EXCEPTIONAL WRITING AND STORYTELLING: With deft character sketches and sharply-written accounts of the pioneers and innovators of the airplane, Wings of War draws on the history of aviation itself, placing the Mustang within the context of flight and the use of aircraft in warfare.

INCREDIBLE RESEARCH: The book is based on an enormous wealth of primary sources, offering new details and some surprising revelations of greed and corruption within the ranks of the US Army Air Forces. The result is a work that will break new ground in our understanding of the Mustang and the Allied air war.

BELOVED AIRCRAFT: More than 75 years after their debut, P-51 Mustangs are a common sight at air shows across the country, and they are sought after by collectors. Mustangs adorn T-shirts and coffee mugs, are popular with model builders, are featured in flight simulators, and can be found all over the globe. 

A RARE UNTOLD STORY FROM WWII: Countless titles are available on the Mustang—picture books, reference guides, mechanical manuals, pilots’ memoirs and more—but no book has yet told how the plane came to be, and how it conquered the skies and changed the course of the war.

David Fairbank White studied history at Harvard and worked as a reporter for The New York Times. He has written for national magazines including Fortune, New York, Parade and Reader’s Digest. Margaret Stanback White received her BA from Harvard and did graduate work in public health at Yale. Following a long career as a research scientist, she began to freelance as a researcher and editor on nonfiction book projects about scientific breakthroughs and how they have changed the course of history. 

Author Residence: New York City

“Most histories of the P-51 are combat histories, focusing on the plane and its pilots in action. The author delivers that but also delves deeply into the fighter’s rocky origins and the struggle to bring the plane to production. The story of Edgar Schmued, the man who designed the P-51 and the later F-86, is fascinating and enriches the understanding of his creation. The tales of many others who brought Schmued’s dream to fruition are also revealed in detail.”—WWII History Magazine

“To read about the incredible drama and triumphs of the war is just so gratifying that the new books keep coming. This one is a welcome addition to the field…For the reader seeking a good introduction to the bomber war and its key players, Wings of War is a good place to start.”—Washington Free Beacon

“This book is great for aviation, war and history buffs – as well as those who enjoy learning about all subjects. Wings of War is a passion book that was highly researched by its authors…. The Harvard graduates work as researchers, using their skills to bring this new title to life.”—We Are the Mighty, best military history books of 2022

“Wings of War soars, with its concise and engrossing history of the development and deployment of a pivotal plane, an aircraft that would change the outcome of WWII. Authors David Fairbank White and Margaret Stanback White portray the action that played out in the air and behind the scenes, making for a terrifically intriguing book.”—Booklist

“The authors enrich the technical details with vivid character sketches and dramatic accounts of the Battle of the Bulge…and other campaigns. Aviation buffs will cheer this high-flying saga.”—Publishers Weekly

“These profiles provide new insight and human interest around the development of the iconic Mustang.”—Library Journal

“At a critical moment in World War II, the Allies developed a fast and futuristic warplane known as the P-51 Mustang. In this fascinating book about passion and innovation, David Fairbank White and Margaret Stanback White tell the story of the visionary designer who created it and how the Mustang turned the air war and paved the way for D-Day.”—Walter Isaacson, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Code Breaker and The Innovators

“David and Margaret White are gifted story tellers, intrepid reporters, and tireless detectives who find both clues and insights in archives and frayed documents. In telling the story of a fighter plane and its champions, Wings of War also sheds important light on how the allies prevailed in World War II and saved the democratic world. It’s an essential book for those who appreciate tales of military bravery, and also for all seeking understanding of decision-making under pressure. A major contribution.”—E. J. Dionne Jr., New York Times bestselling author of Our Divided Political Heart

“In stirring fashion, David Fairbank White and Margaret Stanback White shine a light on a little-known weapon that helped win the war, the P-51B Mustang fighter, and on three bold individuals who contributed to the plane’s success. The authors bring to life the key personnel, decisions, and obstacles that shaped the transformation of the Mustang from conception to wartime reality. This is a must read for those interested in a behind-the-scenes examination of a decisive military weapon.”—John Wukovits, author of Dogfight Over Tokyo and Black Sheep: The Life of Pappy Boyington