Vanished Hero: The Life, War and Mysterious Disappearance of America’s WWII Strafing King
Jay A. Stout
Oct 2017 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Joe Barrett
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9 hr 56 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
A hell-bent-for-leather fighter pilot, Elwyn G. Righetti remains one of the most unknown, yet compelling, colorful, and controversial commanders of World War II. Arriving late to the war, he led the England-based 55th Fighter Group against the Nazis during the closing months of the fight with a no-holds-barred aggressiveness that transformed the group from a middling organization of no reputation into a headline-grabbing team that had to make excuses to no one. Indeed, Righetti's boldness paid off as he quickly achieved ace status and additionally scored more strafing victories-twenty-seven-than any other Eighth Air Force pilot. However, success came at a high cost in men and machines. Some of Righetti's pilots resented him as a Johnny-come-lately intent on winning a sack of medals at their expense. But most lauded their spirited new commander and his sledgehammer audacity. Indeed, he made his men most famous for "loco busting," as they put more than six hundred enemy locomotives out of commission-170-in just two days! Ultimately, Righetti's calculated recklessness ran full speed into the odds. His aircraft was hit while strafing an enemy airfield only four days before the 55th flew its last mission.
About the author
Jay A. Stout is a retired Marine Corps fighter pilot. His writing has been published in professional journals and national newspapers, and he has made many appearances as a combat aviation expert on news networks such as Fox, Al Jazeera, and National Public Radio.
Joe Barrett has been a working stage, screen, and recording booth actor since 1974 and an award-winning and eight-time Audie Award-nominated audiobook narrator since 1999. He also practiced law for five years-but don't hold that against him. Joe is married to actress Andrea Wright, and together they have four children.
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