A Lifetime in the Atmosphere: A Memoir of Flight
Discover A Remarkable new Memoir and Living Legacy
At Plumb Creative, we're dedicated to celebrating unique voices and compelling stories. Today, we're excited to introduce you to our upcoming publication, A Lifetime in the Atmosphere: A Pilot's Memoir, a captivating memoir that exemplifies the power of personal storytelling.
A Journey Through History and Skies
A Lifetime in the Atmosphere is a memoir that takes readers on an extraordinary journey through history, aviation, and the heart. The author, Stanley "Stan" Luther, leads us through the remarkable tapestry of his life.
This memoir is more than just a pilot's tale; it's a celebration of the indomitable human spirit. From his earliest aspirations of soaring through the skies to his years in the cockpit, Stan's dedication to his passions shines brightly. But this memoir is not just about aviation; it's about love, family, and the intricate connections that make us who we are. It's about the trials and triumphs of a man who lived a life among the clouds and touched the lives of many along the way.
As a pilot with over 13,000 hours of flight time, Stanley R. Luther knows his way around an airplane. While growing up during the Dust Bowl in the Midwest, Stan knew he belonged exploring the skies and not tilling the ground like his parents and grandparents. After joining the Navy during World War II and attending the University of Idaho, Stan became an Air Force pilot, flying everything from bombers and transport aircraft to fighter jets and reconnaissance planes in Vietnam.
After serving as an attache to Madagascar, Stan retired to the Pacific Northwest where he served as a community college professor, flight instructor, and air ambulance pilot. Stan has spent his golden years in the Rogue Valley of Southern Oregon where he enjoys a view of the local airport, and at the age of 96, still finds ways to take to the skies.
Stan Luther in the cockpit of a Starduster II airplane, 1980.
Read an excerpt
It was a chilly Monday evening, October 22, 1962: Day 7 of the Cuban Missile Crisis. President Kennedy’s voice echoed through the television speakers as he addressed the nation, and the whole country held its breath.
At that moment, I was a 35-year-old Lieutenant Colonel in the 310th Bomb Wing of the United States Air Force, serving as the pilot of one of six B-47 Stratojets on alert at Schilling Air Force Base in Kansas. For eight years, our mission had been to train for bombing runs with nuclear weapons, preparing for the unthinkable possibility of war with the Soviet Union.
At 1900 hours, we gathered in the alert facility around an overhead television in one of the briefing rooms. President Kennedy’s solemn voice filled the room as he revealed that Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev was deploying ballistic missiles in Cuba, capable of reaching the United States. The gravity of the situation struck us all when the President revealed that the Soviet Union was positioning ballistic missiles in Cuba, posing a direct threat to the United States. We were on the brink of war, and our mission was clear: we were to be prepared for a “full retaliatory response.”
The silence in the room was deafening as the President’s address concluded. The weight of the information sank in as preparedness went to DEFCON 3, and we exchanged glances, realizing the immense responsibility that rested on our shoulders. Our aircraft, once tools of military preparedness, were now potential instruments of devastating destruction.
My life had taken a long and winding path, shaped by 17 years of military service, first in the Navy during World War II before joining the Air Force, and I wasn’t afraid to die. As soon as I received my orders, I would get into my plane and drop that bomb. But none of us liked it.
But now, as I sat at that airport, waiting for further instructions, wrapped in a fireman’s blanket to ward off the chill, I couldn’t help but think of my family. Nellie, my devoted wife, and our children, David, Paul, and Tom, remained stationed at Schilling AFB, potentially facing the unimaginable horrors of nuclear war.
The reality of what was at stake became clearer with each passing moment. My time in the military and the pursuit of scientific knowledge had taught me the true cost of conflict, leaving me with a profound understanding that war was a terrible means of resolution. In the back of my mind, I thought, I hope we don’t do this. Isn’t there a better way? How had I gotten here—sitting in a bomber loaded with a nuclear weapon—from being a farm boy in rural Kansas who just wanted to fly…
Indie Publishing Services in the Rogue Valley, Oregon
Plumb Creative offers a range of publishing services, from manuscript evaluation and editing to cover design, formatting, and distribution. Our team of experts is dedicated to helping authors like Stan Luther bring their stories to life while retaining creative control and ownership.
If you're an author with a story to tell, we invite you to explore our indie publishing services right here in the Rogue Valley. We're passionate about helping authors share their voices with the world. In A Lifetime in the Atmosphere, we see the power of storytelling to connect generations and bridge the gap between the past and the present. We believe that every story deserves to be heard, and we're here to support authors in bringing their stories to life.