Voices in Flight: Conversations with Air Veterans of the Great War

by Anna Malinovska, Mauriel Joslyn

Thanks to the foresight of the authors, Voices in Flight is a literary memorial to the hugely gallant men who fought their war in small dangerous and vulnerable aeroplanes. We hear told the stories and thoughts of not only pilots but ground crew and others closely associated with this form of combat. These interviews bring home vividly the comraderie, the humour, the sadness but above all the thrill of flying experienced by members of the RFC and later the fledgling RAF. First hand accounts of dog fights make graphic reading. This is a never-to-be repeated opportunity to honour the memories of old aviators by bringing their experiences to the attention of younger generations.

295 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2006

Reviews

[howard · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you've ever listened...

If you've ever listened to an old man reminisce freely, particularly an old soldier, this has the ring of authenticity. It is a series of brief interviews with people connected with flying in the Great War. They ramble a bit, and include details one wouldn't expect. (Like how was the food, the size of their uniforms, etc.). And sometimes they become wistful, as they suddenly remember friends dead for decades. The interviewers did an expert job of coaxing them into rambling. There is no attempt to dramatize, but an authentic feeling of what it was like to be part of that catastrophe. It is as real as it gets.