Fighter aces knights of the sky / John Sadler & Rosie Serdiville.

Portion of title Knights of the sky
Portion of title Casemate short history fighter aces knights of the sky
SeriesCasemate short history
Contents Contents : Prologue -- Timeline [1853-1982] -- Aces of Aces -- Introduction: Tumult in the clouds -- Chapter 1: Above Flanders Fields (1914-16) -- Chapter 2: Bloody April (1917-18) -- Chapter 3: Their finest hour (1939-41) -- Chapter 4: War without pity (1941-45) -- Chapter 5: MiG Alley, desert skies and stormy seas (post-1945) -- Postscript: The last aces? -- Sources.
Abstract When war broke out in 1914, fearless pioneers took to the skies above France in flimsy biplanes. Aerial combat was perceived as glorious and chivalric, but the reality was very different: new Royal Flying corps subalterns in 1917 had a life expectancy of 11 days. The term 'ace' caught on, and daredevil aviators like the Red Baron and Billy Bishop became household names, just as the heroic pilots who defended the skies over England in 1940 are still feted as 'the Few'. The top fighter aces of World War II acrued hundreds of kills, though a pilot's life expectancy was still measured only in weeks. In the later 20th century, jet technology enabled pilots to pursue fast-paced combat over huge areas. This short history provides a fascinating overview of the history of fighter pilots, the experience of battle in the sky, and the enduring cult of the fighter ace. -- back cover
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 157-159).
Access restrictionAvailable only to authorized users.
Technical detailsMode of access: World Wide Web
Genre/formElectronic books.
LCCN 2017448060
ISBN1612004822 (paperback)
ISBN9781612004822 (paperback)
ISBN(digital)

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