Author Richard DuRose is known as 'The Inside Authority On The Golden Age Of Aviation’ for good reason. His aunt, Mildred Doran, was one of the United States' first female aviators. He related her story in 'Shooting Star, The First Woman To Attempt To Reach Hawaii By Air'. His latest work, '1927: A Brilliant Year In Aviation', brings the personalities responsible for the worldwide explosion in aviation back to life.
"Like everyone," DuRose stated, "I knew of Charles Lindbergh’s flight to Paris. And then, when I researched the story of my Aunt Mildred Doran, I learned of the Dole Race bound for Honolulu eleven weeks after Lindbergh’s triumph. But, I could not help but notice the persistent news accounts of the other aviators who in that same year, 1927, attempted to emulate Lindbergh’s success. I was struck first by how reckless some were as well as their bravery. Then, when I really dug in, the colorful personalities of the fliers jumped off the page. There were twenty some successful flights, but more were tragic failures. But, over and above the historical significance of the flights of 1927, the behind the scenes accounts in this book will fascinate any reader, whether or not they are a student of aviation history. This book will refresh everyone’s understanding of the most important year in the Golden Age of Aviation."
DuRose presents a stellar cast of brave and ambitious adventurers. They include Charles Nungesser, the WWI flying ace who painted a coffin on his plane and called himself the 'Knight of Death'; Dick Grace, the broken-neck pilot who crashed airplanes for a living; Ruth Elder, a beautiful Hollywood starlet; Richard Byrd, the explorer; Anne of Lowenstein-Wertheim-Freudenberg, a 63 year old princess; Charles Levine, the millionaire 'junkman' and many more.
DuRose's aunt, Mildred Doran, then a young schoolteacher, entered the Dole Transpacific Air Race in 1927, organized to start only 11 weeks after Charles Lindbergh’s flight to Paris. Of the 8 planes lined up for the race, only two made it to Hawaii. Mildred and her plane were mysteriously lost and, similar to Amelia Earhart’s fate, no trace of her or her plane was ever located. DuRose first became familiar with the story when he inherited a box of pictures, news clippings and other memorabilia from his mother who was Mildred’s little sister. That box sent DuRose on a three-year quest into the history of aviation and resulted in a 2011 article in Smithsonian’s Air & Space magazine.
“I wrote the first book,” stated Mr. DuRose, “as there was an immediate response to the article with many readers saying they wanted to know more. That gave me the impetus to write 'Shooting Star' because so many urged me to do so. I believe readers interested in aviation history will really enjoy '1927'.”
In a recent review, Don Blair, retired NBC Radio Network newscaster and author of 'Splashdown, NASA, the Navy and Spaceflight Recovery' stated, "In that year of 1927 exactly 27 aviators lost their lives while trying to get themselves into aviation’s suddenly growing record books. As DuRose points out the public simply could not get enough of these daredevils and newspapers eagerly captured and reported on every one of those attempts. The bottom line? You will read about each and every one of those flights in DuRose’s 277 page paperback and be able to amaze your friends while citing the names of aviators they probably never heard of just like yourself before you got your copy of the book. As it is written on the back cover. This book brings those courageous and sometimes foolish aviators back to life. A very worthwhile read."
Richard DuRose is available for media interviews and can be reached using the information below, or by email at rdurose@morrisbb.net. Both books are available at Amazon.com. More information is available at Mr. DuRose’s website at www.RichardDuRose.com.
Profile:
Richard DuRose lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina with his wife Nancy, where he retired after a career as a corporate trial lawyer.
The bulk of his career was spent with Foley & Lardner, a nation-wide law firm. DuRose specialized in employment law, and handled cases in 37 of the 50 states. He was named as one of the Best Lawyers in America under labor and employment law, and chosen for mention in Who’s Who in American Law.
Contact:
Richard DuRose
www.RichardDuRose.com
rdurose@morrisbb.net
828 595 4770
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