Jane Birch tells the account of her father, Gardner Birch and fellow pilots and their involvement in the Civilian Pilot Training Program at Grove City, Pennsylvania. She pieces together the story many years after the fact in what is a resounding tribute to her father and his colleagues and their love of aviation.

Her research and book "They Flew Proud" won the 2007 Combs Gate Award given by the National Aviation Hall of Fame. Hall of Fame Director Ron Kaplan said "The award is given for the project that best promotes or preserves America's air and space heritage. Jane's project was significant in that it dealt with the role of aviation during WWII. Jane took a regional look at a national program, the result was a book that fills a gap in military history."

Jane Gardner Birch was born and raised in Hermitage, PA, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in education from Kent State University. She has had careers in teaching, real estate, financial service and mortgage lending. She has three sons and six grandchildren and lives outside of Annapolis, MD.