IN THEIR OWN WORDS - THE FINAL CHAPTER

About the Book

Nearly 100 illustrious fi ghter aces and test pilots have granted personal glimpses from their military careers to help create this tribute to America’s patriotic and heroic fliers.

“IN THEIR OWN WORDS - THE FINAL CHAPTER - TRUE STORIES FROM AMERICAN FIGHTER ACES” illuminates what it took to fl y and survive in hostile enemy skies and to test our new and unforgiving fighter aircraft.

When I f irst began compiling information, interviewing and corresponding with our legendary fighter pilots, there were about 600 of the original 1,473 fighter aces still with us.

It is now 2011 and only 10% of our American fi ghter aces are still living. I, and other military aviation enthusiasts are indeed fortunate that this book will again honor and tell the “fi rst person” accounts of nearly 50% of these remarkable remaining fi ghter pilots. Th e goal of this book is to write the “fi nal chapter” to this stunning legacy.

A great deal of our nation’s rich military heritage is about to become extinct. In a very few years all our ace fi ghter pilots will be gone. Th e fact that our country is still free and speaking English instead of Japanese or German bears witness to their extraordinary deeds and courage.

About the Author

James A. Oleson attended the University of California and earned a degree in Criminal Justice. After serving in the U.S. Army as a Staff Sergeant and having careers in the automotive industry and working in law enforcement he has pursued his true passion of writing about military aviation and the American fighter aces. Oleson is a published author of several magazine articles and the 2007 military aviation book "IN THEIR OWN WORDS: TRUE STORIES AND ADVENTURES OF THE AMERICAN FIGHTER ACE". This remarkable new book will be his final tribute and will again pay homage to America's legendary and patriotic fighter aces and military test pilots. Oleson lives in Arnold’s Park Iowa and has been married for 40 years to Karen. Sons Patrick and Scott are gifted artists that once again helped with illustrations and book cover graphics of their own design.