elliot white springs

9 July 1999, 09:27 AM

does anyone know anything about e.w.s, i have just bought a book called Nocturne Militaire (1927)by him. he appears to be an american who served in the R.F.C.

9 July 1999, 10:24 AM

From what I've read he was quite a character. Born in South Carolina he served with 85 Sqdn with the British and 148th US. His total was 16 victories. Ten single and 2 shared Destroyed and 3 single and 1 shared OOC. He flew SE5a's with the British (5 vics) and Camels (11 vics) with the Americans. He ended up a squadron commander and after the war he earned millions by writing and running some industrial firm. He died in 1959. Hope you enjoy the book.

John G.

Billy_Bishop · 9 July 1999, 01:19 PM

I hate to be a nitpicker, but here goes.

According to Above The Trenches, EWS scored 4 with No. 85 Squadron, and 12 with the US 148th. That is a primary reason he was thought to have had only 12 victories, as many US Historians overlooked his 4 confirmed with 85 Squadron.

VBR,

Al (Nitpicker supreme) Lowe

9 July 1999, 01:38 PM

E.W.S. also edited the Diary of an Unknown Aviator which was the diary kept by John McGavock Grider who flew with 85 squadron and was shot down in the summer of 1918. In Grider's diary, he talks about the three musketeers, himself, Springs, and one other pilot. They flew with Mannock.

Billy_Bishop · 9 July 1999, 05:55 PM

Actually, EWS flew with Bishop and Mannock, although, not for long with Mannock.

Bishop's last day was June 19, Springs was wounded on June 27, and when he recovered he was sent to the US 148th Squadron.

VBR,

Al Lowe

10 July 1999, 02:45 AM

My Lord - I turned 40 and my memory is shot ! I shouldn't have gone from memory - and should have checked THE book.Glad there are hypertensive nit-pickers around

!!!!! Thanks for the correction !

John G.

10 July 1999, 11:28 AM

Actually, the WAR BIRDS (Diary of an Unknown Aviator) is now believed to have been completely composed by EWS. Lawrence Callahan (Cal) was the third member of this group.
Steve

14 July 1999, 05:54 PM

Springs' wife also wrote at least one book, a vanity type that highlighted her and her husband's life. My memory may be wrong, but I believe that Springs wrote several books (fishing?). He was (as his family) very important in the textile scene. The Springs plantation still exist.

15 July 1999, 06:00 AM

Springs expanded Grider's diary, which was much briefer, and finished the story--it's more like a non-fiction novel based on Grider's diary.
WARBIRD by Burke Davis is an excellent biography of Springs, well written and in spots as funny as hell.
Springs wrote his own advertising for Springmaid.
One of his ads showed a smiling, handsome Indian woman getting out of a hammock, leaving behind an exhausted brave. Underneath it is the slogan
"A buck well spent on a Springmaid Sheet"