Speed, Safety, and Comfort

James John Hoogerwerf worked as a pilot for Delta Air Lines for nearly thirty years. He holds a PhD in history from Auburn University.

"Here at last, for the delight of both aviation history enthusiasts and academia, is a beautifully constructed and meticulously researched account of the evolution of one of the world's greatest airlines. The author, that rarest of creatures, a pilot turned academic, brings authority to his detailed account that can only come from an aviator. His attention to detail, the prime imperative of the true historian, is refreshing, and his ability to make the connections that shaped aviation as we know it today is truly exceptional. This is a remarkable study on the evolution of an airline."--Dan Hagedorn, curator emeritus, The Museum of Flight and Boeing STEM Center at Boeing Field "Learning about what went on and relaying it in a factual manner is so important. To step back, retire early from Delta, and write this insightful book is significant. It is rare someone takes the time in our profession to do something like that."--Capt. Charles Tutt, former director of operations for Delta Air Lines, 1998-2003 "Historian and former Delta Air Lines pilot James John Hoogerwerf has penned a concise and well-researched book detailing the early years of one of the world's largest airlines. Hoogerwerf covers the rise of Delta from the 1920s up to World War II, drawing from the Delta Air Lines Corporate Archives in Atlanta, the personal papers of key company employees, and interviews with aviation experts. . . . This deeply researched book offers new insights about Delta that help us better understand the origins of a firm that has radically reshaped the American South, the United States, and our planet."--Journal of Southern History "As a person who has spent almost half my life working at Delta and involved in many aspects of the operation, I thought I knew just about all there was to know about the company. Reading James John Hoogerwerf's book was an enlightening experience as there was so much interesting historic information that I was not aware of."--Robert W. Coggin, former executive vice president of marketing, sales, and technology for Delta Air Lines and author of Flying High over the Cotton Field