How does a backwoods, lowly enlisted mechanic become a WWll, P-51, ace fighter pilot ? I wrote Tippy as a tribute to a Master Gunnery Sergeant that I had the pleasure and honor to have served with while in the Marines. I remember as a young Marine transferring home from overseas. I had received orders to report to Hams-37, a DC-3 (C-47-military distinction) transport squadron at El Toro Air Base. I was awaiting my discharge from my enlistment. This is where I met Master Gunnery Sergeant, Charles Walker Tippie. Man was he a salty old marine. A fair guy, but let's just say, seasoned. I flew a few times as his mechanic, crew chief. Boy, did he have some stories. Some may have been "Fairy Tales," some the "God's Honest Truth." You can never tell with the Marines. I was told early on in my Marine career, there are only two types of fairy tales told in the Corps; one begins with, "Once upon a time..." the other, "This is no Shite!" Whatever the truth may have been, I wrote "Tippy" as a tribute, as I imagined this Flying Marine Sergeant may have been in WWll. None of my characters in the book exist in real life. They are composites of the REAL HEROS, the men who flew into battle everyday! They crammed there bodies into tiny aircraft, and then hurled themselves across the skies, to protect America. Let me just tell you here and now. War sucks! It's much better to "Pass the bread, than the Ammo!" But, my lord, you have got to hand it to these souls! This is a personal "Thank-You" to these brave folks! NEWS HEADLINE - 1942 Enlisted Men Become Fighter Pilots! (Eleven become Generals) Only Officers that were commissioned were supposed to be Pilots. But despite some discrimination from a few officers, over 2,575 enlisted men are officially, "In the books!" as pilots. These men flew under the banner of "Sergeant Pilots." Chuck Yeager, Carroll Shelby, and Walter Beech all started out as enlisted men. These heroes are now lovingly referred to as, "Flying Peons." Authors' Note: I actually had the honor, to serve in the Marines, for a short time, on a tail dragging, DC-3 style aircraft as a crew chief for the real enlisted pilot, Charles W. Tippie (Distinguished Flying Cross!) out of El Toro Marine Base. This book, although fictional, is dedicated to "All" the real men and women who served, who stood up, either in or out of Military service. "Thank-You for your service," just does not seem to convey what's really in our hearts! But, it's a start! So, Semper Fidelis to all of you! Michael G. Uva (Former; USMC Staff Sergeant) Last Note: Lets' keep alive the histories of these enlisted Sergeant Pilots, who served bravely between 1912 and 1945. This is the illusory story of just a few of those unsung heroes. One in particular, Tippy! ORDER YOUR BOOK TODAY!