Lords of the Sky: How Fighter Pilots Changed War Forever, From the Red Baron to the F-16 (Large Print) by Dan Hampton

Lords of the Sky: How Fighter Pilots Changed War Forever, From the Red Baron to the F-16 (Large Print) by Dan Hampton

NATIONAL BESTSELLER * The definitive history of combat aviation and fighter aircraft, from World War I to present

INCLUDES 32 PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND 12 MAPS

Lords of the Sky is the "dramatic, fast-paced, and definitive" (Michael Korda) aviation history of fighter pilots and aircraft and their extraordinary influence on modern warfare, masterfully written by "one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history" (New York Post). A twenty-year USAF veteran who flew more than 150 combat missions and received multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses, Lt. Colonel Dan Hampton draws on his singular firsthand knowledge, as well as groundbreaking research in aviation archives and rare personal interviews with little-known heroes, including veterans of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Hampton (the New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot) reveals the stories behind history's most iconic aircraft and the aviators who piloted them: from the Sopwith Camel and Fokker Triplane to the Mitsubishi Zero, Supermarine Spitfire, German Bf 109, P-51 Mustang, Grumman Hellcat, F-4 Phantom, F-105 Thunderchief, F-16 Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and beyond. In a seamless, sweeping narrative, Lords of the Sky is an extraordinary account of the most famous fighter planes and the brave and daring heroes who made them legend.

This comprehensive military history explores a century of innovation and courage:

• Firsthand Combat Experience: Authored by a decorated USAF Lt. Colonel with over 150 combat missions, offering unparalleled insight into the cockpit.
• Iconic Fighter Aircraft: From the Sopwith Camel and P-51 Mustang to the F-16 Falcon, discover the stories behind the machines that ruled the skies.
• Heroic Fighter Pilots: Based on rare interviews with the unsung heroes of World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
• Decisive Air Battles: A sweeping narrative covering the evolution of aerial warfare from the dogfights of World War I to the supersonic jets of today.

Throughout his twenty years as a Wild Weasel fighter pilot, Dan Hampton (US Air Force, Ret.) performed over 150 combat missions. Hampton got four Distinguished Flying Crosses with Valor, a Purple Heart, eight Air Medals with Valor, five Meritorious Service Medals, and numerous other citations for his service in the Iraq War, Kosovo conflict, first Gulf War, and abroad. He is a graduate of the United States Air Force and United States Navy Fighter Weapons Courses, as well as the United States Air Force Special Operations School. Hampton won multiple accolades for tactical innovation and was named Instructor Pilot of the Year six times for his squadron. He pioneered air-combat tactics that are now standard. He is a Texas A&M University graduate who has written articles in the Journal of Electronic Defense, Air Force Magazine, and Airpower, as well as several classified tactical works for the United States Air Force Fighter Weapons Review.