Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales [Paperback]

William Jackson Barnard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 23, 2004

Bill Barnard lived many of the great events of the 20th century. At 17, he joined the Depression navy. He sailed to Japanese-occupied China and saw, heard, smelled, tasted, and felt more than many do in a lifetime. Later, he was under the Hindenburg when it exploded. He flew 11,000 hours in every kind of plane, in combat and foul weather, and never bent a wingtip. A "mustang", Bill was one of only 15 enlisted pilots to ever earn a Captain's eagle wings. He met Presidents, aviation pioneers, astronauts, and movie stars in his 40-year aviation career.

Product Details

• Paperback: 354 pages
• Publisher: Business Advisors Press (September 23, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972248137
• ISBN-13: 978-0972248136
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,687,693 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales, June 20, 2003

By 

charles p. moore (Ormond Beach, Fl. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales (Paperback)

Don't stop until you have read this book, written by a truly talented and savvy Navy veteran of 24 years. The incidents of his childhood and career in the Navy are so well selected and artfully drawn that the reader is kept in a state of continued anticipation, awaiting the unfolding of more of the life events. The true life story chronicles the remarkable chapters of Captain Barnard's life and we are in his debt for sharing them with us. A must read for all and a great example for our youth, as well.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Navy Mustang, December 4, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales (Paperback)

This is a great book, of the shaping of a young man in the 1920's South and the changing U.S. Navy of the 1930's and 1940's. Bill has a remarkable memory and delivers a rich account of the everyday events that molded many of our fathers. His stories of growing up, in familar vocabulary and youthful excitement, are strikingly similar to the stories my own father told but never wrote down. His description of the U.S. Navy of the 30's and 40's was through the eyes of the ever optimistic and overly self-confident young sailor. The book is a colorful description of the service force ships, the support squadrons, and the search aircraft of a changing Navy.
It is a delight to read and offers a very positive,humorous and personal perspective of the changing Navy from the "boot" seaman, the pilot, and the squadron commanding Officer.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The record of a truly fascinating life, November 6, 2002

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales (Paperback)

Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales by William Jackson Barnard (as told to Julia Barnard Nelms and David Nelms) is the instantly engaging and personal memoir of distinguished American aviator who served in World War II, earned the rank of Navy captain, and crossed paths with great figures such as Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, Gary Cooper, and Jacqueline Cochran. A tribute to a devoted aviator, both in the military and in civilian life, Eagle Wings and Mustang Tales is the record of a truly fascinating life and a much appreciated contribution to the growing library of World War II era eye-witness autobiographies and memoirs.