The Aviators: Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle, Charles Lindbergh, and the Epic Age of Flight

I have been a fan of Winston Groom since “Better Times Than These”. I am an even bigger fan of his non-fiction, finding him a very readable historian with the ability to make the reader “see” history.This book is no exception as the author looks at three larger than life men from the early age of flight.Rickenbacker managed to cram more adventure into one life than most could do in several.Groom presents him as he was, tough, determined and very intelligent.Doolittle is an extra ordinary pilot, instrumental in the development of instrument flight and famous for raiding Japan in 1942.Lindbergh, the “Lone Eagle” is best known for flying the Atlantic and the kidnapping of his son.Somewhat infamous as a supporter of Hitler, his WWII activities are a surprise.This is a very well written book, alternating between the three men while keeping the times in perspective.This is a complete look at these men as the author covers their good and bad activities.

This is a very enlightening and entertaining history of early flight and three giants of aviation. It is extremely well written and takes the reader through brief but exhilarating biographies of the three greatest heroes in American aviation. Highly recommended!

These men were genuine heroes and they led important and interesting lives. None of them had to serve in World War II, but they did. Eddie Rickenbacker was the top American ace in World War I and shortly after the war he visited Germany where he met some German pilots, one of whom was Hermann Goering. We tend to think of Goering as something of a clown which in many ways he became, but this meeting had a chilling outcome. Goering explained how the German empire was going to be restored through air power. The Germans would train future military air people through civilian associations. Civilian aircraft would be the basis for future military aircraft and they would build a large modern air force under the noses of the allies. About 15 years later Rickenbacker visited Germany and met Goering again. Goering reminded Rickenbacker of their last meeting and showed him that the Germans had done what Goering had predicted. Rickenbacker then tried to warn the British and American governments who naturally ignored him by following the universal rule, especially of governments, of ignoring the smart guy.Winston Groom writes well, he is the author of "Forrest Gump". The book isn't 3 separate biographies, but is arranged in approximately chronological order. This is sometimes confusing because you can sometimes forget which man did what in the less dramatic events. The book is well worth reading

Different perspectives from a similar lens, that being aviation. The challenges faced by the personalities highlighted in this book are instructive. Voices from the past, illuminating many of the problems faced by current aviators.

And they read it and loved it

The book was well written and contained a lot of interesting facts. For instance, I didn't know that Jimmy Doolittle had a PhD in aeronautical engineering from M.I.T. and Eddie Rickenbacker was a world class race car driver before WWI and later founded Eastern Airlines. Following the lives of Rickenbacker, Doolittle and Lindbergh provided a history of the development of aviation in the U.S. through both world wars and beyond.

Excellent read. Too bad page 126 is missing. Page 125 ok but on the other side of the sheet was page 216. Next page was 127.

The Aviators is a biography of Eddie Rickenbacker, Jimmy Doolittle and Charles Lindbergh. They were pioneers of aviation who began flying in simple wooden framed, fabric covered bi-planes and lived to see men walk on the moon. Each advanced both the technology and acceptance of aviation in its early days. This is not a detailed story of their lives. But, rather a good introduction to three remarkable men.When the U.S. entered WW2, they were middle aged, wealthy and famous. They could have easily stayed home and supported the war effort with their money and celebrity. Yet, they each put their lives on the line for their country and made great contributions to our victory.While it is clear that author Winston Groom likes and respects all three men, he does show their faults. Charles Lindbergh is perhaps the most complex and controversial of the three. He may also be the most interesting. Considering the lives they led, that is saying something.

One of the best books I have ever read about these Aviators and true Americans. Would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of flight.

I just finished this book and feel it was one of the best 3 I've read out of 12 I've read so far this year. The author covers the 3 aviators in sufficient detail to give readers a thorough understanding of them and the era without getting bogged down with too much detail.

I will actually rate this a 3.5. The story about these three great men and pilots in the golden era of flight is great. Every flight was an adventure and a hazard, but with men like this the aviation world evolved rapidly. The author is a noted American historian and writes a great book but being a historian the errors (and there are a few) should not happen. Still a great book and highly recommended.

Carefully researched and a brilliant read. Each character comes to life and you find yourself minding very much about them and how they survived. I was sorry to turn the last page.

I had the good fortune to obtain this as a Bookbub download, albeit the illustrations are poor and maps are unreadable, as is all too often the case with Kindle downloads. However, this has to be one of the best aviation books I have read for a long time, particularly because it places the three protagonists sharply into the context of the period and of their remarkable courage within severe limits of the state of aviation 'art' at that time. It has to be said, all too often biographies of this type and period can adopt a somewhat flippant, swashbuckling style which can rather gloss over the realities of the dangers and often horrors of the experiences of early fliers, especially those subjected to war conditions. There is nothing lighthearted or flippant to be said about being seriously injured or even killed in an aeroplane accident, or being blown out of the sky in a sky battle. However, Groom happily avoid that all too facile trap whilst at the same time producing a work of both historical enlightenment and of special readability for those who may ordinarily avoid 'war' and aeroplane' topics. There is, of course, some technical content. That is inevitable, but its extent is never of such dry detail as to detract from the enthralling interest of the narratives. After all, those who thirst after 'rivet-counting' detail have access to a plethora of publications which provide for those demanding such highly specialised technical detail, be that for engineering types, or for those who are keen to read about the finer points of military tactics and strategies. The added bonus to this book is how it not only relates the stories of the three aviators, it also places them into the context of the social, political and economic conditions of their times and which I found to be particularly helpful and fascinating, not least because it emphasises just how our 'establishment' juggernauts can dismiss sound counsel from those who truly know the realities from their sharp end experiences and how that official inertia and crass ignorance all too frequently results in disastrous consequences, both militarily and politically. A very good read which has tempted me to buy the 'proper' paper version!