He Wore a Pair of Silver Wings: The World War II Memoir of a Lightning Recon Pilot

From induction into the USAAF, through training and then into combat flying the F-5, the photo reconnaissance version of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Follis recounts his many experiences getting and wearing the coveted “silver wings” of a pilot—including being chased over the Alps by two Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters.

With photos of the author, his fellow pilots and the aircraft they flew.

Contents

Prelude

The Big Day Arrives and I’m Off to War—Almost

College Boy Again

An Aviation Cadet—At Last!

Into the Air

Flying the Vultee “Vibrator” and the “Bamboo Bomber”

The B-25—A Real Warbird

The Role of the Lockheed P-38 Lightning in Winning World War II and the Contribution of Aerial Photo Reconnaissance

Across the Atlantic in a Wartime Convoy

Going in Harm’s Way

I’ll Be Home for Christmas

Conclusion

Where Are They Now?

What Has Happened to the Various Military Bases?

220 6x9-inch pages, 38 photos, 1 map.