On the wings of the eagle
The book Auf den Schwingen des Adler (Originally published in 1983 as: On Wings of Eagles ) is a thriller and factual novel by Ken Follett , which describes the liberation of two Americans from an Iranian prison during the Iranian Revolution between 1978/1979 .
action
The novel is based on a true story. Between 1978 and 1979, during the Islamic Revolution in Iran, the Shah's government was overthrown. In this heated atmosphere, the two Americans Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord are arrested in Tehran without giving any reason. You are the highest-ranking employee of the company EDS Corporation Iran , a subsidiary of Electronic Data Systems Corporation (EDS) and work on behalf of the Iranian government in Tehran . Ross Perot , chairman of the board of directors of EDS, is convinced of the innocence of Chiapparone and Gaylord and does everything in his power to get them released. However, this is not possible through diplomatic channels, as the two Americans are viewed by the Iranians as political hostages . Perot fears for the lives of his two employees and puts together a rescue team of EDS employees under the leadership of Arthur D. Simons , a former officer in the US Army. Together with Iranian allies, he was saved from prison, but now a dangerous and adventurous escape by land from Iran to Turkey follows .
Creation of the book
The liberation action , called Operation HOTFOOT (“Help our two friends out of Tehran”), made headlines around the world after it was successfully carried out. Perot's wife Margot persuaded her husband to have the story published by Ken Follett , whose book The Needle had inspired her. Follett accepted the job but, contrary to rumors to the contrary, was not paid by Perot for it.
The film
1986 filmed the director Andrew V. McLaglen under the title On Wings Of Eagles (German title: Auf den Schwingen des Adlers ) the dramatic events as a TV mini-series with, among others, Burt Lancaster and Richard Crenna in the leading roles. The two-parter adheres closely to the real events and gives a historical insight into the time of the Iranian revolutionary confusion.
Comparable actions
The comparable Canadian Caper liberation campaign by six Americans from Tehran was filmed as Argo . The Operation Eagle Claw , the failed attempt the kidnapping of Tehran to solve militarily. It is also mentioned in the book.
literature
- Ken Follett, On the Eagle's Wings. Fact thriller from Iran. Lübbe, Bergisch Gladbach 1986, ISBN 3404107047 .
- Ken Follett, On Wings of Eagles. William Morrow, New York 1983, ISBN 0451163532