Heres another one.
6) "A Killing for the Hawks" by Frederick E Smith
Written by Frederick E Smith, better remembered for his popular series of novels about the WW2 Mosquito unit- 633 Squadron. This novel centres on the RFC 55a Squadron flying SE5as over the Western Front in 1917. A young American pilot Norman McConnell joins the unit. In charge is Squadron Leader John Seymour, brilliant and dashing. At first McConnell is captivated by his commander's personality but slowly the former learns the grim truth- Seymour is a cold-hearted, ruthless glory-seeker who appears to care nothing for the welfare of his men. McConnell learns to discard his own conceit and narrow-view with help from the quiet Yorkshire Flight Commander Bush whose wife and sickly young son live in poverty in England's harsh north. McConnell has a love affair with a young woman whilst on leave only to realise she is Seymour's wife and that she is the victim of domestic abuse from her husband.
McConnell soon learns to hate Seymour as the latter shows no remorse in sending out tired worn-out pilots and under-trained youngsters to die. A young, under-skilled fellow American joins the unit and he is a former friend of McConnells. He is sent out by Seymour and is quickly shot down in flames, later followed by an exhausted Bush whom Seymour sends on a virtual suicidial mission. At the novels climax, a massive aerial battle sees 55 squadron decimated and McConnell is wounded and he crash-lands in no-mans land. To his surprise, Seymour lands his own plane and rescues the American, carrying him to the British trenches but being mortally wounded himself in the process. With his last breath, Seymour whispers to McConnell that he saved his life not so much out of friendship but rather as a kind of final revenge. Seymour knows that his memory will live on in glory and that it will forever come between McConnell and his love for Seymour's wife.
Sound corny? Yes. Melodramatic? In parts, yes. But it is an entertaining read. The character of Bush is actually the most moving of the novel and one feels a genuine regret when he is lost. The battle scenes are thrilling although it makes the act of shooting down enemy planes look so easy as aircraft on both sides drop like flies. Simple- Just point and shoot! If Seymour was a real-life ace, he would have surpassed Richtofen's score of 80 at the rate at which he knocks down Huns in this novel.
First published: 1966
Currently in print? No.
More to come. Pete