Having achieved his childhood dream of learning to fly, Wayne K. Blickenstaff set aside his wings and turned his artistic talent and love of adventure strip illustrations into a successful career as an advertising, editorial and book illustrator. He later became a teacher and art director. People gravitated to him because of his calm demeanor, great listening skills and insight. In 1989 Blick and his wife moved from Connecticut to North Carolina to be closer to family and spend time at their beloved summer home in the Blue Ridge Mountains. During retirement he pursued his interest in writing and this book was his passion project. Thanks to his friend and editor, Graham Cross, his dream to have it published has finally been realized.
Graham Cross earned his doctorate in History from the University of Cambridge, and he specializes in twentieth century American military, diplomatic and political history and particularly the era of the two World Wars, the Allied air campaign and the presidency of Franklin D. Roosevelt. He has taught American history at Cambridge, University College Dublin, the University of Glasgow and Manchester Metropolitan University. He is a respected expert on the history of the 8th Air Force and for thirty-five years has been the historian and UK contact for the 353rd Fighter Group. He wrote what many consider to be the definitive fighter group history – Jonah’s Feet Are Dry-The Experience of the 353rd Fighter Group During WWII (2001). He currently lives in Ely, Cambridgeshire with his wife Susan and two children.
