About the Book
Jimmy Alexander was a product of two nations. Born in England and raised in Canada. Guided by his father, an Army General, and his grandfather, the Bishop of Quebec, he grew up during a time of peace and prosperity between the two world wars. Like other boys his age, he studied hard, played sports, chased girls, and dreamt about his future. But in September 1939, when he was twenty-one, everything changed. He had come of age just in time to fight the next war. Within a year, he was a bomber pilot in Britain's Royal Air Force.
In the Briefing Room at the Attlebridge airfield in Norfolk, England, on August 28, 1941, Jimmy receives orders to bomb enemy targets on the Continent. But poor weather delays his takeoff. With nothing to do but wait, his thoughts turn to memories of his childhood, what inspired him to serve, the chaos of this war, and his love for his young wife and son. As he reflects on his life, he speaks to us across time in a voice that is both haunting and unforgettable.
This is a story about conflict and the early years of World War II, when Britain found itself alone, fighting for its survival against Hitler's powerful army and air force. But it is also a story about love, family, and commitment to something bigger than ourselves.
On The Wing of Eternity is a memoir compiled by Michael Alexander, about his father, told in his father's own words. It is a witness to a life led with purpose and courage; a testament to the eternal power of the human spirit and the sacrifices we make for the people and places we love.
About the Author :
Michael Alexander was born in England, raised in Canada, and currently resides in the United States. He spent his early career in accounting, management consulting, strategic planning, and investment banking, including roles as International Executive Partner at Deloitte and Director of the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB).In 1989, he merged his lifelong passion for history and culture with his business expertise and founded The International Forum - a global organization with a mission to connect business leaders from around the world by engaging them on current issues while integrating perspectives from science, society, art, history, technology, music, and culture. In 2021, he began a focused effort to reconstruct his father's life story (James O. Alexander was a Royal Air Force bomber pilot, killed in World War II) and create a written record for his children and grandchildren. This endeavor evolved into a larger project-a discovery of a time and place that mirrored contemporary challenges and a legacy from which others could learn. On The Wing of Eternity is a first-person narrative of a young man's short but full life, compiled from journals, letters, and personal accounts.Michael is a graduate of McGill University in Canada. He and his wife Judy, live in Boca Grande, Florida with their Australian Shepherd.
Review :
"In this beautifully written book about the life and death of a young Canadian who flew with Britain's RAF in World War II, Michael Alexander has crafted a love letter to the father he never knew. Decades after James Alexander was killed in a bombing raid over Rotterdam, his son began excavating his father's life. The result is a poignant, at times heartbreaking portrait of a sensitive, gifted young man, deeply in love with his wife, baby son, and life in general, but who in the end sacrificed it all for the cause of freedom."
-Lynne Olson, author of Those Angry Days and Citizens of London.
"The words 'Life, Love and War' sum up the story of a Canadian, Jimmy Alexander, who joined the RAF and was then followed to England by his fiancée Bar - defying the U-Boat hazards of the Atlantic, to marry and give birth to the author. Compiled from Jimmy's journals, letters and family memories and written in the first person, this is a war story which brings the main characters to the forefront. This book is bloody good - read it!" - Lieutenant Colonel Ian Blackwell, former Lecturer at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, United Kingdom, author of Fifth Army in Italy 1943-1945.
"Raised by parents who survived the First World War, and growing up during two decades of great prosperity and loss, this is a story of a young man finding his place in a dramatically shifting world. Through flashbacks and recollections, Jimmy Alexander shares highlights from his youth, his training, his role as pilot in Britain's Royal Air Force, the terror of enemy raids, and the bittersweet bonds forged with his crew and other airmen. As his missions grow more perilous and losses mount, we hold onto the hope that he will survive. Author Michael Alexander made the bold choice to tell the story in his father's voice - with all of the honesty and emotion that filled Jimmy Alexander's journals and letters to his family - and the story is richer for it. On The Wing of Eternity is a gripping tale of love, courage, camaraderie and coming of age in the chaos of war. It is a haunting tribute to those who serve and a powerful meditation on the cost and significance of duty." - Candice Shy Hooper, author of Delivered Under Fire: Absalom Markland and Freedom's Mail.
"Flying into combat requires an acceptance of immense risk and extraordinary bravery. Eighty-five years ago, this was particularly true. With limited technology, few safety protocols, and small margin for error, early combat pilots like Jimmy Alexander faced great peril every time they took to the skies. It's difficult to fathom what it must have been like and the toll it must have taken, flying bombing missions day in and day out throughout World War II; but this book captures it brilliantly. The courage and the dedication of those young men are an inspiration to those flying combat missions today." - Lieutenant Colonel Justin Moreland, Combat Mission Ready F-35 Pilot, United States Air Force.
