Dead Downwind

by Bill Riddle

In 1924 . three years before Charles Lindbergh makes his historic flight over the Atlantic - post WWI America is convinced she can do anything she puts her mind to. In the midst of the RoaringTwenties however, the boisterous nation's capitol is rocked by political infighting for the control of military aviation. The brash young army general Billy Mitchell is attempting to wrest air power away from both the army and navy to create an independent air force under his own command. To counter this move, the brilliant navy Rear Admiral William Moffett has challenged Hawaii-based Commander John Rodgers with a deathdefying mission; one designed to sway the politicians and the public alike, to the navy's side. If Rodgers accepts, he will command three planes in a seemingly impossible mission; the first non-stop flight from San Francisco to Honolulu. This bold gamble could make or break the navy's bid for control of its own air power and unbeknownst to Rodgers, Moffett has lined up a second publicity-grabbing stunt involving the world's largest dirigible.In this gripping historic novel, follow John Rodgers' spellbinding story to its riveting conclusion as political intrigue, inter-service rivalries, engineering challenges and personal hurdles all conspire to doom the mission. Then, an anxious public is forced to hold its collective breath when one of the planes is forced down in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean and matters are made worse as the navy dirigible experiences serious trouble of her own. The dramatic aftermath will change the course of aviation history.

544 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 5, 2011

Reviews

[MG · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned about this book from the author whom I met while visiting Oahu, HI.
I found the book full of historical information, wrapped in an interesting story. The author has invested a lot of time in research and the book contains many photographs between chapters. I loved the story and the suspense built into it. I don’t read much military history but I recommend this book for the entertaining story and the factual aviation history.