Fightin' Air Force #7

Major Tim O'Keefe is a decorated fighter pilot whose chronic foot problems—earned during a brutal escape from occupied Europe—have become the stuff of squadron legend, but when his plane is shot down over Burma, he discovers that staying off his feet might be the least of his challenges. Stranded behind enemy lines, O'Keefe teams up with local guerrillas to strike back at a Japanese airfield, proving that a pilot's real mettle shows on the ground as well as in the sky. It's a tale of grit, improvisation, and one soldier's refusal to let anything—not even his own aching feet—stand in the way of the mission.

Three Air Force pilots famous for their flashy air show routines—the Silver Bullets—volunteer for combat duty in Korea, only to find themselves under intense scrutiny from fellow pilots who doubt their combat mettle. As Major Hall and his teammates learn enemy tactics through cautious missions, mounting pressure and a string of missed opportunities test whether their showboating skills can translate into real results when it counts.

When a U.S. bomber is hit and forced down over Austrian territory, the crew—led by the captain and including Peters and Joe—bail out near Vienna and must evade German forces determined to capture them. Using wits, the evasion manual, and a daring escape through the bombed-out streets, the airmen link up with locals who arrange a dangerous midnight pickup. With German soldiers closing in and a rescue plane incoming, it becomes a race against time to get airborne before the enemy springs their trap.

On August 17, 1942, twelve B-17 bombers undertake America's first daylight precision bombing raid over occupied France, a risky gamble that could prove daylight bombing is viable—or fail like attempts before it. Told through the eyes of a pilot, a gunner, and a German commander scrambling to respond, "The First One!" captures the tension, confusion, and unexpected success of a mission that would reshape air warfare. All twelve planes return home, proving the concept works and setting the stage for everything that follows.