Flying Ace: Jack Fairfax, Royal Flying Corps, 1915-1918

My Story: Boys

by Jim Eldridge

Jack Fairfax is the 19-year old second son of Lord and Lady Fairfax. The Fairfaxes are steeped in the military tradition, and don't approve of Jack's volunteering for the Royal Flying Corps. New-fangled flying machines are nothing to do with 'proper' warfare. Nevertheless, Jack takes to the skies in his Bleriot plane, and faces the skills of the German ace pilots over the Somme. When his best friend is shot down by one of them, he vows to avenge him.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Middle Grade, War, Historical, Childrens, Diary

160 pages, Paperback

First published November 14, 2003

About the author

Jim Eldridge is the author of many books for children, including titles in the My Story series, the Warpath books, and How to Handle Grown-Ups. He has had 250 TV scripts broadcast in the UK and internationally for children's and teen television, and is also the creator and writer of Radio 4's long-running comedy-drama series, King Street Junior.

Reviews

[Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book really is 3.5 because it had a lot of potential but did fully deliver. I really like the the my story series of books because it gives you a really good explanation of what it was like to life in that era.

[Christine Stobbe · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set during the First World War, this book is about a young British nobleman who joins the Flying Corps against his father's wishes. That sounded promising, however, the story progressed slowly and contained a lot of detail about planes and air battles, in which I'm not particularly interested. So I found it rather dry. For boys aged 9 to 14 who like planes and war, this book might be an excellent choice.

[Beatrice Moffitt · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an adventure story that teaches about a part of history without being boring📙

[Rhondda · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great addition to the My Story series that, although a fictional account, is based on actual events and stories of WWI
Jack Fairfax is 19 years old, just finished school and comes from a family steeped in military tradition. He is the second son of Lord and Lady Fairfax and a bit of a rebel. When he tells his parents that he is volunteering for the Royal Flying Corps, they do not approve. The "new-fangled" flying machines are nothing to do with the "proper" type of warfare.
Oswald Fairfax, the elder brother, has done the "right" thing and joined the family regiment. He has already been sent to The Front.
Jack and his friend, Alan Dixon, become fully qualified pilots and are then taken into the Royal Flying Corps (RFC).
They eventually join a squadron and get experience in a number of the early aircraft of the time. Many of their friends and fellow airmen lose their lives. When Alan gets shot down Jack vows to avenge him and shoot down the German pilot responsible, when, or if, he finds him.
Jack flies over the Western Front in his Bleriot and De Hav's and faces many of the problems of the WWI pilots, not least the one of survival.
The war eventually ends but the lives of everyone he knows have been changed by the years of war.
There are historical notes and photographs, a timeline, and information about some of the WWI combat planes for anyone who wants to know more.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This entire series is a wonderful way to learn history or teach it to adolescents. I find today's generations seem to recall more when they learn through other people (pop songs, celebrity gossip, etc.), so what better way to teach history than through someone else's perspective? Yes, "authentic" diaries would be "better", but would the language really hold the modern student's attention? Did the diary writer know what WOULD be important in the context of history? Probably not.

[Lucas J · Rating 1 out of 5]

I thought the book was boring and disapointing.

[Jake22 · Rating 5 out of 5]

amazing

[Blair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thrilling.

[Renaissance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Was a short and simple read. Loved reading about planes in world war one.

[Harshbhullar]

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