Synopsis
As a young naval aviator, Dusty Rhodes was shot down by the Japanese on his first combat mission in World War II. Toughing out the rest of the war in POW camps, he wondered if he would ever fly again. But Rhodes was destined to take flying to new heights.
As only the third fighter pilot to become leader of the Blue Angels, Raleigh E. "Dusty" Rhodes participated in developing the most famous aerobatics team ever formed. From POW to Blue Angel tells his story - a fast-paced drama teeming with action and human interest and capturing the initiative and tenacity of a true American hero.
Jim Armstrong has drawn on extensive interviews with Dusty and his closest colleagues, as well as Dusty's scrapbooks, flight logs, and prison journal, to produce a rare account of the Blue Angels in the late 1940s. Readers will experience the stress of practice and the exhilaration of air shows as Armstrong takes them inside Dusty's cockpit during the team's early years. This was the era when the Blues first found fame, perfecting their trademark diamond formation and barrel roll, as well as transitioning from prop planes to jet aircraft.
This book is also a moving account of the brutality Rhodes suffered for three years as a prisoner of war - the beatings, the interrogations, the forced labor - and includes his rare, ground observer's view of the firebombings of Tokyo and Yokohama.
Armstrong captures Dusty's exhilaration and uncertainty in returning to a changed postwar America, and also recounts how Rhodes followed his Blue Angels command with a tour as a fighter pilot in Korea.
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About the Author
Jim Armstrong is Professor Emeritus of English at Fullerton College, Fullerton, California.
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
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Seller: HPB-Diamond, Dallas, TX, U.S.A.
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hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Connecting readers with great books since 1972! Used books may not include companion materials, and may have some shelf wear or limited writing. We ship orders daily and Customer Service is our top priority! Seller Inventory # S_461639564
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. No Jacket. May have limited writing in cover pages. Pages are unmarked. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0806137649I4N00
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Seller: ThriftBooks-Atlanta, AUSTELL, GA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Former library book; Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ~ ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. Seller Inventory # G0806137649I5N11
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Signed
Seller: Once Read Books, Long Beach, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Good. *AUTOGRAPHED/SIGNED* by Jim Armstrong on title page addressed to Joe with personalized message. GOOD/GOOD. Black photo illustrated dust jacket, dust jacket in archival plastic protector. Approx. 9" x 6". 297pp. Bumps/chips to edges and corners. Rub wear, dust markings and light scratches to covers. Creases to spine edges. Closed tear to bottom right corner of cover. Once Read Books, cover scan available - just ask, OnceReadBooks com Orders shipped via USPS. Signed. Seller Inventory # 329587
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, Norman, Oklahoma, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Seller: The Bookworm, Oroville, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardbound. Condition: Very Good. 1st Printing. Description: Includes a few black and white photo illustrations. ''As a young naval aviator, Dusty Rhodes was shot down by the Japanese on his first combat mission in World War II. Toughing it out for the rest of the war in POW camps, Rhodes wondered if he would ever fly again. As only the third fighter pilot to become leader of the Blue Angels, Rhodes participated in developing the most famous aerobatics team ever formed. The author has drawn on extensive interviews with Dusty and his closest colleagues, as well as Dusty's scrapbooks, flight logs, and prison journal to produce this account of the Blue Angels in the 1940s. The author takes you inside Dusty's cockpit during the team's early years. This was the era when the Blues first found fame, perfecting their trademark diamond formation and barrel roll as well as transitioning from prop planes to jet aircraft.'' BINDING/CONDITION: blue binding with cark navy cloth at the spine; a Very Good book, with a Near Fine dust jacket. 8vo (about 9.25 inches tall). 297 pages. Seller Inventory # 068923
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Seller: Book Alley, Pasadena, CA, U.S.A.
Seller rating 4 out of 5 stars
hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. A very good hardcover in a very good mylar wrapped dust jacket. No markings. Seller Inventory # mon0000735311
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Seller: World of Books (was SecondSale), Montgomery, IL, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Condition: Good. Item in good condition. Textbooks may not include supplemental items i.e. CDs, access codes etc. Seller Inventory # 00067550891
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, Norman Oklahoma, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
First Edition
Seller: Whiting Books, Fulshear, TX, U.S.A.
Seller rating 5 out of 5 stars
Hardcover. Condition: Near Fine. Dust Jacket Condition: Near Fine. First Edition. 297 pages with Glossary and Sources. Black and white photos. Foreword by Roy M. "Butch" Voris. From the publisher: "As a young naval aviator, Dusty Rhodes was shot down by the Japanese on his first combat mission in World War II. Toughing out the rest of the war in POW camps, he wondered if he would ever fly again. But Rhodes was destined to take flying to new heights." "As a leader of the Blue Angels, Raleigh E. "Dusty" Rhodes participated in developing the most famous aerobatics team ever formed. Jim Armstrong draws on interviews with Dusty and his colleagues, Dusty's scrapbooks, flight logs, and prison journal, to produce a rare account of the Blue Angels in the late 1940s--when the Blues perfected their trademark diamond formation and barrel roll and transitioned from prop planes to jet aircraft. The moving account of the brutality Rhodes suffered for three years as a prisoner of war includes his rare, ground observer's view of the firebombings of Tokyo and Yokohama. Armstrong also captures Dusty's uncertainty in returning to postwar America, and recounts his tour as a fighter pilot in Korea. A testament to one man's indomitable optimism, courage, and achievements, From POW to Blue Angel will carve a place in aviation history and inspire all to keep their eyes skyward". Seller Inventory # 10631
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
Used
Hardcover
Signed
Seller: Books From California, Simi Valley, CA, U.S.A.
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hardcover. Condition: Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Includes dust jacket. Signed. Inscribed by author on the first preliminary page! Book & dust jacket show minor shelf and handling wear. Pages are clean, text and pictures are intact and unmarred. Seller Inventory # mon0003951463
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From POW to Blue Angel: The Story of Commander Dusty Rhodes
Published by
University of Oklahoma Press, 2006
ISBN 10: 0806137649
ISBN 13: 9780806137643
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