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Book Title:
Notes of a Lost Pilot
Author:
Jean Beraud Villars
ISBN:
0-208-01437-3
Category:
Autobiography
Format:
Hardback
Summary:
Originally published in 1918 as the anonymous writings of a fallen French aviator, the effort to translate and publish the work in English helped to bring to light that the author in fact did not perish during the war and instead published his account anonymously due to the intense criticism he had for wartime policy.

While the squadron numbers and names of personnel and places were altered to help keep Villars anonymous, the writing stems from his personal experience during the war, and in-book notes help to point out real names of some of the people involved.

It is an excellent book, giving a true front-line pilot's view of the war, including that of a French observer at Verdun flying Maurice Farman pushers and later on of a pursuit pilot flying SPADs. I liken it to a French version of "Winged Victory," not as long or developed but a wonderful insight into the times and trials of a wartime French pilot, which are hard to find.