Flying fury;: Five years in the Royal Flying Corps (Air combat classics)

by James McCudden

Book Overview

The day-to-day insights of a brilliantly daring World War I ace that only ends with his death at the age of 23 . . . James McCudden was an outstanding British fighter ace of World War I, whose daring... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0006BTYGE
• Release Date: January 1968
• Publisher: Doubleday
• Length: 356 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Excellently written, First World War fighter pilot personal account,

Major McCudden died in an accident prior to the original publication of this book in 1918. Three days prior to his death, he dropped to the first manuscript off to the editor. Out of respect for McCudden, the editor refused to make the customary editorial changes and rewrites. The books stand in the raw, as provided by the author, which makes it all the more incredible that the book is so well written and captivating. The book is written like a personal account or diary, shortly after the events. The story is vivid, and full of personal anecdotes and funny or amazing stories that keep the readers interest up. The editor did explain in the forward the names and abbreviations used by the author (for wartime security) to describe places and people. McCudden transferred into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) as a mechanic prior World War I. During the war, he was given the opportunity to become a pilot, and went on to be one of the leading British aces during the last two years of the war. His account of his flight training (solo after only 2 hours! - flight instructor after only 8 hours solo!!) is nothing short of scary for pilots who trained under the current regimented and regulated schools. The author makes several comments about his respect for his adversaries ("the Hun"), their bravery and flying ability. He even frequently remarks he expects some criticism from readers for speaking so highly of the Germans, but he explains his admiration for their skill is separate from his political opinion. There is no question of his patriotism, his willingness to fight for "King and country," or his belief of the justness of the `cause.' This is especially clear when he describes his feelings on learning of his brother's death in combat. This is in stark contrast to Cecil Lewis' account, and they served in the same squadron, at the same time. The book is an excellent read for pilots, aviation buffs, and those interested in World War I. First hand accounts always give the best portrayal of life and feel `real' - this one is no exception. As with Sagittarius Rising, the reader will definitely want a World War I aircraft reference (Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War I is good), but don't be surprised - the author frequently describes the machines differently, with a common (but unofficial name), or just by the manufacturer (e.g. a Pfalz scout). One update, I have since acquired a hardcover edition from the late 1960's under the series name "Air Combat Classics" that includes many excellent pictures. If you can find that edition, try to get it.

A Fine Look at WWI in the Air

Mud, gas, soldiers getting machine gunned by the tens of thousands, there was little about the ground war in World War One to be excited about. But in the sky new technology and new heroes were being born. James McCudden was one of these heroes. Many books were written during the war and just after the war by WWI aces as a type of propaganda. McCudden's book certainly bears some of these marks but there is more here. Look beyond the sometimes overstated "up and at 'em" spirit that occasionally comes out and this is a fine look at the war in the air during World War One. Several things stand out. McCudden was in the war from the beginning. This means we are able to see the air war from the start. The air is filled with Bleriots, Farmans and even a Taube or two. We get insight into those early days. Airplanes were only good for reconnaissance right? Wrong. Almost immediately bombs are being fitted to Bleriots and observers begin toting rifles aloft to blast away at offending enemy airplanes. In McCudden's war there doesn't seem to ever be a time when enemy pilots wave to each other as they pass. From day one they are shooting. We also gain a look at this new type of warfare. We feel McCudden's frustration as he learns just how hard it is to shoot down an airplane. We learn that those machine guns jammed with a maddening frequency, almost every flight it sometimes seems. We also learn the anguish felt when even an enemy burns. It is not until McCudden shoots one down in flames that he feels a pang of conscience over his role in the war. There is admiration for a noble foe and yet it is not shared by all. Arthur Rhys-David's attempted toast to VonRichtofen is a telling incident. Perhaps the greatest trajedy of the McCudden story doesn't actually appear in the book, at least not by McCudden's hand. Just days after completing the book James McCudden was dead, the victim not of a German aeroplane's guns but a faulty engine and the earth that was just a bit too close. All of this make the propaganda aspect of the book fairly easy to shrug off. Originally called simply "Five Years in the Royal Flying Corps" editors saw fit to call the book "Flying Fury" when it was reprinted in the 1930s. I wish they'd left it alone. McCudden's title is better for this is truly what this book is. I recommend Flying Fury as a good look at the world's first air war.

KUDOS TO McCUDDEN!!!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Considering his humble origins in an England heavily rooted in class, and his rise from a bugler in the Royal Engineers to a mechanic in the Royal Flying Corps to one of the finest fighter pilots of the First World War, James McCudden shows that anyone can aspire for greatness, provided one is willing to work and sacrifice.For anyone with a curiosity about what air warfare in the First World War was really like, READ THIS BOOK. I highly recommend it.

A True Classic!

This biographical account of the one of Britain's leading aces from World War I is one of the best flying tales ever written of any era. At the age of fifteen, McCudden started out as a bugler in the Royal Engineers before becoming a mechanic in the Pre-WWI Flying Corps when aeroplane technology was still very immature. He witnessed, indeed participated, in the trials and tribulations of the nascent Flying Corps and, as war arrived, saw the fragile craft used in experiments with armed combat against troops on the ground and against enmey flying machines. His interest in flying led to passenger rides in a variety of aircraft and eventually to his performing aerial observer and gunner roles in combat where he was decorated. That was just another step in his aeronautical adventure as he was subsequently selected to train as a pilot and thrown into combat in the same sector as some of the leading German aces such as Voss and Richtofen where he not only survived, but eventually become a leading ace himself. His description of his five years in the Royal Flying Corps was written while the war was still ongoing and literally days before his posting as a squadron commander and tragic death in a flying accident en route to his new squadron. His writing style is fresh and immediate capturing the day today life and passions of WWI aviators. His impressions of his foe and the relative performance of the various flying machines are unique and better than any other author from that conflict. The publishers deserve credit for recognizing the value of this slice of history and making sure it remains available to the public. The rating system only allows 5 stars...this book deserves special status beyond that. Indeed, it has such on my shelve.

Brave simple man who loved his King and country

James McCudden's book is one of the finest written about aviation of the first world war. It is basically written by a man who was a hero who was very modest, It takes the form of a diary and gives more or less a day to day event of what it was really like to fly planes made of canvas against an enemy who McCudden had great respect for. For anyone who has a passion for first world war history this is a book not to be missed,(maybe i'm biast) Please remember when reading this book that the man had very little schooling and wrote the book in a matter of weeks and the last entry is only a few days before he was killed. A GREAT BOOK.