Fighting the Flying Circus: The Memoirs of America’s Greatest Ace
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1918.
The tides of war are turning. America enters the air and bullets cut living streaks of fire into the enemy.
Eddie Rickenbacker’s WWI memoirs were first published in 1919 and reveal the bravery of men leaping into dangerous contraptions 15,000 feet above the Earth, fighting for their cause and fighting for life.
Over the misty, blood-stained fields of France Eddie Rickenbacker, ‘Rick’, takes us from his tentative, rookie steps aboard his plane during reconnaissance over enemy lines, through to the last victory of the Great War.
His initial elation and fear as enemy squadrons hurtle past and artillery guns singe the air are soon tempered with experience and, after the disappearance of Captain Jimmy Hall, Rick must take command of his squadron himself.
Rick flies on the new and experimental wings at the cutting edge of the Great War. Lessons are learned through victories and losses and men, comrades and captains, sadly lost.
Ultimately, Rick’s 94th regiment ended the war in France with the highest number of air victories of any American squadron, earning him the Medal of Honour.
These memoirs tell that tale from the humble beginnings. Men survive on a wing and a prayer, unable to distinguish an enemy’s colours from an ally’s. As death and destruction plough through France’s landscape below and an unforgiving enemy stalks the skies, Rick’s “Hat-in-the-Ring” Squadron are pushed to extremes unimagined prior to this conflict.
Filled with technical insights and dramatic revelations, this is a tense and exciting account from the eyes of a celebrated and revered WWI American fighter pilot witnessing the trials and triumphs of the blistering skies.
Eddie Rickenbacker (1890 – 1973) was one of the world’s top racing car drivers before enlisting with the U.S. Army upon their entrance into the Great War in 1917. By September 1918 he had become America’s most successful fighter ace with 26 aerial victories, receiving the Medal of Honour and the adulation of his countrymen and allies. With the end of the war Rickenbacker elected to leave the air service and established his own automotive company before becoming General Manager of Eastern Airlines.
ASIN : B01EK3IEOG
Publisher : Lume Books
Accessibility : Learn more
Publication date : April 19, 2016
Language : English
File size : 952 KB
Screen Reader : Supported
Enhanced typesetting : Enabled
X-Ray : Enabled
Word Wise : Enabled
Print length : 241 pages
Page Flip : Enabled
Best Sellers Rank: #129,453 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store) #5 in Biographies of the Air Force #52 in Military Aviation History (Kindle Store) #115 in Military Aviation History (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,564 ratings var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Customers say
Customers find this book to be a must-read for aviation enthusiasts, with compelling writing that captures the style of its time. The narrative features a great story from a storied aviator, and customers appreciate its detailed account of flying and fighting. Moreover, the book provides wonderful insight into World War I air combat, with one customer noting how it shows how air combat started and progressed.
12 reviews for Fighting the Flying Circus: The Memoirs of America’s Greatest Ace
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T-Rex –
Interesting read from an American hero who was there.
I wasn’t sure what to expect when I bought this book but was immediately engaged when I began reading. It’s the first book I’ve read containing first-hand accounts of aerial combat in World War I and very informative. As horrific we now understand that war to have been, it’s fascinating to read about the fatalistic and seemingly care-free attitude many aviators had. The combat narratives read almost like play-by-play accounts of sporting events with a similar attitude displayed. Indeed, the author says on more than one occasion that air combat was so new that the world was eager to hear about “contests” between aviators on opposing sides. To be fair, there are portions that address the horrific fate of those hit in the air and set afire only to slowly burn to death during a 2-minute plunge to earth. Parachutes weren’t worn by most pilots back then. The planes were little more than motorized kites with guns. Instrumentation was minimal in the cockpit and navigation by sight was all most had. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone as an introductory read on the subject of First World War air combat after America’s entry into the conflict.
Mike3746 –
Especially the good ones. Still
What a guy Eddie Rickenbacker was. This book is well above average, filled with intimate details about WWI flying and tells some harrowing tales. If you are into WWI flying history, you have to have this book. Why only 4 stars? Well, it is first person and sometimes Eddie seems to be painting up his own profile a bit much…typical of a fighter pilot…they are notoriously self centered egotists and boastful. Especially the good ones. Still, it’s a must read for WWI buffs.
Reader –
Great you-are-there story of early American aviation
Great first person narrative of the story of the 94th squadron in WWI. Compelling writing, with great detail of Rickenbacker’s exploits, as well as that of his squadron. Clearly written, it is a joy to read of early tactics and innovation in the skies of France. It is nice to read something with no political agenda, but just the story of the squadron from the first flight to of the war. Interesting usage of now archaic tactics such as the virage or to picque. Interesting old spellings, etc. The only shortcoming is that it could use some editing as it appears to have gone straight from draft to print. Thoroughly enjoyable and well worth the $1.99 that I spent.
Matt Selke –
Great read
Great read over 100 years old and still will make you feel like you are in a flimsy barely functional flying machine. That men, still boys achieved amazing things!
Major T –
Interesting Glimpse of World War One Aviation
An interesting and quaint bit of history told in the archaic language of 1918. The naivety of the author, Captain Eddie Rickenbacker is refreshing if not peculiar in todays rough and tumble era of military aviation. While not a great historic source it does provide an interesting look into the lives of our first military aviators; gallant, heroic and adventurous. Repetitious and plodding I was very happy to skim through the last third and get it over with.
h lynn keith –
Solid account of fighting with the USAS in WW1
1. Short review: 🙂 (Amazon rating: 4 out of 5 stars — I like it.)2. Long review:2.1. What I liked: The pictures. The first-hand account.Roller-coaster or walk-in-the-park? Should be a roller coaster but it reads more like a walk in the park.2.2. What I did not like: Lack of detail for September and October 1918.2.3. Who I think is the audience: Air combat buffs. History buffs.2.4. Is the book appropriate for children to read? Yes. No worries.2.5. On the basis of reading this book, will I buy the author’s next book? Yes.2.6. The plot in a nutshell:There is no plot. Fighting the Flying Circus is an edited memoir. It was pieced together from Rickenbacker’s (EVR) war diary and his letters.EVR’s story mirrors the story of the United States Air Service in WW1. He wrote of flying Nieuport 28s on patrol without guns; then with one gun to a plane because they had not enough to equip every plane with two; of many pilots shredding their top planes in dives.EVR spent June, July, and August in the hospital recovering from an ear operation. He returned in September to find that his group had not downed many Boche during his absence and that the Nieuports had been replaced with Spad XIIIs.EVR wrote of Frank Luke’s comet-like fighting career. He ended with Luke’s disappearance. When Fighting the Flying Circus was first printed in 1919, the USAS had not received the story of Luke’s last fight nor the location of his grave.Fighting the Flying Circus contains details about guns jamming and using incendiary ammunition to ignite German balloons.I was pleased with the photos in Fighting the Flying Circus. These included photos of EVR, his squadron mates, observation balloons, and the Hannover CLII that EVR brought down.About a quarter way through the book, I said to myself, “I think this was ghostwritten.” It was. The ghostwriter of Fighting the Flying Circus was Laurence La Tourette Driggs. The Aerodrome has a short piece about him. Search for the write-up by Ira Silverman.In the appendices at the end of the book, there is a table of Rickenbacker’s confirmed kills. The list in Wikipedia echoes this list. I found it better than EVR’s list at the Aerodrome. Together, the two lists seem comprehensive.YMMV.2.7. Other:This is a later edition. It includes appendices that detail EVR’s accomplishments after the war, such as the fact that he was presented the CMoH by President Herbert Hoover in 1931.
Warren A. Lewis –
Step Back Into Time
This is an eye opening book, and is so easy to read. Rickenbacker writes in such a way that his exploits unfold like a novel, not dry and boring. Knowing that flight was in its infancy does not prepare you for the hardships the aviators faced with guns that jam and canvas that falls off of the wing frames while in the heat of battle. Every time an aviator goes up the chances of not returning were very real. Suspense is build into the experiences as the days are told as if Rickenbacker was sitting across the table relating those to you in person. Great view into The Great War as it happened 100 years ago.
ANDREW PINK –
Extremely good account of Capt Rickenbackers experiences in France and the officers and men who served with him and their sacrificesA very good read for WW1 aviation buffs
Amazon Customer –
Autobiagrophie von Rickenbacker, dem Flieger aus den USA mit den meisten Abschüssen im 1. WK. Auch wenn das Buch einen interessanten Einblick in das Leben eines Jagdfliegers im 1.WK vermittelt, so ist sowohl Inhalt als auch Darstellung mit Vorsicht zu genießen. Es sind subjektive Eindrücke mit gehörigem Pathos und teilweise auch “Fehlern” (die durch mangelende Recherchemöglichkeit seitens des Autors logisch erklärbar sind) enthalten, so dass dieses Buch als das gelesen werden muss, was es ist, eine Darstellung eigener Erlebnisse in einem Krieg, der nur wenige Jahre vor Veröffentlichung geendet hatte und sich auch beim Autor Spuren hinterlassen hat, die nicht leicht zu verkraften waren.
Loch –
A complicated time delivered in matter of fact reality by a patriot engaged in his Nations first venture into what has become its international obligations. A must read looking back 100 years later.
Paul Davies –
A very good read, a bit like a boys own comic book hero but telling the story for an American public of its top WW1 fighter ace of WW1 and a former famous Racing car driver. Rickenbacker wrote well and may have had this ghost written. It is a well written book, full of detaila nd of what it was like to fly against the top German flying circus, led by Manfred von Richthofen, the Red Baron, as well as other experienced fighter pilots in WW1. Read with other books by other pilots and you get a sense of the truth mixed with some elemnts of self publicity. For all that, Rickenbacker, his life living over 100 years ago in a war largely forgotten, is brought back to vivid life. The humour and tragedy of war is vovered in equal measure. Paul Davies Aviation Historian.
Kindle Customer –
The attitude described of the American pilots is very much one of a sporting event of “Bag the Hun”. This could be really what the author experienced or could be what he thought his readers wanted to hear.