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Fighter Pilot
“McScotch” himself describes his book and pays tribute to a colleague in this note, which appears at the front of the “This book consists of the reminiscences of an ordinary fighter pilot of the R.F.C. who had the privilege of serving in one of the leading Fighter Squadrons and who had the honor of being the friend of the supreme fighter of all the Air Forces, that indomitable and lovable patriot, ‘MICK’ MANNOCK, V.C., D.S.O., M.C.” Available records and publications show “McScotch” himself as a fighter pilot with 40 Squadron, holding the rank of lieutenant and then captain. He is credited with 12 kills of German opponents. This is a detailed and exciting account of squadron life and shows the bravery and true comradeship of these flyers.
241 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 19, 2014
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August 2, 2022
Back in the 1980's I had a nice collection of about 20 First Editions of WWI pilot's memoirs. Most of them published in the 1930's.
This is the first of that genre I have read in the 30-40 years since.
A memoir, but also a homage to Brit ace Mick Mannock, with whom the author flew for 7 months. Written by William McLanachan, who was also an ace, with 12 verified kills.
A bit vague with the use of broad terms regarding Mannock's personal traits, fighting philosophy, and morality. Mick was a talented musician, but he was also a blue collared boy (his father was low level military and abandoned the family) in a branch of the service that was largely made up of Oxbridge fellows.
But in the "Afterward" McL brings together some larger ideas. He talks about the early war stupidity of training pilots as if they were part of the infantry, the difference between experience and those who had never been in battle, and the English mix of independence and discipline. A discipline that was not imposed from the outside (as on the German side), but rather built as a team of pilots.
As in other memoirs of this period, what goes on during their occasional binges in town is not provided with much detail.
And that it was considered "bad show" to use incendiary bullets by the Brits, although (according to the author) the Germans did it all the time. Use of these made it easier to destroy enemy aircraft by starting the fabric aircraft on fire, or by igniting the spraying petrol if one of the gas containers had been pierced. The sight of a burning aircraft and pilot plunging to the earth was so horrific that Mannock carried a pistol with him on all flights, so he could end his life quickly, rather than being slowly burnt to death.
McL's comments on the Germans are also of interest. They did not have the number of pilots or aircraft that the Allies had, so they were very careful to engage in air combat. Many many of the flights he took (there were scheduled flights as a team, and then pilots could go off on their own, or with others, in between those flights) lead to not even seeing an enemy aircraft, let alone engaging in a dogfight with one. As early as the '30's the cult of The Red Baron had begun already, even in England. McL opines that the Brit pilots did not shy away from him and his group, and were every bit as talented at air warfare as the Germans were - and more willing to engage in a dogfight at any opportunity.
Some good information on WWI air war, some at times vague comments on broader subjects, and an over all very good personal memoir of warfare in the early 20th Century.
Military history can be boring ("This battalion moved here, then there - and then 2 days later they moved back...."), but this memoir isn't.
Read as a machine reformatted ebook - with a typo about every other page.
This is the first of that genre I have read in the 30-40 years since.
A memoir, but also a homage to Brit ace Mick Mannock, with whom the author flew for 7 months. Written by William McLanachan, who was also an ace, with 12 verified kills.
A bit vague with the use of broad terms regarding Mannock's personal traits, fighting philosophy, and morality. Mick was a talented musician, but he was also a blue collared boy (his father was low level military and abandoned the family) in a branch of the service that was largely made up of Oxbridge fellows.
But in the "Afterward" McL brings together some larger ideas. He talks about the early war stupidity of training pilots as if they were part of the infantry, the difference between experience and those who had never been in battle, and the English mix of independence and discipline. A discipline that was not imposed from the outside (as on the German side), but rather built as a team of pilots.
As in other memoirs of this period, what goes on during their occasional binges in town is not provided with much detail.
And that it was considered "bad show" to use incendiary bullets by the Brits, although (according to the author) the Germans did it all the time. Use of these made it easier to destroy enemy aircraft by starting the fabric aircraft on fire, or by igniting the spraying petrol if one of the gas containers had been pierced. The sight of a burning aircraft and pilot plunging to the earth was so horrific that Mannock carried a pistol with him on all flights, so he could end his life quickly, rather than being slowly burnt to death.
McL's comments on the Germans are also of interest. They did not have the number of pilots or aircraft that the Allies had, so they were very careful to engage in air combat. Many many of the flights he took (there were scheduled flights as a team, and then pilots could go off on their own, or with others, in between those flights) lead to not even seeing an enemy aircraft, let alone engaging in a dogfight with one. As early as the '30's the cult of The Red Baron had begun already, even in England. McL opines that the Brit pilots did not shy away from him and his group, and were every bit as talented at air warfare as the Germans were - and more willing to engage in a dogfight at any opportunity.
Some good information on WWI air war, some at times vague comments on broader subjects, and an over all very good personal memoir of warfare in the early 20th Century.
Military history can be boring ("This battalion moved here, then there - and then 2 days later they moved back...."), but this memoir isn't.
Read as a machine reformatted ebook - with a typo about every other page.
Displaying 1 of 1 review