Gold Bars and Silver Wings

About the Book

After graduating at the top of his class in Advanced Flight Training from the Stuttgart Army Field, with the gold bars of a 2nd Lieutenant and the silver wings of an Air Corps Pilot, Peter also earned the coveted prize of immediate assignment to an England-based A-26 Squadron of twin-engine, low-level attack bombers. He would soon be aiding his infantry-officer brother who had just landed on D-Day and was inching his way toward France.

He furloughed home to the proud stares of family, of friends, and most importantly, of his all-loving Lillian. They reinforced, intensified and severly tested their ardent passions. His hazardous immediate future stifled any discussions pertaining to engagement and /or marriage at that time.

On returning to Stuttgart for his orders, he received a desperate note from the Cadet Hostess entreating him to escort her daughter to he Debutante Cotillion. Although that social scene was foreign to him, he accepted reluctantly, and confounded all with his dancing skills. Some of his partners harbored, envisioned, and contrived lustful intentions and designs for a subsequent amorous encounter. His overseas departure negated further licentious forays.

Depsite the absence of any preparation, Peter, after many delays and disappointments, flew bombing missions over Germany. On a raid to Berlin, his B-17 suffered serious damage from enemy flak. With two engines out and injured aboard, he tenaciously willed his way out of Germany and across France, losing altitude precipitously. He stared at the approaching, and threatening, and beckoning icy waves of the frigid English Channel and the towering and seemingly insurmountable heights of the White Cliffs of Dover and wondered his fate.

About the Author

David J. Farrell was born in Arlington, raised in Watertown and entered Harvard in 1941. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, as a Freshman, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps but because of the lack of planes, airfields and instructors he did not start training for a full year - until midway through his Sopomore year. He graduated from Pilot training on D-Day and asked for imediate overseas assignment because his brother was in the Invasion. He was destined to fly the new A-26 low-level twin-engine bomber but those orders were rescinded and he, after many delays, became a B-17 Pilot and flew missions over Germany.

He returned to Harvard in 1946 and played football, hockey and baseball. He entered the Harvard School of Dental Medicine from which he graduated in 1951. He joined the Faculty and eventually became Associate Professor and Head of Prosthodontics. He authored several professional articles.

He was elected President of the Massachusetts Dental Society.

He establshed a practice in Weston where he lived for fifty years. He married his ninth grade dancing school partner and classmate. They were blessed with four beautiful children, David Jr., Dorothy, James and John, now but three. To contemplate the loss of James is inconceivable. To suffer such a tragedy is inconsolable.

Since his retirement he has written three novels:

"A Guardian Angel's Resurrection"
"Obsessive Compassion"
"Gold Bars and Silver Wings"