Arch Whitehouse

cspellman · 9 July 2003, 03:23 PM

Alright, this guy's name is everywhere when it comes to WWI aviation literature and all I really know about him was that he was an observer/gunner with 22 Sqdn and was once shot down by Richtofhen, or so my very abbreviated research revealed. *Did he himself ever pilot an aircraft? *What else is known about him? *I know he wrote a ton of books and I myself have an old one but it does not outline much about him.

retread · 9 July 2003, 05:01 PM

I asked a similar question myself not long ago. You may get some strong opinions regarding Mr. Whitehouse as many consider his writings a mixture of fact and fancy. It seems Arch may have not let factual details stand in the way of a good tale. Although his were among the first books I read regarding WW1 aviation when I was a kid and he hooked me.
He wrote an autobiographical account of his war years called ,"The Fledgling" which is interesting and entertaining if not completely accurate. As I recall it was toward the end of the war that he earned his wings and was posted with a scout squadron in England, but he never piloted an aircraft in combat. Although he had seen at least his share of fighting as a gunner/observer.

Gregvan · 9 July 2003, 06:36 PM

No matter what anyone says, ol' Arch was a real combat veteran who definitely flew in combat. However, his belief that he was shot down by Richthofen has since been proven to be mistaken. He may have been shot down, but not by MvR.

In the old days of "Cross & Cockade Journal", they ran an article by someone 'debunking' Whitehouse's autobiographical writings (entitled something like, "Should History be suborned for Personal Aggrandizement " ?? ) . The Journal got the most angry mail response they ever did, as members came to Arch's defense and said the journal should not be used for 'personal attacks'.

Times have changed.

Greg

Dan_San_Abbott · 10 July 2003, 08:40 AM

Gentlemen:
Arch Whitehouse was a veteran of the air war.
His experiences in the air improved whith each writing. I started with Mr.Whitehouse's writings in a pulp magazine called Flying Aces in the 1930s. He is for real, His stories are better.
Blue skies,
Dan-San

Billy_Bishop · 11 July 2003, 06:54 AM

Whatever SOME people may say about Arch, he got many of us interested in the history of WWI aerial combat.

For that, I think I, for one, can forgive any "mistakes" on his part.

VBR,

Al

Michael Scheetz · 12 July 2003, 04:36 AM

I am currently reading his "Legion of the Lafayette" (1962) and find it enjoyable and worthwhile.

Observing

Darryl · 12 July 2003, 06:50 AM

All,

Arch WAS a veteran, full respect for that. However a lot of what he said was passed off as "fact" when it was opinion at best, wishful thinking more often, outright fancy at worst. (Remind me again who DID "invent" the "dogfight"?)

My problem is with anyone who writes "history" without due care and attention.

Just my US$0.02 (A$450.45) worth.

BTW, Greg, that article was pure malice...but Arch's response was not particularly credible either (from memory)

regards

Darryl

24 July 2003, 09:52 AM

In one of his books Whitehouse states that he was sent from the Front back to England "to be trained as a Camel pilot," but I don't know if he ever made it back to France and entered combat as a pilot.

Darryl · 24 July 2003, 08:07 PM

Quote:

In one of his books Whitehouse states that he was sent from the Front back to England "to be trained as a Camel pilot," but I don't know if he ever made it back to France and entered combat as a pilot.

EagleofAZ,

He was trained as a pilot (did fly Camels) but didn't get his wings in time to see active service in that capacity.

regards

Darryl

Billy_Bishop · 24 July 2003, 08:08 PM

I think he did, but I could be wrong on that. I'm mostly going from memory as most of my Whitehouse books disappeared long ago.