Patterson, Dan 1953–

PERSONAL: Born 1953.

ADDRESSES: Home—Dayton, OH. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Boston Mills Press, 132 Main St., Erin, Ontario N0B 1T0, Canada. E-mail—dan@flyinghistory.com.

CAREER: Writer and photographer.

AWARDS, HONORS: Combs award, National Aviation Hall of Fame, for photographic preservation of America's air and space heritage.

WRITINGS:

PHOTOGRAPHER; "LIVING HISTORY" SERIES

Paul Perkins, The Lady: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1993.

Paul Perkins and Michelle Crean, The Soldier: Consolidated B-24 Liberator, additional material by Joseph A. Ventolo, Howell Press (Charlottes-ville, VA), 1994.

Paul Perkins, Mustang: North American P-51, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1995.

Ron Dick, Lancaster: RAF Heavy Bomber, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1996.

Ron Dick, Messerschmitt Bf 109: Luftwaffe Fighter, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1997.

Ron Dick, Spitfire: RAF Fighter, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1997.

PHOTOGRAPHER

Ron Dick, American Eagles: A History of the United States Air Force: Featuring the Collection of the U.S. Air Force Museum, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1997.

Donald Nijboer, Cockpit: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Interiors, introduction by Ron Dick, Howell Press (Charlottesville, VA), 1998.

Donald Nijboer, Gunner: An Illustrated History of World War II Aircraft Turrets and Gun Positions, introduction by Ron Dick and Bill Cole, Boston Mills Press (Erin, Ontario, Canada), 2001.

"AVIATION CENTURY" SERIES; WITH RON DICK

The Early Years, Boston Mills Press (Erin, Ontario, Canada), 2003.

The Golden Age, Boston Mills Press (Erin, Ontario, Canada), 2004.

World War II, Boston Mills Press (Erin, Ontario, Canada), 2004.

Wings of Change, Boston Mills Press (Erin, Ontario, Canada), 2005.

SIDELIGHTS: Photographer Dan Patterson has made a career of documenting the history of aircraft; his images have been included in numerous books on aviation. He traces the first century of flight in the "Aviation Century" books, written with retired Air Force vice marshal Ron Dick. The series analyzes the development of flight from the Wright brothers' first aeronautical achievements through the end of the twentieth century, a feat which critics seem to agree the authors have accomplished well. The first installment in the series, The Early Years, begins with the Wright brothers—detailing not only their building techniques but the theories behind them—and continues through to a discussion of World War I fighter planes and the novel commercial aircraft designs of the 1920s and 1930s. The book is of a "high quality," noted Booklist reviewer Gilbert Taylor, who went on to call The Early Years "a photographic treasure for aerial aficionados."

The Golden Age and World War II, the second and third books in the set, respectively, were published concurrently in 2004 and received similar amounts of praise. The Golden Age continues chronicling airplane innovations from 1919 through the beginning of the Second World War in 1939, while World War II covers the duration of the war from 1939 to 1945. Reviewing the two books, Booklist contributor George Cohen called them "rich," and stated that anyone interested in aeronautical history will "treasure" the volumes. Additionally, Library Journal reviewer John Carver Edwards noted that the "books succeed owing to their factual detail and eye-catching layouts," while a Library Bookwatch critic found the books "particularly enlightening."

The fourth book of the "Aviation Century" collection is Wings of Change, which continues the history of flight from the end of World War II through the present, paying special note to innovations such as helicopters, changes in commercial transport, and the growth of personal aircraft ownership. Library Journal reviewer Edwards found the book to be a "fun read" offering "insight and spice." Cohen, once again writing in Booklist, concurred, noting that the volume combines with the preceding three to make "an absorbing history of flight."

BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SOURCES:

PERIODICALS

Booklist, February 1, 2004, Gilbert Taylor, review of The Early Years, p. 940; December 1, 2004, George Cohen, reviews of The Golden Age and World War II, p. 627; September 1, 2005, George Cohen, review of Wings of Change, p. 34.

Library Bookwatch, February, 2005, review of The Golden Age and World War II.

Library Journal, February 1, 2005, John Carver Edwards, review of The Golden Age and World War II, p. 96; October 15, 2005, John Carver Edwards, review of Wings of Change, p. 67.

ONLINE

Flying History Web site, http://www.flyinghistory.com/ (March 24, 2006), information on author.