About the Author: As a boy in Kentucky, Harold dreamed of becoming a fighter pilot. At age 18 he enlisted in the US Army Air Force during WWII and flew several bombing missions over Germany as a waist gunner on a B-24 named "Wandering Wanda.

" He finished his tour by driving an Army truck over war-strewn Europe. He returned to the States and went to college on the GI Bill.

He answered his country's call for pilots during the Korean War and entered Jet Fighter Pilot Training in Chandler, Arizona. He was voted "Best All Around Cadet" for the Class of 1951 G.

In his subsequent jet flying career, he flew several early jet airplanes, including the F-86 and F-100 in over 40 countries. His unshakeable confidence allowed him to face every contingency or emergency, including engine flame-outs, tornadoes, sandstorms, icing, instrument malfunction, and even propellors flying off engines.

He never failed to rise to the occasion. About the Editor: Harold G.

Speer, Jr. lives in Nashville, Tennessee with his wife Grace.

He enjoys history and loves to travel. As a young child he lived with his family on several Air Force bases across the states.

As an adult, he attended several 8th Air Force Reunions with his father while he was still alive. His research for his dad's memoir took him to many places, including Eastern Kentucky, Southwest Virginia, and the American Air Museum in Duxford, England.

Harold Jr. loved his father's eternal optimism and feels honored to be able to bring his memoir to print.

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