Just released is “Stone Age Astronaut: The Astonishing Adventures of America’s Forgotten Flier” by Liam Callanan.
The book is about pioneering aviator Lester Maitland who, in 1927, became the first person to fly from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii, a feat that earned him national acclaim on par with Charles Lindbergh’s transatlantic triumph. For a brief moment, the two men shared headlines, White House invitations, and fame. But while Lindbergh’s legacy grew, Maitland’s all but vanished.
In the new book, Callanan brings Lester Maitland back into the spotlight, tracing his meteoric early career: Flight instructor at 19; one of the U.S. Army’s first test pilots; the first American to fly faster than 200 mph; and the pioneering airman whose Pacific crossing earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Callanan also details Maitland’s World War II service as Executive Officer of the Far East Air Service Command and leader of the 386th Bomb Group in Europe, and reveals what led to his abrupt and mysterious retirement from command before D-Day.
After the war, Maitland experienced a series of professional and personal disappointments, and he quietly faded into obscurity. He eventually became an Episcopal priest, serving small parishes far from the glamour of his early days in the cockpit.
Released Sept. 1, 2026, by The Wisconsin Historical Society Press, the book is available in paperback for $24.95 and as an ebook for $15.99 at bookstores and online retailers.
For more information: WisconsinHistory.org
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