BOOK I: "THE PRELUDE" Completed 4.June.1939 - 5.March.1940

BRIAN DRUMMOND – IDEALISTIC, naοve, unworldly and an accomplished aviator – leaves his Kansas home in the spring of 1939 during the last days of peace, crosses the border into Canada, and joins the Royal Air Force. The last vestiges of Brian's innocence are lost forever as he enters the crucible of war. With the help of one of Churchill's cousins and others, Brian completes his training and gains the assignment he seeks. He hones his skills with the elegant but deadly Spitfire Mark I during the Phony War – the lull before all of Europe was engulfed – and becomes a man. Brian struggles against parents who use US Federal law in a desperate attempt to force their son to return home before its too late; against his emotions boiling within personal conflict and the loss of his mentor; and against a sometimes not-so-subtle discrimination. Brian makes mistakes, falls victim to the foibles of young men unconstrained by any sense of accountability, and manages to become a valued member of that very small brotherhood of warriors soon to be known as –

BOOK II: "EXPLOSION" Completed 9.April.1940 - 7.August.1940

THE CONFLAGRATION IN Europe began in earnest with the invasion of Denmark and Norway in April 1940. The Royal Air Force pilots of Fighter Command's No.609 Squadron moved from Scotland to London as the German Army blasted its way through the Low Countries and Northern France. The flood of Nazi oppression jumped violently to the next, more ominous level. Brian Drummond, the only American pilot in the Spitfire squadron, experiences the passions of life, and now faces, along with his fellow aviators, the most formidable air force in the world – the undefeated Luftwaffe. The staggering lightning defeat of the French and British Armies in France and the humiliation of the Dunkirk evacuation established a grim background for the invasion preparations of the Wehrmacht. The Britons took up the task of defense with determined commitment. All able bodied men of all ages drilled with wooden rifles and farm tools since there were no rifles. They were inspired and encouraged by the very public and defiant words of their new prime minister, Winston Churchill – 'We shall never surrender' – as the opening stages of the aerial battle over the United Kingdom begins in what would become known as the Battle of Britain.

BOOK III: "THE TRIAL" Completed 8.August.1940 - 5.October.1940

WITH THE AERIAL battle exploding in its full viciousness, the leaders of Fighter Command struggle against mounting opposition with rapidly depleting resources. Brian Drummond and his brother's in arms rise every day with the knowledge it could be their last flight against extraordinarily long odds. Everyone sees the obvious, the only obstacles between the British Isles and near certain domination by the highly successful and ebullient Germans were the Royal Navy and less than 1,000, young, largely untested pilots of Fighter Command. Prime Minister Winston Churchill bears witness to the heroic feats of those few, intrepid, young aviators who stood in the breach during the summer of 1940. Amidst the carnage of the epic battle, Charlotte Palmer – a beautiful, older, war widow – saves Brian's life, receives the George Cross from King George VI, and becomes very special to ace Pilot Officer Brian Drummond. As the character of the battle changes, Brian is seriously wounded and turns to Charlotte for his recuperation.

BOOK IV: "DEFLECTION" October.1940 - December.1941

BRIAN RECOVERS FROM his injuries under the care of Charlotte Palmer, the woman who will become his wife. Fighter Command regains its strength as the Germans divert their deadly attention to pounding London. They stand teetering at the brink of the precipice. The onset of winter weather postpones the German invasion attempt until the next spring. The British gained a reprieve, but Britons must suffer the nightly outrage of the Blitz and the incessant destruction of the bombing. Brian returns to the cockpit, regains his confidence as a fighter pilot and makes his first forays across the Channel to raid German positions in Northern France. Charlotte gives birth to their first child, Ian. Churchill meets with Roosevelt to secure vital supply and support for the British war effort. Hitler turns his attention east toward his ultimate adversary – Stalin and the Soviet Union. Brian and his band of brothers finally recognize they have truly beaten the Germans. They harass the German occupation forces and watch world events developing on the other side of the planet. Winston Churchill slept the sleep of the saved as the world is shocked by Pearl Harbor. The immortal words of Franklin Roosevelt confirm the reluctant partnership of the United States against the forces of tyranny.

BOOK V: "HUNTER" December.1941 - November.1943

WITH THE US entry into the war, Brian finally transfers to No.71 Eagle Squadron, one of the RAF Fighter Command units with all American volunteers. Defeat after defeat demoralize the Allies, but the pilots of Fighter Command recognize their gathering strength. The tempo of cross-Channel operations increases. Churchill stimulates espionage, intelligence and resistance operations on the continent. Brian is shot down by ground fire, captured, escapes, evades recapture, and is eventually picked up by the resistance. US Army Air Corps units begin building up in England. Brian and the other American RAF volunteers are transferred to the USAAC; he joins 41st Fighter Squadron, the famous Hat in the Ring squadron from the First World War. Brian grows frustrated, as fighters are powerless to aid the bombers during the early months of the campaign on the heart of Germany. They can only watch as bomber crews are ravaged. The fateful, major raids on Sweinfert and Regensberg force changes in Allied tactics.

BOOK VI: "THE BEGINNING OF THE END" February.1944 - September.1945

US ARMY TROOP build-up is well underway with significant training operations in preparation for Operation Overlord. Brian and his comrades transition to P-51D and begin long-range bomber escort operations over the heart of Germany. Churchill meets with Eisenhower as the invasion plans are solidified. Brian wants to marry Charlotte, but she resisting thinking it will distract him from his duties. The fighter pilots carryout high tempo operations in direct support of the Normandy landings. As Western France is liberated, Brian's squadron relocates to France; he leaves Charlotte for the first time. Ian is killed by V1 buzz bomb; Charlotte is shattered, almost gives up, and then vows to have many children so none of them will be alone as she was. Brian participates in ground and escort operations as Allied forces march across France and into Germany. Churchill meets Truman and Stalin at Potsdam, and learns of the successful US atomic weapons test. Churchill leaves Potsdam for Parliamentary elections and suffers a shocking defeat; he does not return to Potsdam. Brian returns to England and Charlotte; they finally marry. Brian considers transferring to the Pacific Theater as they watch the end of the war with Japan. Brian meets Churchill again at Chartwell to empathize about their battles won and lost.

BOOK VII: "TRANSITION" September.1945 - July.1950

BRIAN'S SQUADRON BEGINS the stand down process. The Army discharges Brian, and he elects to remain in England. Brian and Charlotte work her farm. He maintains his contacts with the surviving comrades from No.609 Squadron. He does a little flying with deHavilland. As the Allies destroy massive quantities of equipment, Brian convinces Charlotte to help him acquire a Spitfire Mark IX and a couple of spare engines that they preserve. Churchill's prophetic 'Iron Curtain' pronouncement and the Berlin Blockade clarify the growing tensions in Europe. Brian meets a US Marine aviator assigned to the US Embassy in London. They commiserate at Shepherd's Pub, the famous RAF pilot's gathering place. The Marine convinces Brian to join and fly for the Marines. Charlotte reluctantly agrees. They find a caretaker for the farm and move to Pensacola where Brian learns the skills for carrier operations and transitions to the F4U Corsair. The North Koreans invade South Korea. Brian is assigned to VMF-121 squadron as they deploy to Korea. Charlotte returns with the children to England.

BOOK VIII: "A NEW WAR" July.1950 - October.1954

BRIAN'S SQUADRON IS one of two Marine fighter squadrons that prove vital to the defense of the Pusan Perimeter. They support the Inchon landings and the offensive up the peninsula to the Yalu River. Winter comes along with the People's Liberation Army. Brian carries out risky ground support flights to help the Marines trapped at Chosin Reservoir. During the breakout, Brian is shot down, joins a decimated infantry unit, finds a sniper rifle and uses his exceptional marksmanship skills to help defend the unit. He leads the remaining Marines out. For his bravery, Brian is awarded the Medal of Honor. He returns to Washington, DC, to accept his award from President Truman and is reunited with Charlotte. He is sent to transition to jet aircraft, but he is ordered back to Washington to become newly elected President Eisenhower's military aide. Brian learns the hard lessens of politics by watching in the shadows the McCarthy hearings and the spy scandals.

BOOK IX: "WAITING FOR NOTHING" 1955 to 1964

BRIAN COMPLETES HIS tour in the White House and returns to a fighter squadron VMF-333 to fly F-8 crusaders. He applies for the astronaut programs, but his lack of college degree, test pilot training and his age cause him to be rejected. JFK becomes president. Brian's squadron goes on alert for the Bay of Pigs incident and redeploys going to a war footing during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Charlotte becomes progressively less tolerant of Brian's constant comings and goings. Their family stress coupled with the disillusionment of racial discrimination and the aftermath of JFK's assassination cause Brian and Charlotte to seriously consider resignation and return to England. Just as they make their decision to leave, Brian is offered command of a fighter squadron. Charlotte concedes. They move to MCAS El Toro, and Brian takes command of VMF-313. Churchill dies. Brian is asked to attend the memorial service; the family returns to England for the first time in many years.

BOOK X: "THE BAD WAR" 1965 to 1972

BRIAN TRANSITIONS TO the F-4 Phantom and deploys for his first tour in Vietnam as a group commander. He demonstrates his exceptional skills at close air support of engaged ground troops. Second son, Scott, enters the US Naval Academy. Brian goes back for his second tour in Vietnam; this time as commanding general 1st Marine Air Wing during Tet Offensive of 1968. Brian becomes friends with Admiral Zumwalt, commander naval forces Vietnam. Brian leaves Vietnam and returns to Washington, DC, assigned to HQMC. He is asked to testify to Congress about CAS mission Marine performance. Brian fights with his daughter, Barbara, in the make-love-not-war hippie culture. Brian and Scott face the conflict between military service and the anti-war movement. Scott graduates from USNA, goes to Quantico and Pensacola to follow his father. Zumwalt becomes CNO. Brian becomes special assistance to President's National Security Advisor.

BOOK XI: "PASS THE BATON" 1972 to 1982

BRIAN BECOMES A member of the National Command Authority, National Command Center. They go through Watergate, Nixon's resignation, the evacuation of Saigon. The Carter Administration takes a very dim view of the military. Scott moves into his career, as Marine aviator in the shadow of his famous, highly decorated father. Brian supervises the planning for Operation Eagle Claw, the Iranian rescue mission; the effort illuminates the conflict between civil and military operational command. Reagan becomes President. Brian retires as a lieutenant general after 40 plus years of distinguished service and is celebrated by many of the world's notable people. Brian and Charlotte return the farm in Southern England.

[NOTE: Given the success of the To So Few series, a new series can be developed around Brian's son, Scott, with a focus on the extraordinary events of the late 20th Century. In the new series, more of Cap's direct experience, as a Marine aviator and experimental test pilot, can be utilized.]

Comments are greatly appreciated. Send eMail to: cap@parlier.com