On Blazing Wings

Hubbard's thoroughly researched adventure, inspired by the 1939 Winter War between Finland and Russia, was originally published in the May 1940 issue of Five-Novels Monthly. As a testament to its historical worth, it was translated and reprinted 14 years later for distribution in the Nordic world. David Duane is an American ace pilot fighting for the Democratic People's Government of Finland when he takes down a squadron of Russian bombers he sees in the clouds. There, he discovers a mythical land of war heroes, Puhjola, where he is reunited with members of his air team who died in action as well as the Soviets he just shot down, and ultimately faces the challenge of changing his destiny. R.F. Daley narrates while John Mariano, Phil Proctor, Bob Caso, Kelly Ward, and Christina Huntington voice the 23-character cast. Hubbard's love of storytelling comes through clearly here, and though the protagonist's G.I. Joe-like Americanism may not appeal to all listeners, the sound effects—e.g., the "clanking and wheezing" of bomber engines revving up for an impending suicide mission—greatly enhance the weight of this thoughtful tale.