pardoe shows how the events of Frank Luke's life and the people in it helped to make him the man that he was.
The new information regarding Frank's fiance was fascinating as well. It showed a different dimension to the "ungallant loner". I also enjoyed the way that Mr. Pardoe presented and explained the background for the many myths and legends surrounding Frank Luke. I felt that he did a good job presenting the facts and leaving it up to the reader to decide what he/she believes.
All in all I feel that this is a great read for anyone, whether you enjoy military history or not. Probably more so if you do.
 Some New Information but Needs Editing July 7, 2008
3 out of 5 found this review helpful
Blaine Pardoe does a credible job telling the story of WW I Ace, Frank Luke, Jr. New information about his fiance is interesting, but he spends too much time trying to refute other writer's claims about this Ace from Arizona's ultimate demise.
The book moved along at a novel-like pace, but if it goes to a re-print, needs more careful editing. I found so many sentences with structure problems; enough to give an English teacher heartburn. Subject-predicate and pronoun problems abound. This detracted from a great story.
I also disagree with his underlying assumption that Luke didn't have PTSD, which was so apparent with other Aces at the front, including Luke. Pardoe mentions some of Luke's personal problems, while glossing over others.
I also found his attempt to lower Luke's number of "kills," even with data to the contrary. Let's face it, Luke doesn't need to have his reputation rehabilitated like that of Billy Bishop, the controversial Canadian Ace who's "kill" record is more than he's entitled to. Bishop was a known liar, who inflated his "kill rate" and his morals and ethics are still hotly defended/debated to this day.
The Pardoe book is a great read, but needs some serious editing.
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