One of my favorite stories from the book was about Lieutenant Cook knocking down a drachen by throwing a jam-hammer at it! Another story about Lt.
Wilbur White ramming a Fokker with his SPAD head on was absolutely shocking. Rickenbacker's comments about
Frank Luke being the best pilot in the US Air Service surprised me a little, considering Eddie was the U.S. Ace if Aces.
The atrocity of war is not hidden from view in this book either, but it doesn't concentrate on that topic alone. I found this balance refreshing. He writes about things matter-of-factly, the bad and the good, while leaving the reader to deal with whatever emotional response they have to the information conveyed. He doesn't preach or tell you how to react to these things. For example, when he mentions strafing German troops, he doesn't follow it up with how barbaric the U.S. is and how we should be brought up on war crimes for committed atrocities. He just shares the facts. I wish journalists would do this today. They should let the people decide their own reactions.
There was another story about
Douglas Campbell, if I remember correctly, having second thoughts about finishing off an observation plane. The enemy plane had run out of ammunition during a long dogfight with himself, and the observer stood their waiting to be shot down with a proud face of sorts. Campbell thought about it and realized the intel they had was important and he finished them off. This shows the disparity between now and then. Now, there would be no second thought. The enemy would be shot down, no questions asked. It reminds me of the story where Guynemer waved at Udet and let him go because Udet's guns jammed. Had Campbell's plane been a pursuit rather than observation plane, he may have done the same.
We must remember that many of these aviators were of the Gentleman class and were raised with codes of honor. Unlike today, they were raised to conform to societal rules and expectations for people of their class through speech, dress, manners, etc. This may have created moral dilemmas for these men in battle, that we shall never see again.
One of the odder comments I remember was about another pilot who had been shot through the jaw and was not taken care of very well in Germany after being captured. Rickenbacker proceeds to say that, once back in the U.S., the American doctors will make him look like he never stepped foot in France. This seems to be quite an exaggeration, or whitewashing of reality.
Another unrealistic comment was about our happy go-lucky doughboys smiling at all times, singing, etc. It sounded more like a bunch of drunken sailors on leave then men in formation marching towards their potential doom. It seems a rather British way of dealing with emotional topics; keeping a stiff upper lip, as it were. It is concealment of all things that would alarm others for the benefit of others; ever self-sacrificing. The WWII and Korean War generations are very similar. In contrast, the Vietnam generation are the polar opposite, while all subsequent generations are somewhere in between.
There are many more interesting things, but I need to go to bed now.
Yank