`Captures the drama of aerial combat in the Pacific as never before . . . A riveting account, by a master craftsman, of the exploits of the heroic Marine Corps airmen of World War II.' -Carlo D'Este, author of Eisenhower: A Soldier's Life `No one does oral history better than Gerald Astor,' -Stephen Ambrose, author of Band of Brothers *Superior history of Marine aviators during WWII *Told largely in their own words *Includes the daring exploits of the famous `Black Sheep' Squadron During World War II, the legions of Marine aviators grew rapidly, with assignment to assist the fleet landing forces. Semper Fi in the Air tells the story of these Marine aviators, largely in their own words, through use of oral histories and personal interviews by the author. Captain Henry`Baron' Elrod, while gallantly fighting the Japanese at Wake Island, was shot down. He joined the ground defenses and earned a posthumous Medal of Honor for his bravery in the futile, last ditch attempt to stave off the invaders. In the first stages of the Battle of Midway in June 1942, again in inferior planes, Marine pilots sought to repel attackers from the Japanese aircraft carriers. It was here that Marion Carl, a future ace, experienced combat for the first time. But it was at Guadalcanal that the Marine airmen really excelled. Outnumbered in the air, the Marines were shelled at night by Japanese warships. Surrounded by enemy snipers, beset by mud, ravaged by malaria and poor nutrition, they nevertheless battled the Japanese aircraft and struck at the Japanese ships. Here, Joe Foss who led the Corps, and Bob Galer, who was shot down three times; Marion Carl, John Smith, and Indian Joe Bauer, who scored an incredible total of fourteen kills in only four engagements, entered the pantheon of Marine heroes. From Guadalcanal, the Marine flyers would move island by island towards Japan, demolishing the enemy strongholds, furnishing tactical support to ground troops, even becoming a trusted weapon for the Army's Douglas MacArthur in the Philippines, before finally reaching Okinawa where they would battle the Kamikazes. Gerald Astor is the critically acclaimed military historian and author of Wings of Gold, Terrible Terry Allen, The Mighty Eighth, A Blood-Dimmed Tide, The Right to Fight, The Greatest War, and The Bloody Forest, among other titles. He lives near New York City.

The Story of Porsche is a compact and beautifully designed review of the iconic car manufacturer. From the alluring curves to the powerful engineering, Porsche has been synonymous with both luxury and race car manufacturing for more than 90 years. In The Story of Porsche, every component of the legendary brand's success is studied and celebrated, from turbulent beginnings to its ascent to the summit of car design and construction. Blending heritage with innovation and brand identity with creativity, Porsche has produced some of the most beloved models of sport and luxury car alike. From the timeless designs of the 911 and Carrera, to the dynamism of the 917, the fabled marque has instilled class and faultless engineering into each and every one of its creations. With 19 victories at Le Mans, Porsche has also proved itself to be as successful on the racetrack as it is on the streets; revered, respected and treasured in equal measure. These victories on both the podium and in the marketplace are rendered here in stunning detail through insightful text and exceptional photography. This is a story packed with blind corners and steep climbs, in a package that will sit perfectly on any Porsche fan's bookshelf.

Illustrated in full color. From the foreword: "This NASA Technical Publication explores and documents the nature of Space Shuttle operations and its supporting infrastructure in order to address fundamental questions often asked of the Space Shuttle Program-why does it take so long to turn the Space Shuttle around for flight and why does it cost so much? To accomplish this, the report provides an overview of the cause-and-effect relationships between generic flight and ground system design characteristics and resulting operations by using actual cumulative maintenance task times as a relative measure of direct work content. In addition, the paper provides an overview of how the Space Shuttle Program's operational infrastructure extends and accumulates from these design characteristics. Finally, learning from the experience of operating the Space Shuttle, the report derives a set of engineering and technology needs from which future space architects and technologists can revolutionize space travel from the inside out by developing and maturing more operable and supportable systems."

The Shelf2Life Trains & Railroads Collection provides a unique opportunity for researchers and railroad enthusiasts to easily access and explore pre-1923 titles focusing on the history, culture and experience of railroading. From the revolution of the steam engine to the thrill of early travel by rail, railroads opened up new opportunities for commerce, American westward expansion and travel. These books provide a unique view of the impact of this type of transportation on our urban and rural societies and cultures, while allowing the reader to share the experience of early railroading in a new and unique way. The Trains & Railroads Collection offers a valuable perspective on this important and fascinating aspect of modern industrialization.

Before frequent flyer miles, before the "Thunderbirds, " before Mission Control, there was trial and error. From the "Curtiss Pusher" to the space age, one eccentric man's biography serves as a microcosm for those adventuresome days of early aviation.