What's your favourite WWI Book?

scooterjmuggs · 19 February 2007, 01:18 PM

Hi All;

In my never ending search for the best reading material on the Air War in
WW1, I am putting the question out there for everyone to weigh in and get some reading suggestions along the way.

Here's the question; What is your favourite Non-Fiction work on the Air War in World War One?

Of those that I have read, I still think that my favourite is

James McCudden's "Flying Fury".

It can be any non-fiction work however. Autobiography, biography, Aircraft Profile book, Battle synopsis, etc., etc., etc.

There is so much out there to read and I hope to get several good suggestions for upcoming reads from this question.

scooterjmuggs out...

Taz · 19 February 2007, 02:33 PM

SJM- The Fokker Triplane by Alex Imrie closely followed by High in the Empty Blue by Alex Revell.

Taz
Terry Phillips

dpolglaze · 19 February 2007, 03:45 PM

I like the personal accounts.

No Parachute by

Arthur Gould Lee is a good one.
Flying Minnows by "Roger Vee" (pseudonym for Vivian Voss) is also good.

Dan

Ransom E. Olds · 19 February 2007, 03:59 PM

As an unrepentant gearhead I'd like to place The German Giants, by Haddow and Grosz in nomination. Ransom

Frederic Mason · 19 February 2007, 06:06 PM

Cheers; I'd have to say the best reading I've enjoyed is

Taffy Jones account of his WWI flying experience in the front half of his 74 Sqdn. RAF history,

TIGER SQUADRON. The original 1954 first edition has the artwork and good photos in it, which amplify his energetic prose. Then toss in

WINGS OVER THE SOMME, NO PARACHUTE and

FIGHTING THE FLYING CIRCUS. Never found a WWI German title that was very interesting. Although I'm willing to be educated. Fiction is probably the best for WWI enjoyment - like

WINGED VICTORY, FALCONS OF FRANCE, etc. Soo, waiting for suggestions??

Gregvan · 19 February 2007, 09:55 PM

Hi,

For a great "German title", try

Rudolf Stark's "Wings of War" ("Die Jagdstaffel Unsere Heimat"). Very evocative, beautifully written - almost poetic. I'd put it on a par with "No Parachute" or McCudden's book.

You could also try

Ernst Udet's "Mein Fliegerleben" in either translation: Ace of the Black Cross or Ace of the Iron Cross.

Greg

SCMc · 19 February 2007, 10:25 PM

Gregvan wrote:

Quote:

You could also try

Ernst Udet's "Mein Fliegerleben" in either translation: Ace of the Black Cross or Ace of the Iron Cross.

Is there any significant difference in these two translations?

Steve

TomVrille · 20 February 2007, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scooterjmuggs

Of those that I have read, I still think that my favourite is

James McCudden's "Flying Fury".

Hi scooter....
I have always believed that the best way to start building a library is to begin with books that are particularly enjoyable reads. If you liked McCudden's book, let me suggest several classics that are real page turners. these include:

No Parachute by

Arthur Gould Lee
Sagittarius Rising by

Cecil Lewis
Wind in the Wires by

Duncan Grinnell-Milne
Recollections of an Airman by Louis A. Strange

and one volume that may come to be considered a classic,

Horses Don't Fly by

Frederick Libby

Happy reading...

austin08 · 20 February 2007, 02:36 PM

Hey Scooter,
I found the book "Years of combat" by Sholto Douglas an exceptional read. Very measured in his analysis of the events of his youth- after having read many of the John Hamilton publications & memoirs from aces written in the 20s' & 30s' whose style tended to be very "boys own"(Mc Cudden the exception!) Sholto Douglas' writing shows why he was such a leader of men.

rainbase · 20 February 2007, 02:52 PM

Tom, that's a great list you just put together. hands down, my favorite reads have been the first person accounts. I would add a couple to this that really stick out in my mind:
Willie Coppens - Flying In Flanders (or, Days On The Wing, if you will...)
Bert Hall - Either one: En L' Air or One Man's War. Yeah these are loaded with Hall's self serving bullshit, but entertaining nevertheless.

Elliot Springs (well, mostly his) - Diary Of An Unknown Aviator
Arch Whitehouse - The Fledgling (Easily his most vital work)

Billy Bishop - Winged Warfare (I know this one always seems to stir controversy, but it's a fun read)
Gordon Taylor - Sopwith Scout 7309 (for after you read No Parachute and you just can't get enough of Sopwith Pups....)

That's a little list anyways!