Knights of the Air

A pilot's account of the war in the air Books on the war in the air above the fields, broken landscapes and trenches of France and Belgium in the First World War are not numerous. Those written by pilots who experienced war in the air during the infancy of aviation are fewer still. In the early years of the 20th century the first clumsy attempts at mastering the skies was followed quickly by the necessity, on the part of armies and navies, to find individuals with the ability to learn the skills and tactics of fighting in three dimensions. Those whose learning failed them paid a price rarely expected of young students. This book was written by a young American volunteer during wartime. He informs his readers from the outset that he has a poor opinion of his own abilities and of the contribution he believes he can make, though this is difficult to understand for those who have never taken the air to fight in a primitive flying machine-without a parachute. Molter was one of those remarkable young men, irrespective of his own opinion of himself, who elected to volunteer to fight for France before America had entered the war. He gives us an insightful account of flying combat missions from the sharp end and no one who has an interest in the subject will be disappointed with his story. Leonaur editions are newly typeset and are not facsimiles; each title is available in softcover and hardback with dustjacket.