I Touched the Earth and Sky", now available for the first time in English, describes an adventure along the road to hell; life in the trenches of WWI was vicious and life-changing and World War One flying ace Captain Ritter von Tutschek had many close brushes with death, initially when he was an infantryman.
He writes of his experiences with youthful gusto and refreshing self-deprecation. His soldier's joy in victory, or his sadness at the loss of comrades are never glossed over, his many awards are never mentioned.
Injured in a gas attack in 1916, he transferred to the flying unit of the German Army, where life was no less dangerous than it had been on the ground.
The tales from the daily missions of a WWI German ace fighter pilot are recalled with great humour and a keen awareness that death was always your co-pilot. From mechanics flying involuntarily on the tail fin to falling down to earth after being shot in the shoulder, Tutschek's joie de vivre and love of flying shine through his words and sketches.
"I Touched the Earth and Sky" was written shortly before he was shot down and killed on the 15th March 1918. It will leave every reader emotionally affected and is a unique and invaluable insight into the dangerous and often short life of a fighter pilot in WWI.
