Sabre Pilot

by Stephen W. Meader, John Polgreen (Illustrator)

With thirty highly successful books to his credit, Stephen W. Meader, one of the most noted and popular writers of books for young people, has covered many aspects of American life, both modern and historical. Now in Sabre Pilot, he adds a new dimension---the air.Seventeen-year-old Kirk Owen turns from hot-rod racing to enlist in the Air Force, just as the Korean fighting starts. At A&E school in Texas, Kirk begins to realize that he’d give anything for a chance to become a pilot. With a lot of extra study, he is able to complete his second year of college credits, left unfinished when his father had a heart attack, and he qualifies as an Aviation Cadet and wins his wings. Advance training as a jet fighter pilot follows, and under accelerated wartime conditions, he is sent to Korea at once where, through grim but exciting missions he becomes a full-fledged jet “tiger.”The background of this fast moving story is as authentic as Air Force cooperation and the author’s own research can make it. For young men who are looking ahead to military service it will be a rewarding book. But more than that, Sabre Pilot is a book that everyone who is interested in flying, and anyone who is looking for a dramatic and action-packed narrative will welcome and enjoy.Illustrated by John Polgreen.

Paperback

First published January 1, 1956

About the author

Stephen W. Meader (May 2, 1892 – July 18, 1977) was the author of over forty novels for young readers. His optimistic stories generally tended to either concern young men developing independent businesses in the face of adversity, or else young men caught up in adventures during different periods in American history.

Meader graduated from Haverford College in Philadelphia in 1913, and initially worked in Newark, New Jersey as a cruelty officer with the Essex County Children's Aid Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, and by 1915 was working for the Big Brother Movement. After working for a Chicago publishing house in 1916, he took a position with the Circulation Department of the Curtis Publishing Company in Philadelphia, eventually reaching the position of Editor of the Sales Division publications. His first novel, The Black Buccaneer, was the first juvenile publication of the newly founded Harcourt, Brace and Howe.

Reviews

[Sarah Gallini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stephen W Meader will forever be my favorite author and saber pilot is one of my favorite of his books. Great characters in a well written story. I highly recommend any and all of his books. And the fact that there are so few stories written about a saber jet pilot in Korea makes it even better.

[Raymond Bial · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great adventure story about a young man who becomes a jet pilot during the Korean Conflict. As in all of Stephen Meader's books, there are many fine characters and plenty of heroic action in this novel.