Ace in a Day, Lt Col Wayne K Blickenstaff
Ace in a Day, Lt Col Wayne K Blickenstaff
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Ace in a Day
The Memoir of an Eighth Air Force Fighter Pilot in World War II

Author: Lt Col Wayne K Blickenstaff, Graham Cross

Narrator: Alex Wyndham

Unabridged: 10 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Publisher: Tantor Media

Published: 04/11/2023

Synopsis

Wayne K. Blickenstaff, known as "Blick," was a stalwart of the 350th Fighter Squadron of the 353rd Fighter Group based at Goxhill, Metfield, and Raydon, England, as part of the Eighth Air Force prosecuting the strategic air campaign against Germany. As an original cadre member, he rose steadily through the ranks to a Lieutenant Colonel and Group Operations Officer. His double "ace" status included a Me262 jet fighter and the destruction of five aircraft in one mission—giving him rare "ace in a day" status.

Ace in a Day is Blick's honest and gritty personal memoir of his air war in Europe. His account conveys a true sense of just how dangerous flying World War II fighters, in all weather conditions, really was. A moment's inattention, overconfidence, or simple mistake could be deadly. As a keen observer of character, Blick's pen portraits of those around him, including many of those who sadly did not survive the war, offer a poignant and deeply moving tribute to those with whom he served.

Supported by an impressive array of original documentation and detailed appendices, including Blick's never-before published wartime journal, Ace in a Day provides a unique and valuable insight into the harsh realities of the air war in Europe from one of the "Mighty Eighth's" top fighter pilots.

About Lt Col Wayne K Blickenstaff

Having achieved his childhood dream of learning to fly, Wayne K. Blickenstaff set aside his wings and turned his artistic talent and love of adventure strip illustrations into a successful career as an advertising, editorial, and book illustrator. He later became a teacher and art director. People gravitated to him because of his calm demeanor, great listening skills, and insight. In 1989 Blick and his wife moved from Connecticut to North Carolina to be closer to family and spend time at their beloved summer home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. During retirement he pursued his interest in writing and his book Ace in a Day was his passion project. Thanks to his friend and editor, Graham Cross, his dream to have it published has finally been realized.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Chad on December 28, 2023

Wayne Blickenstaff's "Ace in a Day" isn't a victory lap, it's a white-knuckled rollercoaster ride through the skies of World War II. As a fighter pilot in the Eighth Air Force, Blickenstaff doesn't sugarcoat the adrenaline rush of combat, nor the bone-chilling fear that gnawed at him with every miss......more

Goodreads review by Robert M. Roth MD on April 02, 2024

Interesting, but somewhat lacking This memoir begins during the Depression, when the author is a young child, and culminates as a fighter pilot. Following successful completion of cadet training, he achieves the rank of Lt. Colonel by the end of the war. Even while describing some harrowing dogfight......more

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