I guess time fades a person's memory but a mag check for manifold pressure to determine if there was enough power to take off?? After reading several first person books by several Aces that served in the same place at the same time, flying the same missions (only flying as much as 150 missions to fulfill their tour, as opposed to Curtis' 50) and being involved in the same events, I have to say that this book is a very amateurish attempt. Mostly about his foolish, immature and boastful attitudes. I wasted my time and money on this funnybook.