Flying for France: With the American Escadrille at Verdun

History

By James R McConnell

Publisher : Slipdown Mountain Publications LLC

ABOUT James R McConnell

James R McConnell
James R. McConnell was a founding member of the Lafayette Escadrille, a squadron of American pilots who flew for the French air force before American entered World War I. McConnell wrote Flying for France while recuperating from combat wounds in a French hospital and later died as the resu More...

Description

NOTE: There are many editions of this important World War I book available on the Internet from various retailers. Almost all are nothing more than scans of the original book, with consequent poor quality. This reprint has been typeset according to modern standards, resulting a more readable text. The historical notes added by editor Walt Shiel add to the value of this edition.

James R. McConnell earned the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic service in 1915 in the American Ambulance Field Service in World War I. Not content as an official non-combatant, McConnell joined the French Air Force to become a pilot.

James R. McConnell earned the French Croix de Guerre for his heroic service in 1915 in the American Ambulance Field Service in World War I. Not content as an official non-combatant, McConnell joined the French Air Force to become a pilot.

McConnell became a founding member of the legendary Lafayette Escadrille American pilots flying for France under French commanders. McConnell wrote Flying for France in 1916 mostly while recuperating from injuries incurred in an accident during a combat sortie in a Nieuport avion de chasse. Despite debilitating pain, he soon returned to the Escadrille to fly and fight.

Flying for France provides a unique glimpse into the lives of the Americas first fighter pilots. Its 1917 publication helped Americans understand the war in Europe and may have proven instrumental in coalescing support for Americas entry into the first global war.

To place his story in historical context, this edition includes historical notes about the Lafayette Escadrille and James McConnell himself. For aviation history buffs and students or practitioners of modern aerial combat, Flying for France confirms the French adage le plus cest change, le plus cest la même chose.

The more things change, the more they remain the same.