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The Mustering of the Hawks
In the skies over France, only the hawks survived.
1917. The average life-expectancy of an RAF pilot on the Western Front is three weeks. Inexperienced young men are hurled into vicious dogfights over the trenches, often without adequate training, and are slaughtered by the German aces.
Into this hell arrives Ira Penaluna, only nineteen years old and totally in love with aviation. As those who have become his friends die one-by-one, Ira realises that in a world where skill, speed and killer-instinct are all, there is only one way to survive: to think like a hawk.
A searing, moving novel of the First World War, full to the brim with detailed historical research, perfect for fans of Thomas Wood and Wilbur Smith.
1917. The average life-expectancy of an RAF pilot on the Western Front is three weeks. Inexperienced young men are hurled into vicious dogfights over the trenches, often without adequate training, and are slaughtered by the German aces.
Into this hell arrives Ira Penaluna, only nineteen years old and totally in love with aviation. As those who have become his friends die one-by-one, Ira realises that in a world where skill, speed and killer-instinct are all, there is only one way to survive: to think like a hawk.
A searing, moving novel of the First World War, full to the brim with detailed historical research, perfect for fans of Thomas Wood and Wilbur Smith.
- GenresHistorical Fiction
278 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1976
343 people are currently reading
59 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 10, 2020
As I continue my binge reading of WW1 flying stories, The Mustering of the Hawks came up on the Goodreads/Amazon recommendations and I decided to give it a try. This was with a little trepidation, as the last Max Hennessy books that I read were a bit of a disappointment. His Dicken Quinney book series started well with good descriptions of flying in The Bright Blue Sky, but the second in the Quinney series, The Challenging Heights did not cover much flying and was overwhelming with unnecessary details about insignificant characters and barely had Dickey in one place long enough to fly. So, as I mentioned above, I took on this new series, "The Flying Ace Thrillers" with some hesitation. I was delighted, though, from early on. Ira Pennaluna is an experienced pilot who is not brash and bold, but confident and capable. He forms an incredibly wonderful bond with an almost Lou Costello like compatriot, Toby Forde and together they fly sortie after sortie, well-described and gripping in action throughout the entirety of the war.
While there is a bit of a common link in the two protagonists of Hennessy's (I know, John Harris is writing as Hennessy in the later series) tales, I appreciate the more realistic character of Ira Pennaluna. Both Dickey and Ira are young and gifted natural flyers. While Dicken seems to always get away or survive through an act of God, Ira uses honest flying skill and cautious aggression in his flying to remain alive. Ira is afraid, but able to push aside his fear to remain focused, which seems a more realistic motivation for the pilots of WW1 from all my reading. Both young men dabble with love, but for this novel, it is less of a focus allowing the reader to engage more in the history of flying and airplane development.
Like the tales in the air of battles, this story has more believable twists and turns that kept me engaged wanting more. There were times in Dickey's experience, when I mocked that the story seemed to be too contrived to be believable, forcing me to put it down for a breather. In all, I definitely would recommend The Mustering of the Hawks and the Flying Ace Thrillers to the previously mentioned Hennessy tales.
While there is a bit of a common link in the two protagonists of Hennessy's (I know, John Harris is writing as Hennessy in the later series) tales, I appreciate the more realistic character of Ira Pennaluna. Both Dickey and Ira are young and gifted natural flyers. While Dicken seems to always get away or survive through an act of God, Ira uses honest flying skill and cautious aggression in his flying to remain alive. Ira is afraid, but able to push aside his fear to remain focused, which seems a more realistic motivation for the pilots of WW1 from all my reading. Both young men dabble with love, but for this novel, it is less of a focus allowing the reader to engage more in the history of flying and airplane development.
Like the tales in the air of battles, this story has more believable twists and turns that kept me engaged wanting more. There were times in Dickey's experience, when I mocked that the story seemed to be too contrived to be believable, forcing me to put it down for a breather. In all, I definitely would recommend The Mustering of the Hawks and the Flying Ace Thrillers to the previously mentioned Hennessy tales.
September 18, 2022
Better than expected. Spoilers ahead.
An epic length book that follows Ira Penaluna through WWI from joining his squadron in 1914 to the end of WWI.
Ira is an already experienced flyer with a couple of ribbons, being that his father is also a flier. Even though he could already fly, due to his age the Royal Flying Corps only allowed him to join as a mechanic and then he worked his way up to being an observer. The story begins as he finally joins his first squadron as a single seater flyer.
The author does a good job of following Ira through the war as he comes of age. The story is mainly told through the relationships of the flight members to each other, the daily operations against the Germans and a little bit of Ira's romance(s) against the backdrop of the Western Front.
We do get the heady feelings of the early days to the numbed apathy towards the war at the end. We experience the war through the engagement of the enemies in the skies and the deaths of his comrades as they come and go one by one. As the story is told mostly from Ira's point of view and Ira was never the most ardent towards the war or the shooting and killing of enemies this book doesn't have the enthusiasm of war that most war books have. In fact, Ira is a skilled fighter pilot and shoots down over 40 planes in the end but he never feels any joy or pride. He just goes about doing his job.
Overall, a very engaging read but one which also has a much more thoughtful and somber treatment of the war.
An epic length book that follows Ira Penaluna through WWI from joining his squadron in 1914 to the end of WWI.
Ira is an already experienced flyer with a couple of ribbons, being that his father is also a flier. Even though he could already fly, due to his age the Royal Flying Corps only allowed him to join as a mechanic and then he worked his way up to being an observer. The story begins as he finally joins his first squadron as a single seater flyer.
The author does a good job of following Ira through the war as he comes of age. The story is mainly told through the relationships of the flight members to each other, the daily operations against the Germans and a little bit of Ira's romance(s) against the backdrop of the Western Front.
We do get the heady feelings of the early days to the numbed apathy towards the war at the end. We experience the war through the engagement of the enemies in the skies and the deaths of his comrades as they come and go one by one. As the story is told mostly from Ira's point of view and Ira was never the most ardent towards the war or the shooting and killing of enemies this book doesn't have the enthusiasm of war that most war books have. In fact, Ira is a skilled fighter pilot and shoots down over 40 planes in the end but he never feels any joy or pride. He just goes about doing his job.
Overall, a very engaging read but one which also has a much more thoughtful and somber treatment of the war.
June 2, 2020
Ira Penaluna has been in and around airplanes since he was in diapers; his father was an aviation pioneer. Serving in the Royal Flying Corps was an obvious choice for him, even if he did have to lie about his age to get in. The Mustering of the Hawks sees the quiet boy with a happy talent for shooting down Germans grow into manhood through four years of boredom, terror, and the constant death of friends, ending his service as a respected flight leader with over forty kills to his name. Combat fiction that moves throughout the western front, as the technological edge continues to shift between the Allies and Germany, The Mustering of the Hawks also has some solid characters and a lot of fun writing – especially when Ira and the boys are trying to chase women. As with The Bright Blue Sky, the main character is tortured in love, though Dick Quinney had a much harder time of it on that front, I think. There are a lot of similarities between the two novels, but both were fun and I anticipate continuing to read this author.
December 1, 2020
Excellent read.
This book was very well written, with the vivid imagery of Hemingway but with perhaps greater elegance. The author appears to have done his research to ensure reasonable technical accuracy, and, throughout, I felt connected with the intensity of the experience of those who endured such a terrifying and punishing life.
This book was very well written, with the vivid imagery of Hemingway but with perhaps greater elegance. The author appears to have done his research to ensure reasonable technical accuracy, and, throughout, I felt connected with the intensity of the experience of those who endured such a terrifying and punishing life.
October 8, 2020
A vivid tale of harrowing death and lives of first flying warriors
While a work of fiction many true experiences of WWI aviators were revealed and brought to life for this reader.
While a work of fiction many true experiences of WWI aviators were revealed and brought to life for this reader.
March 30, 2021
WW1 Air Warfare
An enjoyable read about a young pilot who becomes a fighter ace and Ieader.
I own the physical book but also bought the Kindle edition.
An enjoyable read about a young pilot who becomes a fighter ace and Ieader.
I own the physical book but also bought the Kindle edition.
January 22, 2022
Well researched
January 13, 2020
Enjoyed it
October 26, 2019
World War One Flying at its best
Max Hennessy has written a great and beautiful book about flying, fighting and growing up. His characters are so real that you feel you are right there with them
This story is a beautifully written tale of people living and fighting in the uncertainty of War.
Bravo!!
Max Hennessy has written a great and beautiful book about flying, fighting and growing up. His characters are so real that you feel you are right there with them
This story is a beautifully written tale of people living and fighting in the uncertainty of War.
Bravo!!
September 28, 2019
New Series
I enjoyed this book immensely. It took me from the joy of flying to the weariness that envelopes the warrior when he has been asked to endure one more time. The flying scenes were very believable.
I enjoyed this book immensely. It took me from the joy of flying to the weariness that envelopes the warrior when he has been asked to endure one more time. The flying scenes were very believable.
October 16, 2019
Good read
Enjoyed the book which has been well researched. For those who fly or enjoy antique aircraft will get a good ride from this story. Well researched about WEI Nd the aircraft that participated.
Enjoyed the book which has been well researched. For those who fly or enjoy antique aircraft will get a good ride from this story. Well researched about WEI Nd the aircraft that participated.
December 10, 2019
Master storyteller
Captures vividly the incredible strain these young men were under along with the tremendous causalities they experienced plus Max is a great storyteller and knows his WW I aircraft
Captures vividly the incredible strain these young men were under along with the tremendous causalities they experienced plus Max is a great storyteller and knows his WW I aircraft
October 13, 2019
Entertaining
I love a good war story. This is a good one. WW1 flying Ace. I really enjoyed it. Next up
I love a good war story. This is a good one. WW1 flying Ace. I really enjoyed it. Next up
October 19, 2019
A bit different. Kind of depressing but well written.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews