War Birds: The Diary of a Great War Pilot

by Elliott White Springs, Horace Fulford (Editor)

Overview

Following the declaration of war by the United States, more than 200 American men, unwilling to wait until US squadrons could be raised, volunteered to join the Royal Flying Corps in the summer of 1917. Amongst these men was John MacGavock Grider and Elliott White Springs who both joined 85 Squadron to fly SE.5 fighters.

During his service with the RFC and the RAF, Grider kept a record of his experiences from when he joined up until his untimely death in 1918, when he was shot down over the Western Front. Before his death, Grider had made a pact with Elliott White Springs that in the event of one of them dying, the other would complete their writings. Springs went on to write this book, an amalgamation of his own recollections and Grider’s diary and correspondence.

War Birds records in detail the stresses of training and the terror and elation of failure and success during combats with the enemy the First World War. This unique edition of War Birds has been produced from a copy owned by another officer from 85 Squadron, Lieutenant Horace Fulford. In his copy, Fulford made numerous handwritten annotations and stuck in a number of previously unpublished photographs – all of which have been faithfully reproduced.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781473879614
Publisher:	Pen & Sword Books Limited
Publication date:	01/31/2020
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	304
Sales rank:	881,360
File size:	43 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Mark Hiller is a chartered surveyor who has a deep knowledge of the history of the RAF, with a particular focus on the Second World War. He is also a qualified pilot, having flown for more than twenty-two years. Mark currently flies a Stearman biplane from Goodwood Aerodrome, the former RAF Westhampnett. He has previously written or co-authored five successful books on aviation, including the biography of Wing Commander Thomas Murray DSO, DFC and Bar, contributed numerous magazine articles and is a regular public speaker on aviation matters.

Table of Contents

Introduction Mark Hillier vii

A Brief History of 85 Squadron xix

Squadron Roll, Officers of 85 Squadron xxv

Acknowledgements For New Edition xxviii

List of Abbreviations xxx

Foreword to the Original Edition xxxiii

Part I The UK and Training: 20 September 1917 to 20 May 1917 1

Part II The Western Front: 25 May 1917 and Beyond 93

Appendices 187

References and Notes 237

Select Bibliography and Source Information 257

Editorial Reviews

"If you want to know what being a young pilot in 1918 was really like, this is the book you need."

Airscape

This is a most impressive new edition of one of World War I aviation’s essential works. It is highly recommended.

Spring 2017 Over the Front