SKU: 15039846971

The Education of a Fighter Pilot

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Description

The Education of a Fighter PilotThe Education of a Fighter Pilot is a personal biography written by Austin L. Toss Olsen that covers nearly four years of his life, ages 17 to 20, during which he trained to be a fighter pilot in World War II and shot down five Japanese airplanes. Olsen was on a team of five fliers replacement pilots sent out to the Pacific. The five saw combat; two perished, one was shot down and became a prisoner of war, and Toss and a fellow pilot completed their

ÒThe Education of a Fighter PilotÓ is a personal biography written by Austin L. ÒTossÓ Olsen that covers nearly four years of his life, ages 17 to 20, during which he trained to be a fighter pilot in World War II Ð and shot down five Japanese airplanes.

Olsen was on a team of five fliers Ð replacement pilots sent out to the Pacific. The five saw combat; two perished, one was shot down and became a prisoner of war, and Toss and a fellow pilot completed their service as the war ended.

To write the book, he relied on 144 letters, postcards and telegrams that he had sent to his parents while he trained for some two years in six states and then finally served aboard the aircraft carrier Belleau Wood in 1945.
This book tells the details of his training, of his flights in combat, and of his friendships, some of which were shattered when his comrades died during the war.

The day he shot down four planes, he had been fired on earlier Ð by a fellow pilot. The bullet holes that were evidence of the friendly fire were just inches from his cockpit.

His first inclination was to use the correspondence to write a work of fiction; he was already the author of two novels: ÒCorcho Bliss,Ó published in 1972 by Simon & Schuster, and ÒApache Ambush,Ó published in 2000 by Kensington. But Olsen chose to use the letters and add his recollections to tell the real story of what he went through to become a pilot for the Navy, and how he was able to pay for his ÒeducationÓ by shooting down five airplanes, including a kamikaze that was headed low on the water against a U.S. destroyer with a complement of more than 200 sailors on board.

As he explained, the letters did not contain everything that happened: ÒRegulations prohibited revealing the details of where I was, or what I had done Ð and I myself was not always candid.Ó

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SKU: 15039846971

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4.6 ★★★★★
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Matthew
Phoenix, US
★★★★★ 2
Fairly priced but the finish leaves something to be desired
Color: Black Walnut
This wrist rest looks very nice, but I'd give the finish of the wood a C. There are a few rather rough patches, one that feels like it will develop into splinters eventually if it's not refinished. I'm using it for now, but I'm definitely going to refinish it at some point and it's inspired me to make my own wrist rests from scratch out of hardwood. I gave this two stars because it's very pretty and it's fairly comfortable to use. The wood used is pretty expensive, so I'd say that the price of this item is rather fair. I just wish they put a better finish on materials that are so nice.
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Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2021
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Orlando Cardinuto
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 5
Great black leather tray for top of dresser
Color: Black
Excellent item, better than described. Very nice leather inside base. Nice leather trim. Exactly what I was looking for. I give 5 stars 👍
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Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2026
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Timothy Lang
West Palm Beach, US
★★★★★ 5
Built to Last
Color: Black
When purchasing little practical and intentional pieces... it's easy to pick something of lesser value. Looking at all other styles and options, you see buttons and Velcro and magnets and they look enticing. But at the end of the day, you want the satisfaction of knowing you made the right choice. Pay a little extra and get what you want. This little tray will be in your possession for years to come. It's clean and sturdy and classy. Maybe a 2-tone color palette would be a nice option for future builds.
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Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2026
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Fabian Villanueva
Port Orchard, US
★★★★★ 5
As advertised
Color: Brown
Great item.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 11, 2026
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Valerie Gayle
Louisville, US
★★★★★ 5
Light Weight CarryAll
Color: Brown
Being Retired I'm always home and throughout my day i settle in different spots in my house to do different tasks or activities like exercise. I found myself either carrying a bunch of small things from room to room or having to walk all the way back to my previous, I call "perch," to fetch my phone, reading glasses, stylus, pillbox, tumbler of tea, and yes, pen & paper! Now with this catch all, I just load it up in seconds and I'm good to go!!!
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Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2025

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