ABOUT THE BOOK

In the dawn of aviation, taking to the skies was a perilous gamble—where a single breath separated triumph from tragedy. Countless pioneers lost their lives pursuing the dream of flight, their stories fading into obscurity—until now.

The product of twenty years of painstaking research, Soaring Skyward opens a rare window into Southern California’s rich aviation heritage, illuminating forgotten heroes and ground-breaking history.

INSIDE, YOU WILL DISCOVER:

• The Spark of “Aviation Fever”: How the legendary Dominguez Air Meets (1910–1913) ignited a local revolution, inspiring visionaries like Glenn Martin and Charles Day to build their own aircraft, and driving Long Beach’s first airman, Frank Champion, to train under Louis Blériot in London.

• Daring Women of the Skies: High-flying pioneers like Tiny and Ethel Broadwick, who parachuted when men deemed it too dangerous; Gladys O’Donnell, co-founder of the Women’s Air Derby; Barbara Erickson London, who led WWII ferrying pilots; and Dianna Bixby and Joan Merriam Smith, who risked everything to complete Amelia Earhart’s around-the-world dream.

• Courage Overcoming Bigotry: Unsung heroes who rose above discrimination—Henry Ohye, who launched his own inclusive air race after being imprisoned during WWII due to his Japanese ancestry; Tuskegee Airmen like Aaron Herrington, who shattered racial myths; and “Monty” Montejo, one of America’s first Hispanic aviators, who helped teach Amelia Earhart to fly.

• The Heart of Aviation: The rise of Long Beach Municipal Airport alongside the vibrant era of ballooning, barnstorming, air circuses, and hidden military sites.

Featured in the 2016 Emmy-nominated PBS documentary Sky Blue Sea, this well-documented tribute honors the brave souls who shaped the past—and future—of flight.

For more check out this video on the Sky Blue Sea.

DON’T MISS Claudine Burnett’s interview on early Long Beach aviation. ALSO HER C-Span interview.