Nearly 100 illustrious fighter aces and test pilots have granted personal glimpses from their military careers to help create this tribute to America's patriotic and heroic fliers.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS - THE FINAL CHAPTER - TRUE STORIES FROM AMERICAN FIGHTER ACES illuminates what it took to fly and survive in hostile enemy skies and to test our new and unforgiving fighter aircraft.

When I first began compiling information, interviewing and corresponding with our legendary fighter pilots, there were about 600 of the original 1,473 fighter aces still with us.

It is now 2011 and only 10% of our American fighter aces are still living. I, and other military aviation enthusiasts are indeed fortunate that this book will again honor and tell the first person accounts of nearly 50% of these remarkable remaining fighter pilots. The goal of this book is to write the final chapter to this stunning legacy.

A great deal of our nation's rich military heritage is about to become extinct. In a very few years all our ace fighter pilots will be gone. The fact that our country is still free and speaking English instead of Japanese or German bears witness to their extraordinary deeds and courage.