Vernon E. Beall

Eighteen-year old Army Air Corps cadet Johnson was determined to earn his wings in spite of doubting distractors. Flight Instructor, Vic Wood, worried this student carried deep problems into the cockpit of airplanes with unheard speeds and altitudes. Vic Wood had the responsibility to turn pimple-face boys into killing machines.

Max Heinzmann, holder of the Iron Cross with Swords, continues to rack up kills as he leads his squadron with latest Messchermitts. Max and Vic are no strangers. They met in skies over Afrika where Vic became an ace. Vic Wood used every opportunity to teach his protégé maneuvers not taught in regulation instruction manuals. He is determined to teach Bud all he could in the short time left. A cross-country landing at an Oklahoma Indian reservation changed Bud’s life.

Romana was Native American and the most beautiful girl Cadet Bud Johnson had ever seen. Any differences vanished when love bound the young couple. Bud was exposed to Native Culture and traditions, riding a spirited stallion across desert wastelands with the girl he wanted to be his wife. An uncertain future in Europe’s deadly skies only drew Bud and Romana closer. Romana gave Bud a small wood flute to play when they were parted promising wind would carry their private love songs.