WESTERVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 29, 2009 — In conversation, we often forget that heroes forged in the crucible of war once began as ordinary people. In his new book, “The Vaulted Sky” (published by iUniverse), R.P. Moffa tells the historical tale of a young Italian-American from New York City who risked it all to pursue his love of flying to protect his country.
Patrick Montalto’s fascination with flying began when his father and a friend chipped in for a harmless airplane ride from a small grass airstrip in the Westchester Hills. A budding fascination catapults young Patrick into the harsh realities of chasing a dream during the Great Depression in this coming-of-age novel. As World War II engulfs Europe, Patrick finds himself recruited by a British operation, and facing the life-changing choice between his dreams of flying or getting a college education.
In choosing the former, he finds himself flying through cold skies of Canada and then through the gray, damp air of Northern Ireland, where he makes lifelong friends and learns the basics of being a fighter pilot. Though he expected to join fellow Americans flying Spitfires in the RAF Eagle Squadrons, instead his mission is to fly American P-40s in the bloody skies over Egypt’s Western Desert in order to try to stop Rommel’s Afrika Korps from rampaging to Suez. Much more than a piece of fiction, “The Vaulted Sky” appeals to anyone with an interest in history and aviation, veterans, or those wishing to learn about the lives and sacrifices of their predecessors. Moffa writes:
Hell, he caught himself, if his enemies could hear him, they’d think he was British. But Patrick Montalto was American, in a Canadian uniform, flying for the Royal Air Force. The British insignia though — those big red, white, blue and yellow roundels that inadvertently served as bulls-eyes for the diving Germans — adorned the already worn sand and brown desert camouflage on his Lend-Lease American plane, a Curtiss P-40E, dubbed “Kittyhawk IA” by the RAF… If he and Beard were going to get out of this alive, he would have to use all the skill and strength he and the tough Curtiss could put together, or they would be just two more scorched blotches on the rocky sand below.
About the Author
R.P. Moffa is an author and historian living in Westerville, Ohio. A private pilot and Air Force Veteran with a special interest in World War II, his characters and stories are inspired by the real men and women he has known, his research and his own experience. Moffa attended Ohio State University, earning his bachelor’s degree in international studies. After spending four years in the United States Air Force, he went on to receive his master’s degree from Syracuse University in public administration and environmental management. For more information, please visit http://www.thevaultedsky.com.
“The Vaulted Sky”
Available from: http://www.iUniverse.com, http://www.bn.com, http://www.amazon.com.
ISBN: 9781440152511 - 6 x 9 - Paperback - 544 pages - $27.95 USA
iUniverse offers a variety of publishing services to help individuals publish, market and sell fiction, poetry and nonfiction books. The company utilizes print-on-demand technology, and is one of the largest self-publishing companies in the U.S. iUniverse is based in Bloomington, Indiana.
Contact: Kristy Ketterman
iUniverse Promotions Dept.
kketterman@authorsolutions.com
Toll-free: 800-839-8640 Ext. 5224
Fax: 812-961-3133
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