In Clouds of Glory: American Airmen Who Flew with the British during the Great War

by James J. Hudson

Overview

Of the several hundred Americans who joined the Royal Air Force during the First World War, twenty-eight became aces by shooting down five or more aircraft. Unfortunately, those American aces who flew only with the British are little known by the American public. In Clouds of Glory tells the story of these fliers in the first air war, young men who risked their lives and citizenship to help the British fight off the German squadrons. An exhaustively researched study, In Clouds of Glory restores these American heroes to the place in history they had so bravely earned.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781557281241
Publisher:	University of Arkansas Press
Publication date:	03/01/1999
Pages:	302
Product dimensions:	(w) x (h) x 0.90(d)

Editorial Reviews

From 1914 to 1917 scores of Americans joined the British Royal Flying Corps (later known as the Royal Air Force) to get into action against the Germans. Twenty-eight of these became the first Americans to achieve the status of ace by shooting down five or more enemy machines. Author Hudson profiles them all, concentrating on military documents, letters, and various histories to describe the victories by each, and adds some cursory information on their origins and their later years. While this is a valuable resource, exhaustively researched, Hudson's prose is sometimes wooden, and he occasionally repeats himself. Still, for libraries and individuals with interest in this period, it covers thoroughly a subject that has not been otherwise treated under one title.--Mel D. Lane, Sacramento, Cal.

Library Journal

Recounts the exploits of the 28 Americans who joined the Royal Air Force during WWI and became aces by shooting down five or more enemy aircraft. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews