First-hand accounts by F.E 2 airmen?

albatros · 27 December 2001, 12:49 PM

We don't have a "Books" section in the Forum, so I'll post this question here...Are there any books out there by pilots or observers that describe what it was like to fly and fight in this machine? Is there a squadron history for No. 11 squadron RFC that might have first-person accounts?

27 December 2001, 03:00 PM

Dear Al (batros),
Have you read

Horses Don't Fly by

Frederick Libby (very likely the first American ace of WW1, but keep in mind that this was with the RFC); the book is published by Arcade Publishing, 2000. I believe that Libby did fly with 11 Squadron; in any event, this book is well worth your time...
BTW, there was a Horsesdontfly. com, but I'm afraid that the website has since vacated; perhaps it was .net or .org; good luck!

EdStevens · 28 December 2001, 04:35 AM

A good deal of Arch Whitehouse's autobiography, "The Fledgling" is about his experiences as a gunner on board Fees. Even allowing for some exaggeration, it's a good read.

Vigilant · 28 December 2001, 07:23 AM

Albatros,

Try The Annals of 100 Squadron, written post-war by its commanding officer and available on the net at:

http://www.patrickwilson.com/annals/cover.html

Hope this helps,

Vigilant.

Lufbery · 28 December 2001, 08:52 AM

Vig,

I tried the link you provided, but all I got was the cover, there were no links to anything else. Am I missing something?

UPDATE: Try this link, it's got all the stuff: http://www.patrickwilson.com/annals/book.html

Regards,

-Drew

albatros · 29 December 2001, 03:19 AM

Thanks Capt. Lewis...Libby says that as an observer, he didn't have a strap or belt to hold him in the plane in the event of evasive manuvers, just a good grip on his gun! I find that hard to understand. No wonder the RFC was hard up for observers!!

Lufbery · 31 December 2001, 03:21 AM

Quote:

Thanks Capt. Lewis...Libby says that as an observer, he didn't have a strap or belt to hold him in the plane in the event of evasive manuvers, just a good grip on his gun! I find that hard to understand. No wonder the RFC was hard up for observers!!

Is this the same Libby that Captain Lewis mentions as the author of Horses Don't Fly? I saw that book at Borders last week and thought about picking it up. If you guys both like it, then I think I shall.

Regards,

31 December 2001, 11:54 AM

Ah, the dear ol' 'Fee', the original 'battleplane'! The type was a major component of the RFC's fighting squadrons that attained and held air superiority over the Western Front until the first Jastas appeared late in 1916 as a response. It was still in production and service at the Armistice, serving as a night bomber, but it was 'Immelman's Nemesis' long before that.

There are several enlightening accounts of fighting in 'Fees' in the new book 'Somme Success' by Peter Hart; 2001, Leo Cooper, Pen & Sword Ltd, 47 Church Street, Barnsley, Yorkshire, S70 2AS, ISBN 0-85052-741-4. Subtitle is 'The Royal Flying Corps and the Battle of the Somme', and the whole book is a skilful compilation of first-hand accounts by a first-class historian. Lots of guts 'n' spills in BE2s 'n' DH2s as well; thoroughly recommended.

Cheers!

Simba.