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Abandoned at the side of an airstrip after a mishap, the aircraft lay forgotten for decades before being recovered and brought to New Zealand, with more decades passing before restoration commenced. Three years later the aircraft once again took to the air, a fully rebuilt example of an heroic era of warbirds.

However, this story is not only about the aircraft's restoration. The author has traced pilots who flew it; men who have graciously provided their stories of a time that is often painful to recall.

The book is also about the history of the Kittyhawk aircraft, its beginnings, its capabilities, its foibles and often neglected but important role as a low-level fighter-bomber.

The story of A29-448 also encompasses much of the story of 75 Squadron RAAF, an Australian fighter squadron that fought with intense patriotism and bravery in a theatre of war that was generally ignored by the press - a situation that continues to the present day. These brave men, as well as those who recovered and restored A29-448, are responsible for giving, preserving and prolonging the life and history of this important aircraft.