Mavericks of the Sky

"A surprisingly exciting history" of the US Air Mail Service's early years and the daredevil pilots who risked their lives ( Publishers Weekly). "An enthralling saga, told in a smooth and agile style."— Associated Press Nicknamed "the Suicide Club," the pilots of the air mail service were a brash collection of World War I aces who returned as heroes from Europe looking for a way to continue their obsession with flying. At a time before established air routes, when planes were still a developing technology, these proud, dashing, rebellious men pushed the limits of flight to the extreme—climbing into their flimsy wooden and cloth-covered biplanes to move the mail through torrential rain and blinding snowstorms, relying on their wits and instincts to keep them alive. Mavericks of the Sky recounts the crucial first three years of the U.S. Air Mail Service—from the inaugural New York-to-Washington, D.C., flight in 1918 through Jack Knight's desperate, against-all-odds night flight in 1921 that would determine the future of air mail. A unique tale of adventure, heroism, and suspense, Rosenberg and Macaulay's thrilling narrative brings to life the exploits of these fearless and colorful pioneers who were true symbols of the Jazz Age and the American spirit. "A reminder that we now take for granted came about because men risked and lost their loves." — San Antonio Express-News "The authors introduce a succession of fascinating characters. . . . A should-read story of forgotten flying pioneers who earned their keep in the hardest way." — Air and Space