An insider’s examination of the aviation side of 9/11/2001: Lynn Spencer’s meticulously researched story of the commercial airline crews, FAA controllers, NORAD commanders and controllers, and military fighter pilots who were actors in the drama that day. Fascinating, even if you don’t know a lot about aviation. Finally, I got to the root of the rumor flying around fighter pilot circles on 9/11, that a USAF F-16 pilot had shot down American Airlines Flight 93 over Pennsylvania. ( )

Gripping account of events in the air and in the military and air traffic control on 9/11 by an author who is also a commercial pilot. Based on interviews, correspondence with participants and transcripts.

The book gives a clear account of what was happening, when, where, and to whom; and shows the confusion and communication problems that hampered responses. Covers what might have turned into a 5th hijacking (United 23) and sheds light on how airlines track and communicate with their planes through ACARS.

Differs from 9/11 Commission Report in stating that UA93 could have been intercepted if it had not crashed, and clears up rumours about missiles supposedly "missing" from the (unarmed) fighter sent to intercept it.

Complements other 9/11narratives that cover the Pentagon and World Trade Center attacks. ( )

Gripping and very interesting perspective. ( )

Riveting book - I was hooked by the first few pages. Much of it was written in the present tense (he does this, he is that) which is not good literary style generally, BUT it worked for this book. Kept me on the edge of my seat, cover to cover. It also enlightens with information about that day that you just don't hear about. Excellent all around - highly recommended. ( )

Touching History, The Untold Story of the Drama That Unfolded in the Skies over America on 9/11 by Lynn Spencer is a dizzying array of facts and flashbacks that Spencer has painstakingly researched to present a view of 9/11, the few hours of terror and uncertainty that hit this country like a sucker punch. It contains many instances of close calls, heroism, so-called grunts stepping up to the plate and taking charge and responsibility for the defense of the United States.
The decisions to stop all air traffic over the country, the checking of each and every flight in the air, down to refueling of the few fighter planes that were available to patrol the skies over NYC and WDC, the very decisions to send those fighters out, to take personnel that wasn't even actually cleared to go and send them....all this was managed by men that were skating on the edge and sometimes over stepping the "bounds" of their responsibility.
There is something I'd like to quote from the Epilogue that sums up their heroism.
Quote:
"None of these operations are the result of orders from a central authority; they have been improvised due to the initiative and courage shown by so many individuals."

Now it would be too easy to blame the President et als for this, it is hardly that simple. The system was simply not in place to deal with this new sort of terrorism. This was completely new to them, even when they started to understand, it was beyond their ken that someone would deliberately fly an airplane into a building. They thought in terms of was the airport they were sort of headed towards appropriate for a landing.
The author is a commercial pilot herself and an instructor, so she is well aware of how things work.

Although this book is non-fiction it reads like an adventure story with all the threads crafted in such a way as to make exciting reading.
I highly recommend it. ( )