Ironton native, WWI pilot subject of book

Next Saturday, Sept. 10, Rio Grande history professor Dr. Samuel Wilson will be on hand at Unger’s Shoes, signing copies of his new book, “Bill Lambert: World War I Flying Ace.”

Lambert was a native of Ironton who flew for the British Royal Air Force in 1918, and was the second highest scoring ace in World War I with 22 victories. This was the most achieved by an American pilot at that time, but was later surpassed by former racecar driver Eddie Rickenbacker, of Columbus, who had 26 victories.

Following the British Royal Air Force, Lambert then transferred to the U.S. Air Service.

The book examines Lambert’s life and the experiences from the war that define it. Lambert died in 1982 at 87 years old. He and his wife are buried at Woodland Cemetery in Ironton in a mausoleum that he designed.

“I’ve known Professor Wilson for many years,” Joe Unger, owner of Unger’s Shoes, said. “Professor Wilson got together with Bill Martin, who has quite a collection of Lambert’s memorabilia, and then took a sabbatical from teaching in order to work on this book.”

Unger said Wilson called him and wanted to know if he could have a book signing at the store.

“He knew I loved Ironton history and the store was kind of a landmark,” Unger said. “I was honored to be asked to be a location for Professor Wilson’s book signing.”

Wilson will have about 80 copies of the book at the book signing.

“I’m happy to bring the book back to Ironton and the people there,” Wilson said. “It’s a pleasure to come back and share that story with them collectively and just to get the book out in the area is important. A lot of people outside of Ironton really don’t know the legacy of Bill Lambert and all he’s done.”

The book signing will be from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at Unger’s, located at 304 S. Third St. in Ironton. Other book signings include 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 9 at Empire Books in Huntington, 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11 at the Bossard Library in Gallipolis and 1 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at the Ironton Briggs Lawrence County Library.