Fighter Heros of WWI

A very interesting book about the first 'Aces' of air combat who invented this new form of warfare, as they went from taking potshots at each other with pistols and rifles, in planes made of wood, linen and wires, to twin forward-firing machine guns in monoplanes which could do aerobatics a mere 4 years later. This book is like a reference work, with a very comprehensive index, but also lots of action and stories about the 'aces' and their heroics and the daily dangers they faced. This book contains details of V M Yeates, and James McCudden who also have books about their experiences as WW1 pilots, and I thoroughly recommend reading all 3 to get the full picture of how air warfare came about, and developed so quickly in 4 short years.

I enjoyed this book but the problem with history topics is that mistakes in the content causes doubt and mistrust about accuracy. In this case all comment referring to 41 Sqn and then in quoted speech of contributors, was wrongly ascribed and should have been 40 Sqn - this was not just a one off typo as it had even been written as quoted comments made by the contributors! Left a feeling that although it was a good read what other "tweaking" had been made,and therefore not stories to be passed on without independent research.

This book is a middle line between being a collection of short stories and a reference library of the many pilots who flew in the First World War. The stories are both humerous and tragic when considering the risks that the pilots took every time they left the ground in the flimsy aircraft that they put their trust in. Death was commonplace in many cases before they had even left the confines of their own aerodrome.Its one of those books that grips you and you have to read on to find out what happened next.Well worth the 99p I paid to read this, and will remain on my Kindle, for a reference in the future.

I concur with the favourable reviews of this book. It is perhaps not as well-researched as the Peter Hart books of similar content, but is most enjoyable to read. However do note that it was issued in hard-cover format with the title "On a Wing and a Prayer". I discovered this after purchasing (at a bargain price) the paperback here described. I had already purchased the hard-cover version. I shall give the paperback to an interested friend.

I saw this book just before I went to the battlefieds of France and Belgium, and found itinvaluable. I was able to locate the grave of Albert Ball VC. There are other stories inthis book which makes me want to investigate more and visit the battlefields again.I would recommend this book to anyone interested in aerial combat of the 1st WW.

Well researched got to learn about people in more modern times and that being an officer meant you didn't get shot at dawn for being a coward unlike the pbi

Really enjoyed the histories and life of the airmen involved in this conflict. The only downside for me was the flicking backwards and forwards between time periods and aircraft.

makes you feel very humble when you read what these early fighter pilots went through, as an amateur pilot myself, I don't know how they did it