Doorknob Five Two

by Fredric Arnold

Book Overview

DOORKNOB FIVE TWO is the story of the coming of age of a young man, as seen against a backdrop of World War II. With unusual emotional power and artistic sensibility, Fredric Arnold renders an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0914961004
• Release Date: January 1984
• Publisher: S E Maxwell Pub Co
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Compelling....gripping....a literary gem!

Doorknob Five Two is as compelling a war story as I have read. It is the true story of Lt. Fredric Kohn (pronounced "Cone"; surname later changed to Arnold), a 21-year-old fighter pilot assigned to the 71st Fighter Squadron during WWII. Lt. Kohn and his squadron flew the P-38 Lightning in combat missions over North Africa and Sicily in 1943. He completed 50 combat missions, survived being shot down, and was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medal for his actions. The story begins with his shoot-down over Sicily, and then backtracks, quickly following his journey through enlistment, flight training, Atlantic crossing, and assignment with the 71st. The bulk of the book deals with his time in North Africa, describing many of his combat missions and non-combat experiences. During this passage the reader will learn several interesting things about young Lt. Kohn, including his path to becoming a pilot, the pride and prejudices of his squadron mates and crew, what feels like to fly the P-38 (arguably the most advanced and "hottest" U.S. fighter aircraft of its time), and the gamut of emotions he experiences engaging a highly capable foe during numerous life-or-death struggles. There are many compelling aspects to this story. First and foremost is the racial prejudice Lt. Kohn constantly faces by some of his training and squadron mates, and how he deals with this discrimination. Descriptions of his encounters with the Arab population of North Africa I found equally surprising, although not necessarily in a way one might suspect today. Other fascinating aspects include the author's family ties and how he deals with his combat assignment (unbeknownst at the time to his parents); how he faces his father's crippling, degenerative illness; and how his temperament and unique artistic talents serve to calm him during his many trials. However, it is the author's descriptions of his emotions in combat that I found most gripping - the blood, sweat, and tears of killing the enemy as they attempt to kill him and his friends. The aviator, unlike the foot soldier, faces death in a more removed, disjointed manner; one minute Lt. Kohn and his squadron mates are sitting in a pre-flight briefing tent in friendly territory, a mere twenty minutes later he is hundreds of miles behind enemy lines, uncertain if he or his mates will return. In addition, the P-38 mission included bombing and strafing runs that killed tens if not hundreds of enemy ground troops at a time. You learn firsthand how the author faces the emotional consequences of such actions, up close and personal. The descriptions of his shoot-down and subsequent horrors experienced during his escape are haunting, and the second-to-last chapter dealing with his final combat sortie is almost beyond description. You simply must read it for yourself; it is a war story full of irony, surprise, and in the end, great sadness. I highly recommend this book to all aviation buffs as well as to t

Excellent Book - Outstanding author!

I had the good fortune of corresponding with Mr. Arnold after reading this book recently and I can tell you he is a true gentleman! He does an excellent job of portraying his conflicted feelings about the war - you understand what he felt and why. You are right there with him - experiencing the many aspects of fighting a war.

Doorknob Five Two

This is the best book I ever read. I just couldn't put it down. You'll live and fly with Arnold in the cockpit of his P-38 in aerial combat during WWII.A sensitive and authentic account of what it is like to be a fighter pilot.Highly recommended!

smart, gripping, never boring

I knew nothing about flying P-38s until I read this book and never even would have thought it an interesting subject. But Arnold put me in the seat with him as he and his squadron fought World War II while he endured anti-Semitic bigotry in the Air Corps. Lots of things in this book stick with you. Arnold loved and never insulted his beloved P-38, but it was a flying coffin. What a fine look at WW II.