Robert Gandt's "Angels in the Sky" is the amazing true story of a group of daredevils who, for various reasons, set out to help an embattled Israel to fend off its foes. In May 1948, David Ben-Gurion announced the establishment of the state of Israel. Shortly thereafter, "on every border, the new state of Israel was under siege" from the armies of Transjordan, Iraq, Lebanon, Egypt, and Syria. "With a sixty-to-one numerical advantage, the Arab armies would invade with tanks, armored gun carriers, field artillery, antitank and antiaircraft guns." How could a fledgling nation with few resources survive such an onslaught?

Amazingly, volunteer airmen agreed to fly cobbled-together planes that lacked well-maintained and powerful engines, radios, oxygen masks, effective triggering mechanisms, and accurate steering. What were their motives for participating in this perilous undertaking? Some of the pilots had flown combat missions during World War II and missed the excitement and adventure. Others were idealists from Canada, the United States, South Africa, and Britain, who wanted to lend a hand to a beleaguered country. Many were Jewish, but non-Jews were on board, as well.

Gandt's describes the ingenious and often illegal methods used by Israel's supporters to obtain aircraft, spare parts, mechanical expertise, and training. Much of this work of non-fiction seems like a made-up thriller. It is almost incomprehensible that anyone would be willing to pilot planes that, in many cases, were so dilapidated that they should never have left the hangar. In addition, the author humanizes his characters with brief biographical sketches, accounts of how they performed under pressure, and in an epilogue, what they accomplished when the war was over. Another notable feature is the "you are there" depictions of duels to the death between the pro-Israel fighter pilots and their adversaries.

The writing in the well-researched "Angels in the Sky" is serviceable, but this overly long book is repetitious and bombards us with so much information that it is difficult to keep track of the numerous people, places, and events. At least readers can refer to the excellent timeline, index, endnotes, and list of pilots found at the back. This compelling narrative will appeal to anyone who is interested in the military and political history of Israel's War of Independence. While many will admire the bravado of the aviators, they will also be saddened by the loss of thirty-three members of the newly formed Israel Air Force who were killed or went missing while trying to pull off a miracle in the Middle East.
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All the activities in this non-fiction chronicle of Israel fighting for its independence are true! Robert Gandt is a sock-em – rock-em type of writer. His descriptive passages of the how non-Israeli pilots delivered their flight expertise to the enemies of Israel earned them the title of Angels in the Sky!

In 1947 and 1948, Israel had to fight for credibility to become a State of Israel. It was not enough that the United Nations partitioned Palestine creating both Jewish and Arab States, which were to exist side by side. No, it was a time when even with this mandate, Israel had to physically fight with its surrounding neighbors in a death struggle both on the ground and in the air. This book is about the air battles, how they fought, how pilots flew, and most of all where the planes came from. Angels also is a memorial to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice in pursuit of freedom for the Israeli people.

Though many of the pilots who died were Israeli, many came from other countries. Britain, Canada, United States, and South Africa were the countries of origin for members of fellowship of conscientious air force fighters tagged with the title of “Bagel Lancers.”

Robert Gandt describes with exacting detail the airfields, which housed the many different planes flown by this specialized squadron. He visited each of them and spent considerable time doing his research chronicled in the extensive bibliography, which lists not only his sources, but also describes life after the war of many of those who he wrote about in the pages of this epic tale.

What you will like best about this book is the manner in which history is interspersed with descriptive passages about air battles and bombing raids. How the ingenuity of some men in acquisition of planes from Czechoslovakia led to the founding air force. Planes obtained from the United States government had their own unique acquisition.

No story about the foundation of the Jewish State would be complete without mentioning the various transporting of guns, ammunition, and crews that performed the day-to-day laborious tasks involved. These people are front and center, but one element not left out is that many of those who were a part of Angels in the Sky were not Jewish! They were patriots who felt the need to insure freedom to the people of Israel!

This is a FIVE Star book you cannot put down; highly recommended. ( )