Desert Lightning — Brian Kelleher

It's the beginning of VE Day and the end of the war in Europe heralds a newer war with the Soviets. Monopolizing and exploiting German technological breakthroughs will be critical in the new cold war. A cadre of USAF officers gathers captured German rockets and planes in a remote desert base. They've got captured pilots and scientists as well -- but can't trust them much. Instead, using ENIAC, they amass a small number of USAAF pilots with the idea of forming the first of America's jet fighter squadrons. Distrust of the Germans and their planes is only one the problems -- our heroes must also contend with an insane chain of command determined to make the cranky planes work and fight in ways they were not designed to be used.