Books
These are the books that I’ve written, in chronological order. To order an autographed hardcover or softcover copy of any book, please contact the author(s).
FORGOTTEN WIDOW
On January 6, 1945, a P-61 Black Widow night fighter crashed into the slopes of Mount Cyclops on the island of New Guinea. Forty years later, a team from the Mid Atlantic Air Museum set out to recover the wreckage and restore the rare aircraft to its original flying condition. This is their story.
The Mid Atlantic Air Museum was founded in 1980 under the direction of World War II veteran Gene Strine and his son, Russ. As experienced pilots, aircraft mechanics, and businessmen, the Strines were the perfect candidates to recover the Black Widow from Indonesia. Together, they would spend twelve years and thousands of man hours negotiating salvage rights and traveling halfway around the world to the remote jungle mountainside where the Black Widow lay. They risked everything to save this important piece of aviation history, negotiating difficult terrain, dangerous working conditions, and a maze of bureaucracy. But their gamble paid off, and in the end they emerged victorious.
Today, the museum proudly displays its collection of more than eighty aircraft at its facility in Reading, Pennsylvania. With the goal of restoring their planes to award-winning airworthy museum condition, the Strines work tirelessly. The P-61 Black Widow is nearing the end of its long restoration process, and will soon take to the skies once again. When it does, it will be the only known P-61 in the world to fly.
Forgotten Widow is available from the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum or by contacting the authors.
ORDINARY HEROES
Ordinary Heroes: Untold Stories of World War Two is an extraordinary account of one of history’s greatest conflicts: World War II. Told through the eyes of its participants, Ordinary Heroes is a compelling collection of true stories woven into a single narrative spanning the entire war. The result of more than sixty interviews, this is a story about enlisted men – ordinary men who grew up on farms and in small towns. When these men were called upon to serve their country, each one rose to the challenge and made the sacrifice for the greater good. They confronted and survived the horrors of war. They went to war to protect our nation. Serving on the ground, in the air, and on the sea, each in his own remarkable way. Each one ordinary. All of them heroes.
Ordinary Heroes is available worldwide. Ask for it at your local bookstore or order online in hardcover or softcover. Signed copies can be ordered by contacting the authors.
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RED WELLS
Sharon Wells Wagner makes her literary debut with the story of her father, Red Wells – a man who has seen hardship, joy, and adventure. Telling the tale through his eyes, she takes us on a remarkable journey from childhood through the Second World War and beyond. Growing up poor in small-town America, Red spends his days as a youth wandering the streets, hopping freight trains, and shuffling from home to home. But when he joins the Army, his life changes forever. From his early days training in the jungles of Panama to his battles in the war-torn streets of Belgium and France, Red learns the meaning of family from the men with whom he serves – the men of the 99th Infantry Battalion (Separate). The lessons he learns and the events he witnesses influence who he becomes, and he returns home a new man. Red Wells is more than a book. It is a true story – a legacy to an extraordinary man and his life’s journey.
Red Wells is available worldwide. Ask for it at your local bookstore or order it online in softcover. Signed copies can be ordered by contacting the author.
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