Hostile Skies: A Combat History of the American Air Service in World War IFrom April to November 1918, the American Air Service grew from a poorly equipped, unorganized branch of the U.S. Expeditionary Forces to a fighting unit equal to its opponent in every way. Hostile Skies details the actual battle experiences of the men and boys who made up the service squadrons at the front - Raoul Lufbery, Elliott Springs, Fiorello La Guardia, and, of course, Rickenbacker. In addition, several chapters are devoted to the background problems of the infant U.S. air arm, its training, and organization. Combining a straightforward historical exposition with a colorfully written narrative based on eyewitness accounts, James J. Hudson draws on information from his research in the National Archives, USAF Historical Division Archives, unit histories, and reports enhanced by his personal correspondence with many of the survivors of the "war to end wars". This book will be read by all who are interested in this little-documented aspect of the Great War. |
Contents
Aircraft | 12 |
Training for the Air War | 24 |
The Toul Sector | 63 |
The AisneMarne Campaign | 90 |
The Buildup for St Mihiel | 119 |
The Bloody Mopping Up | 175 |
Americans on | 196 |
Service with Allied Units | 233 |
The MeuseArgonne | 258 |
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Common terms and phrases
1st Aero Squadron 1st Day Bombardment 1st Lt 1st Pursuit Group 27th Aero 3rd Pursuit Group 94th Aero Squadron aerial Air Force airdrome airplanes Allied American Air Service artillery assigned attack August aviation Balloon Company battle Billy Mitchell bombers bombing Breguets British cadets Camel campaign Captain Chateau-Thierry chief of Air clouds Cockade Journal Colonel Combat report commander Corps Observation Group crashed Cross and Cockade Day Bombardment Group enemy aircraft enemy planes engine field fighter fire flew fliers flight Fokker formation Foulois France Frank Luke French front German Gorrell Histories ground Hartney Ibid infantry Issoudun July killed Kindley Lafayette Escadrille Lafayette Flying Corps later Lieutenant lines machine gun Major Marne Meuse-Argonne Mihiel miles mission Mitchell Nieuports observation squadrons October offensive operations Ourches outfit patrol pilots raid reconnaissance Rickenbacker Salmson scored sector September shot Sopwith Camels Spad squad target Toul troops units victories