Arthur Nelson Thornhill

Arthur Nelson Thornhill, Lieutenant (Retired) United States Navy was born in Guntersville, Alabama on February 11, 1944. Raised with 5 others by a single mountain Mama on her own with too much pride to accept help. Finished high school in 3 years by attending summer classes. Enlisted in the Navy on May 30, 1961. Married Miss Troup High School of 1962 ‑ Judy Davis ‑ in 1965 and re‑enlisted. Advanced to Illustrator Draftsman First Class then selected for program that included four full years at Vanderbilt University (1966‑1970). Daughter ‑ Cathy ‑ was born in 1969. Went through OCS at Newport Rhode Island and commissioned an Ensign. Attended Naval Aviation Flight School and was carrier qualified on the USS Lexington then designated a Naval Aviator in 1971.Personally trained hundreds of navy pilots and flight instructors. Met James O'Connor Sargent while flight instructing in Pensacola area and began writing "Fly Away Old Glory" in late 70s. Retired from the Navy with rank of Lieutenant in 1981 at age 37 and began using writing and training skills to support a comfortable lifestyle for my family. Now have two lovely grandchildren ‑ Celeste and Jack‑ by my only child, Cathy, and her fine husband, Steve Clamage. My collaborator ‑ Jim Sargent ‑ died on December 8, 2000. Wrote final draft of novel in September of 2001. Worked on editing of manuscript until now ‑ October 23, 2006.

James O'Connor Sargent, Major, United States Air Force, 82, of Pensacola, Florida, died in George Washington University Hospital December 8, 2000. He lived in Washington and Arlington for 23 years. A writer of mysteries, novellas and short stories, he helped found a Writers Club in D.C. that has met monthly since 1953. Born in Buffalo, New York, he attended Fordham University and the British Intelligence School in Calcutta, Indiana. In the US Army Air Corps in Burma and China he was a Combat Intelligence Officer. Later he headed the US Historical Office in Seoul, Korea, leaving the Air Force in 1947 as a Major. He was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery and the Chinese Freedom medal among others. He is listed in Who's Who in America, Who's Who in the World and in Who Was Who in the 14th Air Force.

Jim's wife of 51 years, Mildred E. (Clark) Sargent, an accomplished poet, writer, editor and recognized authority on the English language, worked tirelessly in support of the authors throughout the creation of this novel.