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Rare Bird: Hispanic Military Pilots of the U.S.A.
They may have been Rare but they were There, serving in every Theater of Operations.
In a society that did not always welcome Hispanics, these men persevered. Becoming a military pilot was not easy. One had to be a cut above the average person. College was a must although this requirement had been dropped during the Second World War. And then, only those who were able to pass the stringent physical and mental tests were allowed to begin flight school and subsequently endure a year or more of a stressful training process that would eliminate some of the students. Those who succeeded received their wings and joined a fraternity of aviators that served the country admirably in peacetime and war.
Included here are the stories of 101 of these pilots, from a list of over 300 who have served in the U.S. military since the early days of aviation. One of those pilots featured here is quite famous in the sports world: Ted Williams, considered to be one of the greatest players in major league baseball history.
In a society that did not always welcome Hispanics, these men persevered. Becoming a military pilot was not easy. One had to be a cut above the average person. College was a must although this requirement had been dropped during the Second World War. And then, only those who were able to pass the stringent physical and mental tests were allowed to begin flight school and subsequently endure a year or more of a stressful training process that would eliminate some of the students. Those who succeeded received their wings and joined a fraternity of aviators that served the country admirably in peacetime and war.
Included here are the stories of 101 of these pilots, from a list of over 300 who have served in the U.S. military since the early days of aviation. One of those pilots featured here is quite famous in the sports world: Ted Williams, considered to be one of the greatest players in major league baseball history.
233 pages, Paperback
Published November 13, 2020
3 people want to read
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June 21, 2022MWSA Review
As an Air Force veteran, I found this book to be a profound "joy of discovery," and it should be read by all Americans. Of these over 100 Hispanic military pilots, there are no less than eleven flag officers (generals or admirals), three astronauts, and eight aces. Also included is Colonel Cesar Rodriguez, a retired F-15 pilot who is one of three pilots, post-Vietnam, who achieved three aerial victories, where there have been no aces since that war. Because the book is written in a precise biographical style, it is possible to appreciate the great accomplishments of many of these pilots and realize the unspoken tragedy and sacrifice of many others who gave their lives in the defense of the United States. This is a great reference for military and aviation history applications.
Review by Terry Lloyd (June 2022)
As an Air Force veteran, I found this book to be a profound "joy of discovery," and it should be read by all Americans. Of these over 100 Hispanic military pilots, there are no less than eleven flag officers (generals or admirals), three astronauts, and eight aces. Also included is Colonel Cesar Rodriguez, a retired F-15 pilot who is one of three pilots, post-Vietnam, who achieved three aerial victories, where there have been no aces since that war. Because the book is written in a precise biographical style, it is possible to appreciate the great accomplishments of many of these pilots and realize the unspoken tragedy and sacrifice of many others who gave their lives in the defense of the United States. This is a great reference for military and aviation history applications.
Review by Terry Lloyd (June 2022)
Displaying 1 of 1 review