The moving biography of Lt Col William Norman Reed, a World War II
fighter ace who fought with the Flying Tigers and died in defense
of the two nations he loved.
Bill Reed had it all--brains, looks, athleticism, courage, and a talent
for leadership. After a challenging childhood in Depression-era Iowa,
Reed joined the US Army Air Corps, but the outbreak of World War II saw
him give up his commission. Instead, he traveled to China to fly for the
American Volunteer Group--the legendary Flying Tigers. After a brief
return to America, he resumed the fight as a senior pilot and later
squadron commander in the Chinese-American Composite Wing. Soon
afterwards, Reed tragically lost his life in a desperate parachute jump
late in the war, by which point he was a fighter ace with nine confirmed
aerial victories. His obituary was front-page news throughout the state
of Iowa.
This book is a biography of his extraordinary life, focusing on his time
spent flying with some of the famous aerial groups of World War II. It
draws heavily on Reed's own words, along with the author's deep
knowledge of the China air war and years of research into Reed's life,
to tell his compelling story.
