The Knights of the Air

[Vigilant]

There is no bio of Jones as far as I know (unfortunately).

I've copied a chunk of an essay I wrote at university on the RFC to this URL: http://members.tripod.co.uk/Vigilant/ww1/aces.html. It concerns 'aces' only but it might be useful to you. The two books by Michael Paris will definitely be of use to you, and (as already mentioned) Dennis Winter's book is practically required reading.

The essay was written to a tight deadline and my understanding was a bit superficial so there are some generalizations that I wouldn't necessarily endorse now. (Sadly the Aerodrome only came into being after I had written it!) However, the main thrust is alright I believe.

Good luck with your paper.

'Vigilant'

[Barrett]

Vige: ref. your essay, it's interesting to note the tendency to associate individuals with other WW I endeavors as well as aviators, even at the time. An Oxford classmate of my brother's wrote a US Army treatise on Germany's successful infantry methods of 1918, observing that the allies called them "Ludendorff tactics" or "Hutier tactics," the latter named for the Eastern Front general. However, Col. Lupfer identified at least half a dozen German staff officers (including a couple of very junior ones) who contributed to the corporate success. The allies insisted even after the war that there was a tactical mastermind at work.
Ironically, the inspiration for infiltration tactics that led to German storm troops came from a captured French document.

Thanks for the essay. I'll read it over tonight.
I have been getting some good leads in the Winter book, I just wish he was more clear on his sources. He briefly outlines where he got his stuff, but there is no footnoting. I guess his publisher needed to cut down costs! (Sad but probably true)

Gord

[alex_revell]

Dear Gord
Hurriedly looking through the postings re your request for books on WW1 flying I noticed that somebody recommended the D Winter book as 'required reading'. Please don't take any notice of this as the book has more wrong information in it than you can shake a stick at. There were no 'Knights of The Air', which I think is an American term. As a British pilot once said, accurately. 'We are all paid assassins'. For a real insight try to get 'Flying Fury' by James McCudden and Winged Victory by V M Yeates. There are other books, of course, many of them, but these two are the first that spring to mind.
Good luck with your work.
Alex

Hello. I read the Winter book and I also had some concerns. He is vauge about
his sources and there is no footnoting. This leads me to believe that it is a trade
book rather than an academic publication. Nevertheless, I made quite a few notes
for areas to investigate in other soruces, even if I don't quote him directly.

Gord