{"product_id":"spitfires-becky-aikman-9781635576566","title":"Spitfires: The American Women Who Flew in the Face of Danger During World War II","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e\"A bold and soaring work of history . . . whip-smart, deeply researched, and beautifully written.\" -Jonathan Eig, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of \u003ci\u003eKing: A Life\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"A soaring narrative.\"-Keith O'Brien, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eFly Girls\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eThe heart-pounding true story of the daring American women who piloted the world's most dangerous aircraft through the treacherous skies of Britain during World War II.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThey were crop dusters and debutantes, college girls and performers in flying circuses-all of them trained as pilots. Because they were women, they were denied the opportunity to fly for their country when the United States entered the Second World War. But Great Britain, desperately fighting for survival, would let anyone-even Americans, even women-transport warplanes. Thus, twenty-five daring young aviators bolted for England in 1942, becoming the first American women to command military aircraft. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eIn a faraway land, these \"spitfires\" lived like women decades ahead of their time. Risking their lives in one of the deadliest jobs of the war, they ferried new, barely tested fighters and bombers to air bases and returned shot-up wrecks for repair, never knowing what might go wrong until they were high in the sky. Many ferry pilots died in crashes or made spectacular saves. It was exciting, often terrifying work. The pilots broke new ground off duty as well, shocking their hosts with thoroughly modern behavior. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eWith cinematic sweep, Becky Aikman follows the stories of nine of the women who served, drawing on unpublished diaries, letters, and records, along with her own interviews, to bring these forgotten heroines fully to life. \u003ci\u003eSpitfires\u003c\/i\u003e is a vivid, richly detailed account of war, ambition, and a group of remarkable women whose lives were as unconventional as their dreams.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Becky Aikman\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1635576563\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781635576566\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Bloomsbury Publishing\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/06\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 384\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Hardcover\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.25h x 6.12w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eReview Citation(s): \u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 12\/01\/2024 pg. 12","brand":"Becky Aikman","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":46401618477311,"sku":"9781635576566","price":31.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_0b9ec205-fe5d-4f7c-b84c-9db08bccf6f0.jpg?v=1733888135","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/spitfires-becky-aikman-9781635576566","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}