Seeking adventure in the sky they left the mundane behind and risked their lives.
589411
Well scripted and acted. An entertaining glimpse into an historic event. The movie tries to answer what prods a young man to enlist in another country's war. They got more than they bargained for and profoundly changed their lives.
1410119
Do you know who invented the hot-air balloon, or mastered flight in the dirigible?  Who was the first pilot to fly across America, or cross the Atlantic from east to west?  To find the answers to these questions, you need to meet the aviators, those dreamers, daredevils, and inventors who were always looking to find that "momentary escape from the eternal custody of earth.  As author, Bo Zaunders, tells us in his informative and intriging introduction..."Throughout history, people have gone to extraordinary lengths pursuing the dream of human flight."  They strapped on wings, built elaborate contraptions, and risked life and limb, all to defy gravity, rise above the ground and fly like birds.  Mr Zaunders leaves the very well known and famous, like the Wright brothers, Charles Lindbergh, and Amelia Earhart in his introduction, and goes on to profile seven lesser known, though no less fascinating aviators, The Montfolfier brothers, Alberto Santos-Dumont, Cal Rodgers, Bessie Coleman, Jimmy Doolittle, Beryl Markham, and "Wrong Way" Corrigan.  Each easy to read and engaging chapter is full of fun facts, history, drama, and humor, and complemented by Roxie Munro's bold, bright and colorful artwork, which enhances each biographical portrait, and adds to all the fun.  Perfect for youngsters 9-12, Feathers, Flaps, & Flops is an entertaining and inspiring read that's sure to whet the appetites of all young aviation enthusiasts.
1793367
I loved to ente their life and feel their livelihood.
906972
On that same day, not thirty miles away from where his plane crashed, 5 commercial divers were in a race for their lives, trapped in a 10 mile long tunnel as their portable oxygen supply failed.  What happened to those men, their struggle for survival, and the circumstances that landed them in that tunnel with no air supply and hours away from any possible human assistance, is the basis for this fascinating book.  Don't start reading until you have two clear days; one for the reading, and a second for the recovery.
2298040
Great account of the rescue missions flown in Viet Nam by US helicopter pilots.  Pilots and crewmen repeatedly putting themselves in harm's way to save the lives of our servicemen gives one pause to think of the sense of duty that motivated such men.
1668847
The NY Times bestselling Lost in Shangri-La by Mitchell Zuckoff, published in 2011, is one of the best true rescue stories Ive ever read with its accurate and lucid reporting, immense and complicated research backdrop, and the inspirational message it invokes.

Near the end of World War II, twenty-four members of the Armed Forces stationed in New Guinea took an aerial sightseeing trip in a C-47 transport plane to observe a newly discovered jungle paradise with sparkling villages and beautiful people. The remote location in the wilds of New Guinea suddenly became more than a curiosity when the plane crashed, killing all but three passengers.  Now the three survivors, a spunky WAC, a young lieutenant whose identical twin brother had died in the crash, and a sergeant who gamely struggled with horrific injuries, were stranded in this remote location.

Zuckoff actually traveled to the crash site, spoke with the natives who recalled or knew of the intrepid trio, and nosed around the wreckage and the graves of those who died.  He tells the story of their life without food, little water, and no protection from the elements.  He describes their constant pain from injuries, the fear of encroaching gangrene, and the torment of being stranded without communications or knowledge of any effort at rescue attempts amidst natives they couldn't understand.

The natives were not the golden beings as rumored, but were indeed savages who would eat human flesh if it were convenient.  But despite their ferocious appearance, they made every effort to make life passable for the strangers they didn't know, didn't know where they came from, and couldn't even communicate with.

The Americans were finally spotted by rescue aircraft spurring a rescue effort that featured supply airdrops, parachutists, heroic medical intervention, an unlikely extraction method to retrieve them from their remote location, and eventually their return to civilization.  Many people were involved, much money was expended, many lives were put at risk, and the successful rescue makes readers feel both anxiety and relief as the story progresses.

Zuckoff is masterful in his handling of the many details that make up this complicated story.  He recreates the tremendous surges of emotions experienced by the survivors, the rescuers, the natives, and the family and friends suffering at home.

This story is not to be missed.  Heroes are plentiful.  Emotions are raw.  Suffering is agonizing.  Decisions are seemingly foolish, yet prove astute.  This might be the best book of its kind you will ever read.

Schuyler T Wallace
Author of TIN LIZARD TALES
2628143
An amazing tale of real life adventure. Those were hardy people doing amazing things. I enjoyed the writing and the story.
677946
The women portrayed in this book were so dedicated to their goal of being pilots and navigators to protect Russia from the Germans during WW 2. To read about their percerverience and the hardships they endured was overwhelming and I was moved by their stamina. There are many trials and tribulations through out the book along with trust and sadness. I found it interesting that in 2018 woman are still fighting for equal treatment, fair and equitable pay, along with sexual harassment thT the fighter pilots in this book suffered.
425781
I enjoyed this peek into the Edwardian period when aviation was just taking off (pun intended). The title fits the story well. Flight pioneers hope to launch into the wild blue yonder, and they are in a race to be the first to fly across the English Channel. This story focuses on James Drake, a pilot, and the wealthy Bella Grayson. Her parents want her to marry well and take her place in British society. She longs to write for her fathers newspaper. What will happen when these two determined young people pursue their dreams? And could these dreams include each other? The characters seemed true-to-life and history to come to life as this drama unfolded. I liked the suspense included in the tale, which added a great subplot. I wish the characters could continue. Perhaps a story about Bellas sister could continue the saga. Hop aboard for adventure, intrigue, and some tense moments. I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.
376224
First hand experiences gave insight to what chopper crews went thru.
2123012
The number of combat missions that were made by each of the fighter pilots was amazing.  Their dedication and stamina carried each of them on and on through unimaginable conditions. Weather, cold temperatures and great losses were constant obstacles to be overcome.  The meeting that took place, long after the war, with the pilots from all the countries involved allowed closure for many of those who suffered guilty feelings because of their return. Answers to many questions were obtained and the viewpoints from what was their enemies, allowed this closure. Very well written and I would recommend it to others. I gave five stars because six was not available.
4289424
In late 1943. an American 'plane carrying several nurses and other medical staff crash landed in mountains south of the Albanian city of Elbasan. "The Secret Rescue" by Cate Lineberry is the second account of this fascinating episode during which the Americans were cared for by Albanians and also by British and American military personel operating behind enemy lines. The first account that I read, "Albanian Escape" was by one of the nurses, Agnes Jensen Mangerich who kept a diary throughoutthe long, tough weeks that she and her party spent in Albania, trudging around trying to avoid the enemy as well as trying to reach the coast where they would be rescued.

While Mangerich tells her own story, Lineberry provides a detailed, well-documented, butt slightly dry, overview of the whole series of events from before the moment of the crash until after the Americans were eventually rescued. Lineberry's account, packed with detail, zips along nicely, becoming quite exciting nearer the end. However, good as it is Lineberry's account lacks the immediacy that I felt was present in Mangerich's first-hand account.

Given the choice, I would reccommend Mangerich's less-detailed but more immediate account of this small piece of Balkan history in preference to Lineberry's. But, don't let that put you off reading Lineberry's interesting book.

Reviewed by author of REDISCOVERING ALBANIA
2728105
Interesting read not a book that grabs you, but one that delivers the background facts to understand how the plane made a difference to the young men flying them. It brought them back alive
532576
Amazing stories, makes you think crashing a plane happened every other flight for these pioneers of aviation. These guys are the OG's of the sky.
3166950
Told in first person, this story of Joe's survival on an inhospitable mountain after breaking his leg, his determination to get off that beastly mountain, and his future decision to continue climbing - all are a source of great inspiration.

Joe and Simon choose to climb in the wilderness of the Andes where there is no emergency help system (such as available in the Alps). They want to pitch themselves against this formidable mountain without any backups - just the two humans and the mountain. The mountain almost defeats them, but not quite - a little bit of luck even amidst the disastrous situations, and Joe's overwhelming determination to live, makes this survivor's tale extraordinary. The mountain, the crevasse, the snow storm, the dark nights of terror - all take on a life of their own, as if they are evil monsters playing with two puny humans, could crush them with a casual stroke of their paw.

The adventure spans 7 days - the first 3 are about normal climbing and conquering the Siula Grande peak and starting the descent. The remaining 4 days are fraught with mishap, drama, emotional and physical endurance. The rescue effort by Simon happens as a matter of course, without deliberate discussions, exploration of all possibilities and consequences. At the point where Simon has to cut the rope the reader is completely in sync with him, knowing he has no choice.

I liked the parts narrated in the first person of Simon (written by Joe - he acknowledges Simon's trust in allowing him to write those parts in his own words) - describing Simon's dilemma, guilt, and giving him a fair assessment for his role in the rescue. The emotional drama when Joe discovers his leg is broken, and the non-verbal exchange of thoughts between the two - is so totally honest and poignant. Joe comes across as someone with a deep understanding of human nature.

Great book, I've read it twice over.
2550365
A great read about 3 very dedicated, courageous, patriotic, intelligent, and most influential aviators in America.  These men have taken on some of the greatest challenges of flight and helped move aviation to the front page.
14514
What do Ernest Shackleton, Willie Sutton, Aron Ralston and Scott O'Grady have in common? Answer: they were all determined individuals who managed to break free from imminent death or imprisonment. In this 2009 Firefly Books release, Scott Christianson chronicles the details of those four escapees and forty other men and women who triumphed over adversity.

Christianson divides the escapee tales into chapters on Nature, Kidnappers, Regimes, Prison and the Law, Man-made Disasters, World War II and Modern Warfare. So, in some cases like mountain-climber Ralston, shark attack victim Vic Calandra and tsunami survivor Shenth Ravindra, the tale is one of beating mother nature. Others, like career criminal Willie Sutton and Luftwaffe pilot Franz von Werra, escaped from 'The Man.' In Sutton's case, that was the Eastern State Penitentiary; von Werra's an English POW camp. Peter Strelzyk and Guenther Wetzel escaped the East German regime in a homemade balloon; Dith Pran walked to freedom, escaping from the Pol Pot regime. In the Man-made Disasters chapters, accounts from Hindenburg survivors compliment those who escaped USS Squalus, Apollo 13 and the World Trade center. Other well-known escapes/escapees include Flight 1549, Entebbe, Dieter Dengler, the 'Great Escape,' Jonestown, Billy Hayes/Midnight Express, Papillon and so on.

Each account runs four-six pages with b&w and/or color photographs. Christianson does a good job of conveying the shock, terror, gritty determination and elation wrapped up in each event. Some of these stories were dramatized by Hollywood and it's interesting comparing the 'real' with the 'reel' version.

All in all, GREAT ESCAPES is an exciting view of how normal people handled themselves in very abnormal situations and ultimately triumphed. Recommended.