Deke D Wagner

Counts and Commoners Deke D Wagner

THE THRILL-PACKED story of two rival airmen, Count Otto-Karl von Holovsky of the Austro-Hungarian Air Service, and Lieutenant Donnie Downing of the Royal Flying Corps. Holovsky, a native of Vienna and an ex-cavalry officer, a true-blue Austrian aristocrat and a wealthy nobleman who loves his country and his family, sees the world war as a cataclysmic event that is slowly destroying the Habsburg Empire. Although he scores plenty of victories over his Italian and English opponents, he flies and fights with a heavy heart; the war must end soon or all will be lost.

Downing, a feisty, street-wise cockney lad from London's east end, not only despises the Austrian Count because he's an enemy airman, but because he shot down and killed his best friend, a fellow squadron mate. Downing vows to avenge his friend's death by personally killing the Count. And where ever they should meet, high above the precipitous peaks of the Alps, or over the bloodied waters of the Piave, Count Holovsky in his fast, red-nosed Aviatik, Donnie Downing in his dirty-brown Sopwith Camel, death, destiny and hatred will surely be flying with them. The compelling tale of revenge, redemption and fierce aerial combat!