Walter J. Boyne, former director of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution, enlisted as a private in the United States Air Force in 1951 and retired in 1974 as a Colonel with more than 5,000 hours in a score of different aircraft, from a Piper Cub to a B-52. He has written fifty books and hundreds of articles on aviation subjects and is one of only a few authors to have had both fiction and nonfiction books on The New York Times bestseller lists. His nonfiction books include The Smithsonian Book of Flight, The Leading Edge, Weapons of Desert Storm, and Boeing B-52: A Documentary History; his fiction books include The Wild Blue (with Steven Thompson), Trophy for Eagles, Dawn Over Kitty Hawk, and a trilogy on the history of jet aviation that includes Roaring Thunder, Supersonic Thunder and Hypersonic Thunder.

He has appeared on hundreds of television programs, and hosted and narrated two television series based on his books. The first was a 5 part series. The second was an 18 part series that appeared on PBS, based on his book Clash of Wings: World War II in the Air. (Somewhat mutilated by its cutting, editing and re-narration, it also appears on television under another name.) As a part of his television endeavors, Boyne co-founded Wingspan, the Air & Space Channel, which debuted successfully on the air prior to being purchased by the Discovery Channel. 

Over the years he has received many honors including the Cliff Henderson Award from the National Aeronautics Association in 1987. In 1998 he was named as Elder Stateman of Aviation by NAA. The Federation Aeronautique Internationale honored Boyne with its 1998 Paul Tissandier Diploma. In 2005, he received the coveted Lauren D. Lyman Award for outstanding achievement in aviation public relations, and presented by the Aircraft Industries Association. In 2007, he joined 190 other enshrines as a member of the National Aviation Hall of Fame. 

Contact Walter at wboyne@verizon.net