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Fire in the Sky: The Australian Flying Corps in the First World War
by
The first book in 90 years dedicated to the daring and courage of the airmen and mechanics of the Australian Flying Corps—a tale of a war fought thousands of feet above the trenches
"I half rolled, and there before my eyes was as perfect a target as I had ever seen in my life. A pressure of a thumb, a short burst, a puff of smoke, a flash of flame, a hole on the clouds—an ...more
"I half rolled, and there before my eyes was as perfect a target as I had ever seen in my life. A pressure of a thumb, a short burst, a puff of smoke, a flash of flame, a hole on the clouds—an ...more
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Paperback, 404 pages
Published
November 1st 2010
by Allen Unwin
(first published January 1st 2010)
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Start your review of Fire in the Sky: The Australian Flying Corps in the First World War

There are many books covering Australia's involvement in World War I, but not so many that concentrate on our involvement in the air war. This book fills that gap excellently.
The first half of the book covers the Middle East, which is where the first Australian squadron was based. The author combines a mix of action reports, and stories about some of the individuals involved. Through this story, the book presents the way that the air war developed as leaders gained a better understanding of the ...more
The first half of the book covers the Middle East, which is where the first Australian squadron was based. The author combines a mix of action reports, and stories about some of the individuals involved. Through this story, the book presents the way that the air war developed as leaders gained a better understanding of the ...more

When the First World War began in August 1914, aeroplanes were a novelty, barely 10yo. Despite this, Australia was one of just a few nations outside Europe to establish a military flying school and corps. From a first class of four student pilots the Australian Flying Corps would grow to number almost 4000 by the armistice. Its young volunteers were pioneers in a completely new dimension of warfare as they struggled for control of the skies over the Western Front and Middle East.Historian Michae
...more

This is an unusual book for me to have read. My great uncle was a pilot in the Royal Flying Corps and was killed in 1916. That's why I read this book. I found it interesting. I learned how typical of Australian pilots my great uncle was: he had fought in Gallipoli; he was in the Light Horse; he had a private school education - there was a class basis for accepting pilots - and he was killed within 2 weeks of entering the war - a higher percentage of pilots who were killed were inexperienced. The
...more

This was a great book, I enjoyed it and learnt a lot.
It has many entries from the dairies of the pilots, mechanics and observers in the AFC.
It's especially sad though because you often hear the story's of the men who die.
A good read. ...more
It has many entries from the dairies of the pilots, mechanics and observers in the AFC.
It's especially sad though because you often hear the story's of the men who die.
A good read. ...more
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