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Doorknob Five Two
DOORKNOB FIVE TWO is the story of the coming of age of a young man, as seen against a backdrop of World War II. With unusual emotional power and artistic sensibility, Fredric Arnold renders an extraordinary account of his personal experiences as a fighter pilot in combat, recording events with the authenticity of an eye witness.
As the story unfolds, we accompany him in the cockpit of his fighter plane, sharing the beauty and wonder of flying as he engages the enemy in aerial combat and is himself shot down. We live as he lived â exposed to the primitive emotions of sex and war, while bound to his ancient heritage and ever-present influence of his father. A crash in the Sahara, rescue by nomadic tribesmen, capture by the Germans â we are firsthand observers to his terrifying escape and will to survive.
There is nothing more intensely haunting than the truth. Nor is it merely a war memoir. Rather, it is a dramatic insight into the horror of war and a testament to the power of family love.
As the story unfolds, we accompany him in the cockpit of his fighter plane, sharing the beauty and wonder of flying as he engages the enemy in aerial combat and is himself shot down. We live as he lived â exposed to the primitive emotions of sex and war, while bound to his ancient heritage and ever-present influence of his father. A crash in the Sahara, rescue by nomadic tribesmen, capture by the Germans â we are firsthand observers to his terrifying escape and will to survive.
There is nothing more intensely haunting than the truth. Nor is it merely a war memoir. Rather, it is a dramatic insight into the horror of war and a testament to the power of family love.
274 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 1984
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About the author
Fredric Arnold
6 books4 followersFredric Arnold was a P-38 Fighter Pilot in World War II. He served with the 71st Fighter Squadron, 1st Fighter Group, United States Army Air Force (USAAF), based at Chateau dun du Rommel, Algeria, March through June 1943 and Mateur, Tunisia, June through July 1943. Fredric Arnold completed fifty combat missions in North Africa, destroyed seven enemy aircraft, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with nine Oak Leaf clusters.
On his return from combat, Arnold test flew America's first jet, designed and developed power steering for aircraft, and was promoted to the rank of Major at the age of twenty-three.
In 1981, Arnold published the autobiographical novel "Doorknob Five Two" based on his wartime experiences.
On his return from combat, Arnold test flew America's first jet, designed and developed power steering for aircraft, and was promoted to the rank of Major at the age of twenty-three.
In 1981, Arnold published the autobiographical novel "Doorknob Five Two" based on his wartime experiences.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 10, 2021
Honest to a fault
On one hand, the story was gripping in the honesty the author’s emotions about what he has to do are portrayed. His struggle with duty and the violence he participates in is palpable, and believable, regardless if you agree with his perspective or feel his actions noble.
However, though based in truth, the narrative feels manufactured. For example, the author hides the name of an antagonist, leading the reader to suspect he’s hidden other truths as well. Particularly strange are the sexual encounters. They feel out of place, and therefore lack a genuine air. Again, this led me to be suspect what I was being told.
With a pilot of this apparent caliber, I had hoped to read passages that were more detailed, which in turn would have made each scene in the cockpit feel more real — the heat from the sun on the canopy making him sweat, the smell of the oil and metal perhaps.
Structure wise, the narrative fails to return to the escape on Sicily quick enough for my tastes. From an editing standpoint there are many errors — both in grammar and typesetting.
However, overall a book that I enjoyed reading.
On one hand, the story was gripping in the honesty the author’s emotions about what he has to do are portrayed. His struggle with duty and the violence he participates in is palpable, and believable, regardless if you agree with his perspective or feel his actions noble.
However, though based in truth, the narrative feels manufactured. For example, the author hides the name of an antagonist, leading the reader to suspect he’s hidden other truths as well. Particularly strange are the sexual encounters. They feel out of place, and therefore lack a genuine air. Again, this led me to be suspect what I was being told.
With a pilot of this apparent caliber, I had hoped to read passages that were more detailed, which in turn would have made each scene in the cockpit feel more real — the heat from the sun on the canopy making him sweat, the smell of the oil and metal perhaps.
Structure wise, the narrative fails to return to the escape on Sicily quick enough for my tastes. From an editing standpoint there are many errors — both in grammar and typesetting.
However, overall a book that I enjoyed reading.
February 8, 2020
I was lucky enough to meet Fred Arnold briefly. An older friend of ours used to play bridge with him and his wife many years ago, and Fred was giving a talk at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum in Denver, so we went to see him. He was also dedicating a copy of his sculpture, "Lest We Forget the Mission," a beautiful and moving piece located at the WWII museum in New Orleans.
The book is quite different than I was expecting. It is quite exciting, about the life of a sensitive Jewish artist who ends up being a ace fighter pilot in North Africa. but despairs of the lives he takes. A lot of the book is about the antisemitism he faced, which was very interesting. It goes very quickly and is well worth reading.
The book is quite different than I was expecting. It is quite exciting, about the life of a sensitive Jewish artist who ends up being a ace fighter pilot in North Africa. but despairs of the lives he takes. A lot of the book is about the antisemitism he faced, which was very interesting. It goes very quickly and is well worth reading.
May 15, 2020
A memoir by a front-line P-38 pilot from his service in North Africa in 1943. Arnold's birth name is Kohn, and his Jewish heritage was an important part of his experience in the American military during the war: one of his nearest fellow pilots was an aggressive racist and anti-Semite, making Kohn's life a daily struggle even as they flew combat missions together. Kohn was also an artist, and his drawings and sketches from his days of combat are included. A vivid and engaging portrait of the place and time.
December 4, 2020
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and couldn't stop listening.
It was very cool to listen to the audio book version performed by the author himself!
I enjoyed the fact that this book was written with so much perspective; almost as if you were living events yourself and feeling every emotion portrayed yourself. Sure, you may not get a picture of the entire war, but that's what I like about this book! It's from one mans perspective; it's one mans story.
It was very cool to listen to the audio book version performed by the author himself!
I enjoyed the fact that this book was written with so much perspective; almost as if you were living events yourself and feeling every emotion portrayed yourself. Sure, you may not get a picture of the entire war, but that's what I like about this book! It's from one mans perspective; it's one mans story.
October 17, 2016
Great book written by a true American hero
I actually met the author before I read his book. I was so amazed and intrigued after speaking with him I was elated to stumble upon his book. It did not disappoint, it is an incredible glimpse into the life of a WWII fighter pilot. I've already purchased the kindle version but I am going to order the hardcover as well. I am certain I'll read it again.
I actually met the author before I read his book. I was so amazed and intrigued after speaking with him I was elated to stumble upon his book. It did not disappoint, it is an incredible glimpse into the life of a WWII fighter pilot. I've already purchased the kindle version but I am going to order the hardcover as well. I am certain I'll read it again.
March 25, 2011
I don't know. I just didn't get the experience out of this book that I was hoping for. I have read many books on WWII and I was hoping there would have been more detail about many of the missions, not that some weren't detailed. I felt he spent more time and detail on some of the other things he did during his time in Africa and every once in a while there was a detail that I thought was a little weird. The book was ok but I was hoping for more.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews