Dead Downwind: Ten Harrowing Days That Changed Aviation History

In 1924 . three years before Charles
Lindbergh makes his historic flight over the Atlantic - post WWI America is convinced she can do anything she puts her mind to. In the midst of the RoaringTwenties however, the boisterous nation's capitol is rocked by political infighting for the control of military aviation. The brash young army general Billy Mitchell is attempting to wrest air power
away from both the army and navy to
create an independent air force under his own command. To counter this move, the brilliant navy Rear Admiral William Moffett has challenged Hawaii-based
Commander John Rodgers with a deathdefying mission; one designed to sway the politicians and the public alike, to the navy's side. If Rodgers accepts, he will command three planes in a seemingly impossible mission; the first non-stop flight from San Francisco to Honolulu. This bold gamble could make or break the navy's bid for control of its own air power and unbeknownst to
Rodgers, Moffett has lined up a second publicity-grabbing stunt involving the world's largest dirigible.
In this gripping historic novel, follow
John Rodgers' spellbinding story to its
riveting conclusion as political intrigue, inter-service rivalries, engineering challenges and personal hurdles all conspire to doom the mission. Then, an anxious public is forced to hold its collective breath when one of the planes
is forced down in the middle of the vast Pacific Ocean and matters are made worse as the navy dirigible experiences serious trouble of her own. The dramatic aftermath will change the course of aviation history.

Bill Riddle has spent his entire adult life in Hawaii. An avid sailor, he has raced throughout the Hawaiian Islands, California, Mexico, and across the Pacific. He has hand-crafted wooden ship models, grandfather clocks, and
assorted furniture pieces, as well as an ultra-light airplane, which he has flown with some success. He enjoys all sports and can often be found on the golf links. Riddle is currently working on his second historically based novel.