The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight

Winston Groom tells the interconnected stories of three aviators—Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle—and their contributions to aviation history from World War I through World War II and beyond. Lindbergh, known for his solo transatlantic flight, flew combat missions in the South Pacific. Rickenbacker, a World War I flying ace, survived at sea after his plane went down in the Pacific, holding his crew together amid near-starvation and circling sharks. Doolittle, an aviation innovator, led the Tokyo Raid in retaliation for Pearl Harbor. All three received the Medal of Honor. Groom's narrative traces their lives from their origins through barnstorming, military service, and moments of both triumph and tragedy. The book covers their daring military raids, survival experiences, and their roles as exemplars of their generation, showing how each man returned to active duty during World War II despite having already achieved great success.