" Nine Lives in the Air: The Adventures and Misadventures of an Air Force Pilot " started out as nothing more than an effort on the part of the author to create a family historical record. But as the project was taking shape, he became increasingly sensitive with regard to the reality thata only by virtue of the grace of God wasa his life spared in at least eight, very specific, narrow escapes from the Grim Reaper, and that he was obligated to bear thankful testimony concerning that fact.