On Wings of Eagles is a 1983 thriller novel written by British author Ken Follett. Set against the background of the Iranian revolution, it tells the story of the rescue of Paul Chiapparone and Bill Gaylord from prison in Tehran by a team of Electronic Data Systems executives led by retired Col. Arthur D. Simons. The story, according to Follett, is not fictionalized or a 'non-fiction novel'. Ross Perot contacted Ken Follett, who was paid by his publisher, to write On Wings of Eagles. Follett based his account on many conversations with the people directly involved, and had the drafts checked... by them as well. Aside from changing a few names, he believes the story to be what really happened. In December 1978 two EDS executives working in Tehran are arrested on suspicion of bribery. Bail was set at 12.75 million dollars. When Ross Perot, head of the Dallas-based company hears about it, he decides to get his people out no matter what. While the firm's lawyers are trying to find a way to pay the bail, he also recruits a team of volunteers from his executives, led by a retired United States Army officer, to break them out by force, if necessary.
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| Author: | Ken Follett |
| Genre: | Thriller, True crime, Autobiography, Biography |
| Year published: | 1983 |
| Number of editions: | 17 |