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Fighter Heroes Of Wwi The Untold Story Of The Brave And Daring Pioneer Airmen Of The Great War Text Only
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Book Synopsis Fighter Heroes of WWI: The untold story of the brave and daring pioneer airmen of the Great War (Text Only) by : Joshua Levine
Download or read book Fighter Heroes of WWI: The untold story of the brave and daring pioneer airmen of the Great War (Text Only) written by Joshua Levine and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2014-08-28 with total page 384 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first heroes of the air.
Book Synopsis Fighter Heroes of WWI by : Joshua Levine
Download or read book Fighter Heroes of WWI written by Joshua Levine and published by Collins. This book was released on 2009 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Few are aware of the risks that the pioneering airmen of World War I took. This oral history conveys the perils of those early days, the thrills of learning to fly, and the horrors of war in the air at a time when pilots carried little defensive armament and no parachutes. The men who joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1914 were the original heroes of flying, treading into unknown territory and paving the way for later aerial combat. They became icons for the soldiers in the trenches, and a stark contrast to the hundreds on the ground fighting faceless hundreds as men fought aircraft to aircraft and man to man—for the first time the air became a battlefield of its own. In 1914 aircraft were a questionable technology, used for only basic reconnaissance. But by 1918, hastened by the terrible war, aircraft were understood to be the future of modern warfare. The war changed flying forever. The Wright brothers' achievements of a mere 10 years earlier and Blériot's crossing of the Channel just a few years before the war seemed a distant memory as aircraft became killing machines—the war becoming the ancestor of the fearsome air wars of later years. The stories are presented to the reader in a frank and open way, revealing the feelings of the men who defended the trenches from above and witnessed the war from a completely different perspective. These first-hand accounts tell the almost totally unknown tale of men who rewrote the rules of military engagement and changed the course of modern history as a result.
Download or read book Lords of the Sky written by Dan Hampton and published by Harper Collins. This book was released on 2014-06-24 with total page 577 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The definitive history of combat aviation and fighter aircraft, from World War I to present INCLUDES 32 PAGES OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND 12 MAPS Lords of the Sky is the “dramatic, fast-paced, and definitive" (Michael Korda) history of fighter pilots and aircraft and their extraordinary influence on modern warfare, masterfully written by "one of the most decorated pilots in Air Force history” (New York Post). A twenty-year USAF veteran who flew more than 150 combat missions and received multiple Distinguished Flying Crosses, Lt. Colonel Dan Hampton draws on his singular firsthand knowledge, as well as groundbreaking research in aviation archives and rare personal interviews with little-known heroes, including veterans of World War II, Korea, and Vietnam. Hampton (the New York Times bestselling author of Viper Pilot) reveals the stories behind history's most iconic aircraft and the aviators who piloted them: from the Sopwith Camel and Fokker Triplane to the Mitsubishi Zero, Supermarine Spitfire, German Bf 109, P-51 Mustang, Grumman Hellcat, F-4 Phantom, F-105 Thunderchief, F-16 Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and beyond. In a seamless, sweeping narrative, Lords of the Sky is an extraordinary account of the most famous fighter planes and the brave and daring heroes who made them legend.
Download or read book Iron Man written by Peter Kilduff and published by Grub Street Publishers. This book was released on 2012-12-19 with total page 295 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This biography of a tenacious fighter pilot is “a powerful story about a fascinating man who seemed to know no fear” (Aerodrome). As one of the most successful German fighter pilots of World War I, Rudolf Berthold was victorious in forty-four aerial combats. He was also shot down or forced to land after six fights and survived crash landings in every case. Early in WWI, when only fighter pilots were awarded the Kingdom of Prussia’s (and de facto, Imperial Germany’s) highest bravery decoration, the Pour le Mérite, Berthold became the tenth recipient of the honor. Of that early cohort of air heroes, only Berthold and one other pilot survived the war. This book tells his remarkable story. Six weeks into the war, Berthold became the first airman in the 2nd Army area to be awarded an Iron Cross in recognition of his bravery and tenacity in combat. The symbolism of the award was appropriate. Described by one of his pilot protégés as “an Iron Man—with an absolutely unbendable iron will,” he was a dedicated patriot. And, after he became a fighter pilot, he demonstrated a fierce fighting spirit in many encounters with British and French adversaries. All of his aerial combats with other Pour le Mérite–awarded flyers are detailed in this book. Indeed, Berthold was so relentless in his approach to aerial combat that when badly wounded, on at least six occasions, he cut short his convalescent leave to return to flying with his comrades. The injuries included a hit to his right arm, which shattered the bone, rendering it useless—yet an undaunted Berthold taught himself to fly using his left. Peter Kilduff has produced a landmark volume based on extensive research into Berthold’s life and military career to form the most complete account of Germany’s sixth highest scoring fighter ace of WWI. Illustrated with over eighty photographs and other artworks, many never published before, Iron Man tells the tale of this ruthless, fearless fighter whose perseverance and bravery made him one of the most famous airmen of the Great War.
Book Synopsis Fighter Aces of the Great War by : Stephen Wynn
Download or read book Fighter Aces of the Great War written by Stephen Wynn and published by Pen and Sword Aviation. This book was released on 2020-04-30 with total page 138 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A look at the transformation of aerial combat during World War I and the pilots of every country who were celebrated for shooting down enemy aircraft. By the time of the outbreak of the First World War, aviation was only eleven years old. The daddy of battlefield warfare until that point in time had been the cavalry, a position it maintained even as war was declared on the Western Front. Aircraft were not initially seen as an offensive weapon and were instead used by both sides as observation platforms or to take aerial photographs. Even when they were eventually used in an offensive capacity, they did not have machine guns attached to them; if the crew wanted to open fire then they had to use a pistol or rifle. As the war progressed so the use of aircraft changed from being an observational tool, to that of a fighter and bomber aircraft—something that had never been foreseen at the outbreak of the war. This book looks at the fighter aces from all sides. These were pilots who had been credited with shooting or forcing down a minimum of five enemy aircraft, of which there were hundreds. While some of these aces survived, many of them were killed. The most famous fighter ace of all is without doubt the German pilot known as the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen. “It’s the legendary stuff I was brought up on, reading about first world war dogfights . . . Stephen Wynn and Tanya Wynn weave a good tale between them—absolutely enthralling.” —Books Monthly
Book Synopsis Recollections of the Great War in the Air by : James McConnell
Download or read book Recollections of the Great War in the Air written by James McConnell and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2013-09-02 with total page 120 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “The memoir of . . . an American pilot flying with the famous French Flying Corps’ American Layfayette Escadrille and provides a unique personal insight.”—Firetrench In 1915 James Roger McConnell enlisted as a US volunteer in the French Flying Corps. He was part of a remarkable band of American volunteers which were formed into the famous Lafayette Escadrille, which was then based at Verdun. This book brings his personal account of the war, Flying for France, to a new generation of readers. His memoirs produce an amazing insight into the early aerial battles and trace the evolution of aerial warfare as the rickety aircraft of 1915 rapidly evolved into the purpose-built fighters of 1917. Casualties among the American Escadrille were very high and McConnell’s own luck finally ran out when he was ambushed by two German fighters and was killed in action in March 1917. His gripping and detailed memoir of the war is his lasting memorial; his honest account of the everyday life of a pilot in the Great War is matched only by Sagittarius Rising. However, his dramatic description of the battlefield of Verdun viewed from above is one of the classic descriptions of any wartime memoir and is unmatched by any other Great War writer. “Resurrects an important part of the first-person literature of the Lafayette Escadrille. A long-lost gem.”—Over the Front “The memoir and letters give a surprising amount of detail about the pilot’s life and tactics employed. McConnell’s story is certainly an interesting one and this is a short and easily digestible introduction to the life of a First World War pilot.”—WW1 Geek
Book Synopsis Eddie Rickenbacker by : Charles River Editors
Download or read book Eddie Rickenbacker written by Charles River Editors and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-07-06 with total page 54 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: *Includes pictures *Includes Rickenbacker's quotes about his life and career *Includes online resources and a bibliography for further reading "Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared." - Eddie Rickenbacker The men and women who won World War II for the Allies have been called "the greatest generation," and rightfully so, for they saved the Western world from destruction and domination by totalitarian dictators. As Winston Churchill so eloquently put it, "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few." However, even within this glorious group, there was another, perhaps even more superlative generation made up of men and women who fought not only in World War II but also World War I, which at the time was the deadliest and most destructive war in history. A few of these fighters were young enough to fight in both wars, and Eddie Rickenbacker was one of them, one of the "best of the best." Though he served only in a civilian capacity during World War II, he remains today a romantic hero of a bygone era, a man who flew airplanes that were little more than hang gliders with engines and guns, and survived to help design jets. His service won him the Medal of Honor, along with more awards for valor than any other person fighting in World War I. But participating in the wars was not nearly enough time in the air for the ambitious Rickenbacker. When he was not setting new records in the air, he was setting new speed records on the ground, most notably as a first generation race car driver who not only drove cars but designed them. He also served for decades as the president of one of the world's first major commercial passenger aviation companies, Eastern Air Lines, seeing it through the ups and downs of the financial and technological boom and bust in America between the wars. Eddie Rickenbacker: The Life and Legacy of America's Top World War I Fighter Ace chronicles the remarkable life of one of America's greatest war heroes. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Rickenbacker like never before.
Book Synopsis The Lafayette Escadrille by : Steven A. Ruffin
Download or read book The Lafayette Escadrille written by Steven A. Ruffin and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2016-05-19 with total page 324 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “A fresh look at the 38 Americans in the Escadrille Américaine . . . a finely-researched, well-written and well-illustrated book. It is recommended highly” (Over the Front). The Lafayette Escadrille was an all-volunteer squadron of Americans who flew for France during World War I, arguably the best-known fighter squadron ever to take to the skies. In this work, the entire history of these gallant volunteers—who named themselves after the Marquis de Lafayette, who came to America’s aid during its revolution—is laid out in both text and pictorial form. Along with archival photographs and documents, current snapshots of existing markers and memorials honoring the Lafayette Escadrille were taken by the author in France. In several cases, he was able to match his present-day color photos with older images of the same scene, thus creating a jaw-dropping then-and-now comparison. To add even more color, the author included artwork and aircraft profiles by recognized illustrators, along with numerous full-color photographs of artifacts relating to the squadron’s men and airplanes, as they are displayed today in various museums in the United States and France. The result is undoubtedly the finest photographic collection of the Lafayette Escadrille to appear in print. Along with expert text revealing air-combat experiences, as well as life at the front during the Great War, it is a never-before-seen visual history that both World War I aviation aficionados and those with a passing interest in history will appreciate. “This magnificent book probably provides everything needed by someone wishing to learn about this famous fighting unit.” —Cross and Cockade “When it comes to describing aerial combat in all its bloody fury, [Ruffin] excels.” —Air and Space Magazine
Book Synopsis Calvin Spann: Daring Fighter Pilot by : Duchess Harris
Download or read book Calvin Spann: Daring Fighter Pilot written by Duchess Harris and published by ABDO. This book was released on 2019-12-15 with total page 51 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Calvin Spann was a fighter pilot during World War II, when the US military was segregated. He fought with the African American flying force the Tuskegee Airmen. Calvin Spann: Daring Fighter Pilotexplores Spann's life and legacy. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional resources, and an index. Aligned to Common Core Standards and correlated to state standards. Core Library is an imprint of Abdo Publishing, a division of ABDO.
Book Synopsis Kiffin Rockwell by : Marc Eric McClure
Download or read book Kiffin Rockwell written by Marc Eric McClure and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2017-08-31 with total page 92 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: During the summer of 1914 the drumbeat of war excited public attention the world round. Among those following events that looked to drag all of Europe into the abyss of war was 21-year-old Kiffin Rockwell. As the diplomatic crisis in Europe unfolded, Kiffin sensed that the opportunity to pursue a life of action had at last arrived. By summer's end he would step out and boldly grasp the chance to pursue a life of purpose. That decision would not only transform his life but would enshrine his place in history and make him America's first renowned hero of the Great War. A color edition of this work is also available. To access it type 7529544 in the search box above. Selections from the foreword: "I have, on a number of occasions, pointed out that the 38 pilots of the Lafayette Escadrille created a culture that influenced all combat pilots who came after them, even today. The Air Force values of courage, discipline, and commitment go right back to these young Americans who held and displayed those virtues. Among those men Kiffin Rockwell best exemplified Air Force values...in fact he shaped them. His French captain, Georges Thénault, described Rockwell as "a great soldier with a high sense of duty" and praised the young pilot for serving "simply and valiantly, without boasting and without ambition." "Rockwell was quiet and kept to himself but in the air he was a fearless, skilled, and ferocious combat pilot. Fortunately, the taciturn Rockwell expressed himself eloquently and openly in letters to family and friends. Those letters have been a source of inspiration since 1925, when his brother, Paul, first published them. Those letters serve as the foundation for Marc McClure's book Kiffin Rockwell: First American Hero of the Great War as well as the author's new documentary film Valor. These two works offer an intimate understanding of the young American soldier and pilot, who continues to be an example of excellence and a source of inspiration." T. Michael Moseley General (Ret.) United States Air Force 18th Chief of Staff
Download or read book Albert Ball VC written by Colin Pengelly and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2010-06-15 with total page 242 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An action-packed military biography of a British fighter pilot and his rise through ranks during World War I. World War I pilot Albert Ball’s invincible courage and determination made him a legend not only in Britain but also amongst his enemies, to whom the sight of his lone Nieuport Scout brought fear. Ball enlisted in the British army in 1914 with the 2/7th Battalion (Robin Hoods) of the Sherwood Foresters, Notts, and Derby Regiment. By October, 1914, he had reached the rank of Sergeant and then became Second-Lieutenant to his own battalion in the same month. In June, 1915, he trained as a pilot in Hendon. Then in October, he obtained Royal Aero Club Certificate and was transferred to the Royal Flying Corps. He further trained at Norwich and Upavon, being awarded the pilot’s brevet in January, 1916. In May, he opened his score, shooting down an Albatros C-type over Beaumont. Days later he shot down two LVG C-types, while flying his Nieuport 5173. Captain Albert Ball made his final flight on May 7, 1917, when he flew as part of an eleven-strong hunting patrol into action against Jagdstaffel 11, led by Lothar Von Richthofen. Albert was pursuing the Albatros Scout of Lothar, who crash-landed, wounded. Then many witnessed Albert dive out of a cloud and crash. He died minutes later in the arms of a French girl, Madame Cecille Deloffre. Ball rose from obscurity to the top rank of contemporary fighter pilots in only 15 months. In that period, he had been awarded the MC, DSO, and two Bars, and was credited with at least 44 victories.
Book Synopsis First to Fly by : Charles Bracelen Flood
Download or read book First to Fly written by Charles Bracelen Flood and published by Open Road + Grove/Atlantic. This book was released on 2015-06-02 with total page 269 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: “The compelling story of the squadron of adventurous young American pilots who were among the first to engage in air combat.” —Tampa Bay Times In First to Fly, lauded historian Charles Bracelen Flood draws on rarely seen primary sources to tell the story of the daredevil Americans of the Lafayette Escadrille, who flew in French planes, wore French uniforms, and showed the world an American brand of heroism before the United States entered the Great War. As citizens of a neutral nation from 1914 to early 1917, Americans were prohibited from serving in a foreign army, but many brave young souls soon made their way into European battle zones. It was partly from the ranks of the French Foreign Legion, and with the sponsorship of an expat American surgeon and a Vanderbilt, that the Lafayette Escadrille was formed in 1916 as the first and only all-American squadron in the French Air Service. Flying rudimentary planes, against one-in-three odds of being killed, these fearless young men gathered reconnaissance and shot down enemy aircraft, participated in the Battle of Verdun and faced off with the Red Baron, dueling across the war-torn skies like modern knights on horseback. “First to Fly shows us that there was something noble and honorable about the Escadrille, men who did not turn against their own country but put their lives up to fight for a cause, not because they had to but because it was the right thing to do.” —The Wall Street Journal
Book Synopsis Biggles, Pioneer Air Fighter by : W. E. Johns
Download or read book Biggles, Pioneer Air Fighter written by W. E. Johns and published by DigiCat. This book was released on 2022-08-01 with total page 134 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: DigiCat Publishing presents to you this special edition of "Biggles, Pioneer Air Fighter" by W. E. Johns. DigiCat Publishing considers every written word to be a legacy of humankind. Every DigiCat book has been carefully reproduced for republishing in a new modern format. The books are available in print, as well as ebooks. DigiCat hopes you will treat this work with the acknowledgment and passion it deserves as a classic of world literature.
Book Synopsis The Millionaires' Unit The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War, and the Birth of American Air Power by : Marc Wortman
Download or read book The Millionaires' Unit The Aristocratic Flyboys Who Fought the Great War, and the Birth of American Air Power written by Marc Wortman and published by Public Affairs. This book was released on 2006-04-24 with total page 364 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The true story is revealed of how a group of wealthy, privileged young men answered their country's call in World War I by taking to the air as the first-ever United States Air Force, and how they laid the ground for the modern Air Force.
Download or read book Fall of Eagles written by Alex Revell and published by Casemate Publishers. This book was released on 2011-10-05 with total page 290 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Great War of 1914–1918 saw the rapid development of the airplane as a weapon of war. Initially its role was seen as that of reconnaissance, an extension of the cavalry, but as the war stagnated into static trench warfare, with each side facing each other across No Mans Land, the use of artillery, both in shelling enemy positions and counter-shelling his artillery, also became of prime importance. With the early development of radio communication between ground and air, airplanes also undertook the task of spotting for the artillery, and it soon became apparent that these airplanes both the reconnaissance machines and those working for the artillery could not be allowed to work unmolested, and fast fighter airplanes—both single and two seat began to make their appearance over the Western Front. Technical development was rapid. The mostly unarmed reconnaissance airplanes, and the early fighters of 1915 and 1916, armed with a single machine gun, had given way to fighters carrying two guns, flying at altitudes of over 16,000 feet and at treble the speed of the predecessors of 1914. With these developments a new type of soldier had evolved: the fighter pilot. Capable of fighting in the air, in three dimensions and at great speed, individual pilots began to emerge whose singular talents and temperament brought them to the forefront of their respective air forces. They became the aces, pilots who had brought down five or more of the enemy. Despite their expertise, few of these aces survived the war. The last combats of some are known and well documented, others are obscure. Some of the pilots in these pages are well-known, others less so, but all shared the common experience of fighting in the air during the war of 1914–1918: the conflict which saw the airplane evolve from a relatively fragile, unarmed reconnaissance machine, to a deadly weapon that changed the face of war for ever.
Book Synopsis Lost Wings of WWI by : Martin W. Bowman
Download or read book Lost Wings of WWI written by Martin W. Bowman and published by Pen and Sword. This book was released on 2014-06-26 with total page 494 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This new publication from eminent military historian Martin Bowman chronicles the stories of airmen downed on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918, representing a contribution on the author's part to the 100th anniversary of the Great War. It's speciality focus makes for a truly unique compendium of visceral First World War accounts of the incredible, bloody, aerial battles flown by the RFC, German, American, British and Commonwealth pilots shot down over the Western Front, also including stories of their escapes and lives in PoW camps. Whilst the predominant focus is on the airmen who saw action during the Great War, the author also provides startling tales of female heroism. There is a full chapter dedicated to the life and death of Norfolk heroine, Edith Cavell, a Norwich-born nurse who saved the lives of hundreds of soldiers from both sides during the conflict, and perished in the endeavour. Amongst the famous pilots covered are; VCs Billy Bishop and Freddie West; Dice-with-Death Dallas; Mannock The King of the Fighter Aces and Frank Luke the Balloon Buster. This book contains vivid accounts of some of the most heroic actions in the history of aerial warfare, all taking place within the brutal four year stretch of the Great War.
Download or read book Race of Aces written by John R Bruning and published by Hachette Books. This book was released on 2020-01-14 with total page 534 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The astonishing untold story of the WWII airmen who risked it all in the deadly race to become the greatest American fighter pilot. In 1942, America's deadliest fighter pilot, or "ace of aces" -- the legendary Eddie Rickenbacker -- offered a bottle of bourbon to the first U.S. fighter pilot to break his record of twenty-six enemy planes shot down. Seizing on the challenge to motivate his men, General George Kenney promoted what they would come to call the "race of aces" as a way of boosting the spirits of his war-weary command. What developed was a wild three-year sprint for fame and glory, and the chance to be called America's greatest fighter pilot. The story has never been told until now. Based on new research and full of revelations, John Bruning's brilliant, original book tells the story of how five American pilots contended for personal glory in the Pacific while leading Kenney's resurgent air force against the most formidable enemy America ever faced. The pilots -- Richard Bong, Tommy McGuire, Neel Kearby, Charles MacDonald and Gerald Johnson -- riveted the nation as they contended for Rickenbacker's crown. As their scores mounted, they transformed themselves from farm boys and aspiring dentists into artists of the modern dogfight. But as the race reached its climax, some of the pilots began to see how the spotlight warped their sense of duty. They emerged as leaders, beloved by their men as they chose selfless devotion over national accolades. Teeming with action all across the vast Pacific theater, Race of Aces is a fascinating exploration of the boundary between honorable duty, personal glory, and the complex landscape of the human heart. "Brings you into the cockpit of the lethal, fast-paced world of fighter pilots . . . Fascinating." -- Sara Vladic"Extraordinary . . . a must-read." -- US Navy Captain Dan Pedersen"A heart-pounding narrative of the courage, sacrifice, and tragedy of America's elite fighter pilots." -- James M. Scott"Vivid and gripping . . . Confirms Bruning's status as the premier war historian of the air." -- Saul David
