WAR BIRDS: DIARY OF AN UNKNOWN AVIATOR

[Dave_Kent]

Hello:

I have always considered this book to be Historical Fiction, and therefore not a reference to be used in a 'serious' work. I have notuced, however, that it is frequently used, most recently by Greenhous.

So, what is it, History, Fiction, Historical Fiction, and can it be considered a legitimate and reliable source ?

Thanks

Dave

[Rick]

I always regarded this book to be 'a good read'. Nothing more nor nothing less. R.

[Billy_Bishop]

I always regarded this book to be 'a good read'.  Nothing more nor nothing less.      R.

I was under the impression that it was based, how much I don't know, on the experiences of John MacGavock Grider, as written by his friend, Elliot White Springs.

How much is fact, and how much is fiction, that's anyone's guess.

VBR,

Al Lowe

[Dave_Kent]

Hello Al:

That was my understanding as well, but I always wondered how loosly. Do we know if Grider left a diary or sets of letters, and that survive, which might support the bok ?

Dave

[Cigogne]

There was a big article on this in OTF a few years back. Only a few pages were Grider's the rest Spring's work although he didn't let that be known. The events in it are factual but obscured. Marvin Skelton would be one to ask about it.

Cigogne

[Rick]

I knew I read it somewhere - OTF. IIRC the Grider Diary ended either about the time their troop ship reached England, or about the time they reached France. The rest is Spring's doing. R.

[Dan_San_Abbott]

Dave Kent:
   Paul S. Winslow , a member of the "WAR BIRDS" and a personal friend, he and his wife Ruth had somewhat adopted my wife, Patti and I, they did not have children.  He and I talked at length about WW1, the "WAR BIRDS" and soforth.  
   He told me that when Elliot White Springs was editing (co-writing) the book "WAR BIRDS, The Diary of an Unknown Aviator" that Springs contacted everyone mentioned in the book and obtained their approvals.  While all the "WAR BIRDS" knew the "Unknown Aviator" John MacGavock Grider,
it was E.W.Springs decision to keep him anonymus and expand the few pages that existed in the diary from Grider's death in June 1918 to a later date to give some meat to the story.  The continuation of events regarding Grider are in part fictional and in part White's experiences.
   I asked Paul many questions about the "stories" in the book, Paul said most of them are true, an example when Paul's brother Alan slugged a British officer.  I don't consider the book fiction, A better description would be "Faction" It is really a story of the 212 "WAR BIRDS."
                       Blue skies,
                          Dan-San
P.S. When Patti and stayed in London,  we were at the Hotel Green Park, on Half Moon Street, it was the building the Paul had rented a flat in 1918.  We confirmed it by the building by the address.  Small World!

[Dave_Kent]

Hello:

Thamks to all.

I will have to track down the OTF article. I had to drop OTF, (and WW 1 Aero, WCAM, Flypast, Air International and a couple of others), a few years back. Had to choose between getting them or feeding the Kids, think I made the right choice.

I'm still not sure if it is a 'legitimate' source for a 'serious' work.

Dave

[EARTHLING]

Just to thow in a further morcel. There is at present on English television a programme on Cunningham-Reed (7) victories. Mentioned on page 166 my 1927 edition Grossett & Dunlap publishers:
"Cunningham-Reed had a forced landing and came back with a Belgian fox terrier that can do everything but talk".
Each programme starts with the famous picture of 85 squadron in France. C-R is on the extreme left with dog. Two away from E.W.Springs and Callaghan.
The final programme is on his divorce from Mountbatten's sister. Yes he was a fortune hunter. Mountbatten met him in Burlington Arcade and told him unless he could show that he had £10,000 in the bank, he couldn't marry her. She was Cassels grandaughter. Being a person of resource, he went to a moneylender, told him the story and got the cash. They will probably show it on PBS in the States so watch out for it.
VBR
Peter S

[EARTHLING]

Apologies, it should have said Earl Mountbatten of Burma's sister-in-law.
VBR
Peter S