Book review.
Chris (Fast git) has just drawn my attention to this Book review he did and I felt it might interest some of you chaps.
Rob.
WGFB - Diary and Letters of a World War I Fighter Pilot, The
Author: Christopher Burgess
ISBN: ISBN-13: 978-1844157419
Category: Biography
Format: Hardback
Summary: From the Publisher:
This is a first-hand account of the author's grandfather, Guy Mainwaring Knocker, and his experiences as a 17-18 year old pilot in the RFC in the First World War, compiled as a series of letters and diary entries. They follow life from his first day of training in April 1917, through his period of active service with 65 Squadron RFC in France from Oct 1917 - April 1918. The account continues to the end of that year, after he was wounded and sent back to England, where he continued flying and training other pilots. Guy wrote virtually every day to his parents, and the letters were also illustrated with amusing sketches in pencil or pen and ink. The diary entries help give a fuller picture of the daily life of a young officer at that time including his emotions, girlfriends, life in the mess, dinner, dances, theatre and visits home. There are remarkable and hair-raising accounts of dogfights and offensive patrols over the lines, but also the drudgery of daily life at other times when it was too 'dud' for flying. The book includes the names of colleagues and friends, so many of whom did not survive that War.
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Product Details
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Pen and Sword (November 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1844157415
ISBN-13: 978-1844157419
Product Dimensions: 9.5 x 6.4 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
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This was an interesting find. Comprised of a series of letters home to family (mother, father, sisters, and brother) and diary entries, this was an intimate view into the thoughts and activities of an 18-yr old Sopwith Camel pilot serving in the RFC on the Western Front. Credited with two victories and logging more flight hours (both combat flying and otherwise) then many in his squadron by the time of his wounding, GMK repeatedly described himself as being a rather unremarkable pilot... although his service was anything but unremarkable.
A gifted artist, Knocker's pencil, pen, and ink sketches dot the monograph, bringing to life his narrative.
This title can tend towards the repetitive, as letters and diary entries often recount the same events, but it is neither distracting, nor without merit. On the contrary, it's interesting to note the differences between GMK's revelations to family and those chronicled in his diary.
This was a quick read, and one that I recommend to any interested in first-person accounts of the air war over the trenches.
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Of note, GMK would continue to serve, finishing the war as an instructor... and then serving his country again in WWII, rising to the rank of Group Captain.
http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/ima.../paperclip.png Attached Images http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/att...1&d=1421682051
