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

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars | 2,147 ratings

Price: 15.66

Last update: 09-08-2024


About this item

Gifted storyteller Winston Groom, the best-selling author of Forrest Gump, has written the fascinating story of three extraordinary heroes who defined aviation during the great age of flight: Charles Lindbergh, Eddie Rickenbacker, and Jimmy Doolittle. 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 during 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 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 the intertwined stories—from broken homes to Medals of Honor (all three would receive one), barnstorming to the greatest raid of World War II, front-page triumph to anguished tragedy, and near-death to ultimate survival—of these three men who took to the sky, time and again, to become exemplars of the spirit of the "greatest generation."


Top reviews from the United States

James W. Durney
5.0 out of 5 stars Groom is always a good buy
Reviewed in the United States on April 13, 2016
I have been a fan of Winston Groom since “Better Times Than These”. I am an even bigger fan of his non-fiction, finding him a very readable historian with the ability to make the reader “see” history.
This book is no exception as the author looks at three larger than life men from the early age of flight.
Rickenbacker managed to cram more adventure into one life than most could do in several.
Groom presents him as he was, tough, determined and very intelligent.
Doolittle is an extra ordinary pilot, instrumental in the development of instrument flight and famous for raiding Japan in 1942.
Lindbergh, the “Lone Eagle” is best known for flying the Atlantic and the kidnapping of his son.
Somewhat infamous as a supporter of Hitler, his WWII activities are a surprise.
This is a very well written book, alternating between the three men while keeping the times in perspective.
This is a complete look at these men as the author covers their good and bad activities.
Dan of the Suburbs
5.0 out of 5 stars The extraordinary story of three extraordinary aviators
Reviewed in the United States on November 5, 2015
This book is the extraordinary story of three extraordinary aviators. It follows a timeline from the early 1900's through the 1950's, switching back and forth among the stories of Rickenbacker, Doolittle and Lindbergh. These men were key players in the early history of aviation, often risking their lives so others could be safer. Besides their exploits as aviators, which alone are almost beyond belief, they all played important roles in the aviation business as well as the role of aviation in the military. Europe had a huge head start in every aspect of early aviation, and it took men like these to demonstrate the growing importance of the airplane to U.S. policy makers.
These men are true heroes, repeatedly pushing themselves to their limits. And when you are pushed to your limits weaknesses reveal themselves. The author shows us their weaknesses, but in the context of extraordinary lives and circumstances. Nearly all of us "regular" folks would have crumbled far earlier and contributed far less.
Mr. Groom has done an excellent job of telling these stories, and I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in aviation or American history.
J. Link
4.0 out of 5 stars Updates to old Bios, Surprisingly Good!
Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2014
As a career USAF officer I'd read all three of their bios in various forms and was expecting three standalone sections rehashing what I thought I essentially already knew. However, I was quite surprised at how Winston Groom wove their stories and lives together through episodic chapters. Surprisingly...something I had not considered...a common denominator to all three men was a close relationship with and mentorship by Billy Mitchell, which motivated me to hunt down the video "The Court Martial of Billy Mitchell" to watch again...had not seen it in over 45 years (there is a high quality free streaming copy on the internet). The Aviators is an excellent read, well researched, quite a bit of new information I was not aware of. I really enjoyed Groom's historic perspective.
Mike V
5.0 out of 5 stars Classic
Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2024
Different perspectives from a similar lens, that being aviation. The challenges faced by the personalities highlighted in this book are instructive. Voices from the past, illuminating many of the problems faced by current aviators.
DLY49
5.0 out of 5 stars Fine biography of three aviation giants
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2013
The Aviators is a biography of Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle and Charles Lindbergh. They were pioneers of aviation who began flying in simple wooden framed, fabric covered bi-planes and lived to see men walk on the moon. Each advanced both the technology and acceptance of aviation in its early days. This is not a detailed story of their lives. But, rather a good introduction to three remarkable men.

When the U.S. entered WW2, they were middle aged, wealthy and famous. They could have easily stayed home and supported the war effort with their money and celebrity. Yet, they each put their lives on the line for their country and made great contributions to our victory.

While it is clear that author Winston Groom likes and respects all three men, he does show their faults. Charles Lindbergh is perhaps the most complex and controversial of the three. He may also be the most interesting. Considering the lives they led, that is saying something.
J. Roger Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars An Outstanding History of Men and Flight!
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022
This is a very enlightening and entertaining history of early flight and three giants of aviation. It is extremely well written and takes the reader through brief but exhilarating biographies of the three greatest heroes in American aviation. Highly recommended!
Buffalo Shooter
4.0 out of 5 stars Missing page.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.
Customer image
Buffalo Shooter
4.0 out of 5 stars Missing page.
Reviewed in the United States on February 7, 2024
Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.
Images in this review
Customer image
D. Bell
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love history and those who made it, you will love this book.
Reviewed in the United States on September 17, 2015
Depending on your age (I am 62 and the son of a WWII pilot), and interest in aviation, especially the coming of the modern age of aviation, you will want to read this book from cover to cover in one sitting. Of course, it is too long for that, but you will not want to put it down. If you have an inkling of the names of Doolittle, Lindbergh and Rickenbacker, you will be astonished at their stories. The author intermixes the lives and accomplishments of Doolittle, Lindbergh and Rickenbacker in such a way that you feel their genius was timed in such a way that otherwise we would still be flying propeller driven planes. You shake your head at what they went through and how determined they were to advance the age itself through aviation. I suppose there are still men and women out there now that are similarly determined, but we either don't hear about them, or our culture does not recognize them for what they are worth and the impact they are truly making. You will be awed by the impact The Aviators made on our lives. I first listened to the book on CD from my library, but was so impressed with it, I purchased it to have as a permanent part of my select personal library. If you love history and those who made it, you will love this book.

Best Sellers in

 
 

A Mind for Numbers: How to Excel at Math and Science (Even If You Flunked Algebra)

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 6452
13.78
 
 

Immune: A Journey into the Mysterious System That Keeps You Alive

4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 8760
17.72
 
 

Something Deeply Hidden: Quantum Worlds and the Emergence of Spacetime

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 3169
17.72
 
 

Helgoland: Making Sense of the Quantum Revolution

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1123
11.81
 
 

Better in Every Sense: How the New Science of Sensation Can Help You Reclaim Your Life

4 4 out of 5 stars 11
17.05
 
 

The Brain That Changes Itself: Stories of Personal Triumph from the Frontiers of Brain Science

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 5119
17.72
 
 

What Is Real?: The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics

4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 1092
15.02
 
 

Reality+: Virtual Worlds and the Problems of Philosophy

4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 423
21.88