Race of Aces

In 1942, an outspoken Army Air Force general, overlooked for prestigious combat commands in Europe, was given a chance at redemption: General George Kenney was to go to the Pacific theatre and forge Douglas MacArthur's defeated air force into a brawny offensive unit that could pave the way for victory over Japan. When Kenney took the job, he was told not to expect reinforcements, supplies, or even spare parts. He spent his first days in command cowering in a mud-filled slit trench as Japanese planes rained bombs down on his New Guinea base, getting to know his pilots and tending to their shattered spirits. With the Nazis sweeping across Europe and the nation reeling from the carnage of Pearl Harbor, these fighters represented the fading hope of America's future and Kenney was stunned by their state. Race of Aces is the incredible story of how he and a handful of elite American pilots inspired the country to believe that we could defeat the most formidable enemy America had ever faced - and the inconceivable price they paid to do it. The race began with a bet. No one, wagered the deadliest fighter pilot - or "ace" -of WWI, could beat his score of twenty-six enemy planes destroyed and if someone did the WWI ace would give him a bottle of bourbon. Seizing on the challenge to motivate his despondent troops, Kenney unleashed what became a wild three-year sprint for fame, glory and the chance to be called America's greatest fighter pilot.Five men rose from the pack to compete for the crown, and as their scores mounted, they captured the national spotlight. These young warriors hailed from vastly different backgrounds. Though few had given any initial indication that they would be contenders in the race, they transformed themselves in combat from farm boys and would-be dentists into devastating artists of the modern dogfight. As the press coverage riveted the nation, some of the men grew obsessed, others manipulated the race in their favor, and others resented the growing perception that General Kenney had his own favored ace who was given special treatment. The war with Japan seethed into one of daily skirmishes and, with the casualties mounting, the aces wondered who would survive to take home the prize and who would be outlived by their glory. Spanning the vast seas and blistering skies of the Pacific theater, Race of Aces is not just a gripping story teeming with white-knuckled action but also a fascinating, unvarnished look at the masterminds and gladiators that led America to triumph in its most dire hour and how they blurred the boundaries between honorable duty, selfless devotion, and the quest for personal glory.

"Race of Aces fascinates because of its attention to detail and strong characterization of these remarkable men." --The Wall Street Journal, "Race of Aces brings you into the cockpit of the lethal, fast-paced world of fighter pilots as they strive to achieve ace-level status...Bruning's unique and intimate look at the struggles of these men to balance honor, duty to country, and their pursuit to be the best makes this account even more fascinating. This is a book you can't put down, and a story you will reflect upon long after turning the last page."--Sara Vladic, New York Times bestselling coauthor of Indianapolis, "Race of Aces is a superb read, taking us through the high-stakes world of our great Aces and the WWII air war...Extraordinary. Wear your G suit and hang on -- this must-read will become a classic."--Dan Pedersen, Founder of the Topgun program and bestselling author of Topgun: An American Story, "[Bruning] crafts vivid profiles of the Army Air Forces fight pilots... their struggles, both personal and military, are movingly told....Exquisitely polished prose alternately describes the dog-fighting above remote jungles and relationships with sweethearts back home. Prodigious digging into mission reports, old newspaper dispatches, diaries and correspondence plus extensive interviews of survivors and family members contribute to a sweeping narrative that is likely to be the definitive history of the Rickenbacker-inspired contest. Highly recommended."--Philip Handleman, Aviation History, "A fascinating book."--"Constant Wonder," BYURadio

John R. Bruning is the author or collaborating writer of a number of nonfiction books, including the critically acclaimed New York Times bestseller Outlaw Platoon (Morrow) written with Sean Parnell, Shadow of the Sword with Jeremiah Workman (Ballantine), How to Break a Terrorist with Matthew Alexander (Free Press), House to House with David Bellavia (Free Press), The Devil's Sandbox (Zenith), and Ghost: Confessions of a Counterterrorism Agent with Fred Burton (Random House, a New York Times expanded list bestseller). Bruning is well-travelled as an embedded combat correspondent. For his reporting in Afghanistan, the Department of Defence presented him with a prestigious 2010 Thomas Jefferson Award. For his work with the Oregon National Guard, he was inducted into the 162nd Infantry Regiment in September 2011 as an honorary member. John lives in Independence, Oregon, and has two children.