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Through Smoke and Shadows: A Jewish Pilot's War
In 1941, after the shock of Pearl Harbor, one young Jewish pilot rises into the skies—and into history.
Through Smoke and Shadows follows a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot as he battles enemy aircraft, personal doubt, and the harsh reality of anti-Semitism within the ranks. Flying missions over France and Germany, he forges powerful bonds with fellow airmen while wrestling with what it means to serve his country and honor his heritage during humanity’s darkest hour.
A moving blend of aviation action, personal resilience, and Jewish wartime experience, this novel is perfect for readers who aviation fictionBiographical and character-driven war storiesHeroic tales of identity, courage, and friendshipHistorical fiction rooted in real emotional truthJoin a journey of sacrifice, brotherhood, and the unbreakable spirit of a pilot fighting for freedom and for a place in a world that too often rejects him.
Beta Reader and Editorial “A gripping WWII aviation novel about courage, identity, and the Jewish experience.”"A biographical historical fiction story following a Jewish pilot confronting war and prejudice.” "By the first few pages, I was rooting for Flag, and by the end, I was holding my breath until he got home."
Through Smoke and Shadows follows a U.S. Army Air Corps pilot as he battles enemy aircraft, personal doubt, and the harsh reality of anti-Semitism within the ranks. Flying missions over France and Germany, he forges powerful bonds with fellow airmen while wrestling with what it means to serve his country and honor his heritage during humanity’s darkest hour.
A moving blend of aviation action, personal resilience, and Jewish wartime experience, this novel is perfect for readers who aviation fictionBiographical and character-driven war storiesHeroic tales of identity, courage, and friendshipHistorical fiction rooted in real emotional truthJoin a journey of sacrifice, brotherhood, and the unbreakable spirit of a pilot fighting for freedom and for a place in a world that too often rejects him.
Beta Reader and Editorial “A gripping WWII aviation novel about courage, identity, and the Jewish experience.”"A biographical historical fiction story following a Jewish pilot confronting war and prejudice.” "By the first few pages, I was rooting for Flag, and by the end, I was holding my breath until he got home."
218 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 1, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 14, 2025
Through Smoke and Shadows is an interesting historical-fiction read on how the attack on Pearl Harbor inspired a young Jewish man to find his passion as a pilot in WW2. This novel is written in a unique biographical perspective of the main character Bob “Flag” Fliegelman as he recounts his time spent serving his country facing prejudice, but also facing danger that did not discriminate by faith.
The author really finds his sweet spot among the many battles “Flag” fights in the skies. He has a knack for writing scenes that makes the tension in the cockpit of a B-17 feel palpable. The description of the planes, the specific roles of the crew members, and historical accuracies like the weight and amount of ammunition held and maintained for a flight mission left me in awe.
Although I was being pulled along into a fictional character’s story, I was also submersed in real pieces of history like crucial German targets that swayed the victory for the allies, knowledge of Jewish culture, and political climate of the era that I simply didn’t know I didn’t know!
I feel like I got a taste of Flag’s character in this novel, and I am excited to see where the author could take him if he continues to lean into the aspect of his faith, and especially how that will play a part in Flag’s life after the ending to this part of his story.
The author really finds his sweet spot among the many battles “Flag” fights in the skies. He has a knack for writing scenes that makes the tension in the cockpit of a B-17 feel palpable. The description of the planes, the specific roles of the crew members, and historical accuracies like the weight and amount of ammunition held and maintained for a flight mission left me in awe.
Although I was being pulled along into a fictional character’s story, I was also submersed in real pieces of history like crucial German targets that swayed the victory for the allies, knowledge of Jewish culture, and political climate of the era that I simply didn’t know I didn’t know!
I feel like I got a taste of Flag’s character in this novel, and I am excited to see where the author could take him if he continues to lean into the aspect of his faith, and especially how that will play a part in Flag’s life after the ending to this part of his story.
Displaying 1 of 1 review