Daughter of the Air: The Brief Soaring Life of Cornelia Fort

This book brings the '30s and '40s to life, as only a handful of other authors have done. And what a story! A remarkable woman, who found herself IN THE AIR at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese launched their surprise attack... as a flight instructor, with a student pilot at the controls. There is so much more to this story, though-- how a woman in the '40s became a pro in what was a "man's profession"-- aviation. For those who have studied WWII, this book fleshes out the era with a personal testimony to the courage and commitment of America's unsung heros, the WAFS. And I'm not ashamed to admit that I cried like a baby when I read about Cornelia's death.

Cornelia Fort overcame all the barriers that were put in her way growing up female to be a pilot. Cornelia was flying trainers the day Pearl Harbor was attacked and was luckey to survive/ When the US government allowed women to fly Cornelia was there and gave her life for her country. The story of a short life and a woman who had the courage to live her dreams.

I'm from Nashville and I had no idea who Cornelia Fort was. The neighborhood I grew up in is practically on the land the family estate used to sit on, yet I had never heard of her. We didn't learn about her in school. I first learned of her existence on a public radio program here in Nashville that was interviewing Rob Simbeck. I was enthralled. I had to read this book. And I was not disappointed. What a fabulous role model for young women today. She never believed that being a woman prevented her from doing anything she desired- even if this meant bucking the rules of society. I can only hope that the memory of Cornelia's life lives on and inspires generations of young women for many years to come.I had to opportunity to meet Mr. Simbeck a few weeks ago at a book signing. In our conversation, he told me what was involved in writing this book; the research, the documentation. You can rest assured that it is as accurate a piece of history as can be painted fifty years after the death of Cornelia Fort. Her life could easily have been sensationalized. He chose to stick with the truth as he knew it.

Simbeck has gathered all the facts--people, places, events--and presented them in a masterfully told story. The life of Cornelia Fort would make excellent fiction. The author has chosen to portray her in a clear, honest way which both draws her near, and amplifies the larger-than-life experiences that were hers.Required reading for historians, feminists and pilots. A joy for everyone.