Exploding Flying Myths (Signed)

Exploding Flying Myths by Major Walter J. Shaffer (self-published, 1968) is a striking aviation memoir that takes readers back to the early, daring days of flight when airplanes were still wood, wire and fabric.

Capturing Shaffer’s own journey—from his first tentative time aloft, through training in the French Air Force, to his combat experiences in World War I, wartime setbacks and captivity, and later flying adventures in barnstormers, airline service, and air transport during WWII—this 89-page volume blends firsthand adrenaline, historical detail, and sketches along with black-and-white photos to create a vivid portrait of a life ruled by the skies.

With personal anecdotes that span tail-spins, emergency landings, and pioneering instruments, Shaffer paints both the romance and trials of early aviation. This book will appeal to aviation buffs, pilot biographers, and anyone fascinated by the evolution of flight and the human courage involved in taking to the air.