Terror of the Autumn Skies

The True Story of Frank Luke, America's Rogue Ace of World War I

By: Blaine Pardoe

Narrated by: John McLain

Frank Luke, Jr., was an unlikely pilot. In the Great War, when fliers were still "knights of the air", Luke was an ungallant loner, a kid from Arizona who collected tarantulas, shot buzzards, and boxed miners. But during two torrid weeks in September 1918, he was the deadliest man on the Western Front. In only 10 missions, he destroyed 14 heavily defended German balloons and four airplanes, a rampage unequalled even by the dreaded von Richtofen, and the second highest American tally of the entire war. Cocksure and constantly reprimanded, Luke was actually under arrest on the day of his final flight, but he stole a plane to join the fatal action that won him the first Congressional Medal of Honor awarded to a pilot.

Blaine Pardoe retraces and refreshes Frank Luke's story through recently discovered correspondence. What emerges is a portrait of a life out of an "Old West" that was, by the late Teens, colliding with modernity. Frantic, short, and splendid, the life of Frank Luke, Jr. dramatizes the tragic intervention of an American spirit in the war that devastated Europe.

©2011 Blaine L. Pardoe (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Really good insight

Really great history of Luke... enjoyed it alot.i highly recommend this book to any one.

Remarkable

A Fascinating and balanced account. Well worth the read. Truth is often stranger than fiction!

Very good but not totally outstanding

Well researched and well presented. I liked the book and it was worth the cost, but I cannot say it was over the top like some of the books I have listened to.

Just another Tragic story of Ww1

Over all i enjoyed the book, learned about a brave young man who died heroically, but it was one small tragedy in a time full of tragedy. A life never got to be completely fulfilled. Now main complaints are the way the narrator said some fo the names annoyed me. Then when every lime about a pilot dying was something about them flying off into the sunset

Loved it

Great story filled with history. Felt like I was there in the action A great job of narrating

Details of the life of a World War I aviator

This book gives details of Frank Luke’s early life, his training, and his actions in France. It gives interesting details of combat tactics, such as destroying observation balloons. The author describes the sources he used, which shows that he was trying to be as truthful as possible. Some things seemed a bit romanticized, such as conjectures about what Luke thought and said.

Terror of the Autumn skies

Very well researched, I like all the facts the back ground of Luke's strengths and weaknesses and his single mindedness to finish what he started to do.

Great story of an amazing pilot!

As an native of Arizona I was aware of Luke and his deeds from WW1. This book really fleshed out the man and gave proper attention to his life and exploits.

History

Lone Wolves usually get themselves or their friends killed. Are they brave or foolish. The people that disobey orders get to be infamous at others expense. You can decide.

Fine research held back by unpolished writing

Highly sympathetic bio, written in an unpolished style that adds to the overarching “aw shucks” feel of the book. Many imaginary conversations are inserted, giving the feel of a work of fiction. However, the author pulls from numerous sources to provide background info on his subject. Access to German war records lends humanity to the enemy.

The author analyzes and compares multiple versions of Luke’s life as presented in various sources written over many years, discrediting those that have been embellished into fiction. Despite his thorough sourcing efforts, the author’s writing includes errors of terminology, grammar, and usage. In short, fine research is held back by unpolished writing. And he stretches the metaphor of dead pilots “flying west” much farther than needed.

Reader frequently has trouble with pronunciation — for example, in WWI Germans were referred to as “bosch,” the French word for cows, which is pronounced “bahsh,” not “boosh.” Additionally, he has the annoying habit of assuming contrived accents for every quotation cited. Finally, it’s very slow reading — suggest speed 1.4 or higher.

Many thanks to Audible for making this volume available free of charge.