Bill Lambert: World War I Flying Ace

by Samuel J. Wilson

Overview

World War I fighter pilot William C. Lambert of Ironton, Ohio, flew for the British Royal Air Force in 1918. When he left the Western Front in August, he had 22 victories--then the most achieved by any American pilot. (By the time of the Armistice in November, his total was surpassed by Eddie Rickenbacker, the former race car driver from Columbus, Ohio, with 26 victories.) Lambert survived the war and lived into his eighties, unwilling until late in life to seek public acclaim for his war record. This book examines his life and the wartime experiences that defined it.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476626123
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Incorporated Publishers
Publication date:	08/16/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	276
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Samuel J. Wilson is a professor of history at the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio.
Samuel J. Wilson is a professor of history at the University of Rio Grande in Rio Grande, Ohio.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments viii
Preface
Introduction
One—The Birth of Aviation and the Road to War
Two—From Ironton to Canada
Three—Training
Four—Entering the Air War
Five—Spring 1918
Six—Summer: June 1918
Seven—Moving into Autumn: July 1918
Eight—Leave and Return
Nine—Return to the War
Ten—Leaving the War
Eleven—Barnstorming Days
Twelve—Life Between the Wars
Thirteen—Lambert in World War II and Afterward
Fourteen—Lambert and Friends: The Book Gets Published
Fifteen—Lambert as Artist
Sixteen—The Lambert They Knew
Seventeen—The Rediscovered Ace
Eighteen—The Final Years
Epilogue
Appendix: The Numbers Game
Chapter Notes
Bibliography
Index

Editorial Reviews

Wilson, does an exquisite job chronicling the life and times of this decorated fighter pilot...vivid accounts of contact with the enemy...the chapter dedicated to his [PTSD] diagnosis and the condition is mind-opening and impactful for anyone who has experienced similar symptoms or knows someone who has struggled with this very real disease. It is hard to put the book down as each encounter with the enemy keeps the pages turning. It is an essential read for historians and aviation enthusiasts.”—Roads to the Great War; “The dogfights, told from an ace’s perspective, are real, engaging, and leave the reader in suspense. It is hard to put the book down as each encounter with the enemy keeps the pages turning highlighting Lambert’s 22 confirmed victories...a must read”—Air University; “The overall package makes for a very interesting read [and] is something that’s worth having”—Cross & Cockade International; “well written, entertaining”—WWI Historical Association.

From the Publisher