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Product Description
Review
‘A vivid, moving story of the men who fought the Great War in the Air. Quite superb.’
MAX ARTHUR
‘Those magnificent men in their flying machines recount in their own words just how mad and magnificent it was to be an air-ace in World War One. Joshua Levine's compilation is enthralling and breathtaking’.
Chris Powling, Classic FM Guestlist
Product Description
First-hand accounts of bravery and adventure from the individuals who embraced the exciting – and dangerous – new world of flying at the start of the First World War.
Few are aware of the risks that the pioneering airmen of the First World War took. On a Wing and a Prayer is a narrative history that conveys the perils of those early days, the thrills of learning to fly, and the horrors of war in the air at a time when pilots carried little defensive armament and no parachutes. The men who joined the Royal Flying Corps in 1914 were the original heroes of flying, treading into unknown territory, and paving the way for later aerial combat. They became icons for the soldiers in the trenches, and a stark contrast to the hundreds on the ground fighting faceless hundreds as men fought aircraft to aircraft and man to man – for the first time the air became a battlefield of its own.
In 1914 aircraft were a questionable technology, used for only basic reconnaissance. But by 1918, hastened by the terrible war, aircraft were understood to be the future of modern warfare.
The war changed flying forever. The Wright brothers' achievements of a mere 10 years earlier and Blériot's crossing of the Channel just a few years before the war seemed a distant memory as aircraft became killing machines – the war becoming the ancestor of the fearsome air wars of later years.
The stories are presented to the reader in a frank and open way, revealing the feelings of the men who defended the trenches from above and witnessed the war from a completely different perspective. The adventures of these men are almost totally unknown, and this book will tell their story, in their own words, for the first time. The tale of men who rewrote the rules of military engagement and changed the course of modern history as a result.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
21 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
Having been moved, each time, reading Saggitarius Rising, I moved on to other fictional accounts of WW1 aviation. Discovering On a Wing and a Prayer at last was a pleasure.
Wary at first that the author did not have a background in aviation, I was soon persuaded that his credentials were not questionable.
Mr Levine puts those other books into some sensible context. How the RAF evolved from naval orgins is just a part of the history. What we have here is a readable history with the personal testimonies of those involved, which maybe these days is how we prefer our education. I cannot share the concerns of another reviewer who finds this too simplified for a serious reader. This is a well-researched book, assembled with care. The detail is sufficient for all but the most dedicated anorak; the contemporary accounts are well-chosen and selectively placed and there are enough illustrations to give the reader a little more to aid the imagination of that most dreadful war.
If the book contained only the diaries of the 'pioneering aviation heroes', it would be valuable but inadequate. The author adds enough political and historical background to give those words additional impact. If like me your knowledge of The Great War has vast gaps, this might just help. I'm not an avid reader of histories, but an avid private pilot. Knowing the background to ones current privileges makes them all the more precious.
Wary at first that the author did not have a background in aviation, I was soon persuaded that his credentials were not questionable.
Mr Levine puts those other books into some sensible context. How the RAF evolved from naval orgins is just a part of the history. What we have here is a readable history with the personal testimonies of those involved, which maybe these days is how we prefer our education. I cannot share the concerns of another reviewer who finds this too simplified for a serious reader. This is a well-researched book, assembled with care. The detail is sufficient for all but the most dedicated anorak; the contemporary accounts are well-chosen and selectively placed and there are enough illustrations to give the reader a little more to aid the imagination of that most dreadful war.
If the book contained only the diaries of the 'pioneering aviation heroes', it would be valuable but inadequate. The author adds enough political and historical background to give those words additional impact. If like me your knowledge of The Great War has vast gaps, this might just help. I'm not an avid reader of histories, but an avid private pilot. Knowing the background to ones current privileges makes them all the more precious.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
I'm not so sure about untold but certainly any book regarding WWI told in the words of the participants is interesting and, especially for myself, regarding the air war. It is nice to see some of the truths regarding the aces, such as Mannock, Ball and McCudden, coming out. These fearless fighters were just as frightened as everyone else and just had the capacity to overcome it and keep reentering the fray even when they must have had a fatalistic sense that they would never come out of it alive or at least in one piece. Some others didn't have the wherewithall but nevertheless were brave. A good book which I feel tells it like it was.
26 of 28 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
If you are newcomer to Britain's flying services during the First World War, this book is a must. If you know your way around the subject already, then it will still surprise, inform and entertain you nonetheless.
Mr Levine does to the flying services in the Great War what Patrick Bishop did to Fighter and Bomber Commands in the Second World War. Superbly structured, very well written, and obviously intricately researched, the book guides you around the subject of air fighting over the Western Front and the Home Front with ease. The history of the flying services is intertwined with the history of the men who flew and serviced the aircraft. I have never seen training covered in anywhere near such detail before (an entire chapter), and the same treatment is given to the often overlooked work of reconnaissance.
Wherever possible Mr Levine lets those who were there tell the story in their own words. This is a major asset of the book, as these (sometimes lengthy) quotes let you into the minds and the world of these men. Most are from obscure or little used sources, and provide fresh and unusual insights into the war. You will find no great revelations, no 'now it can be told' hype or claims to change how we think about Great War air fighting, but you will find countless nudges away from preconceptions, opening new ways of looking at things or angles that are usually ignored. Between these quotes, Mr Levine's easy style draws you along some thought-provoking avenues.
Only two criticisms come to mind. Firstly, there is little information on the role of observation balloons, a large and very important part of the aviation work carried out on the Western Front. Secondly, the quotes are not referenced, making it hard to track down the source if you want to know more.
Overall, though, my advice is: buy this book.
Mr Levine does to the flying services in the Great War what Patrick Bishop did to Fighter and Bomber Commands in the Second World War. Superbly structured, very well written, and obviously intricately researched, the book guides you around the subject of air fighting over the Western Front and the Home Front with ease. The history of the flying services is intertwined with the history of the men who flew and serviced the aircraft. I have never seen training covered in anywhere near such detail before (an entire chapter), and the same treatment is given to the often overlooked work of reconnaissance.
Wherever possible Mr Levine lets those who were there tell the story in their own words. This is a major asset of the book, as these (sometimes lengthy) quotes let you into the minds and the world of these men. Most are from obscure or little used sources, and provide fresh and unusual insights into the war. You will find no great revelations, no 'now it can be told' hype or claims to change how we think about Great War air fighting, but you will find countless nudges away from preconceptions, opening new ways of looking at things or angles that are usually ignored. Between these quotes, Mr Levine's easy style draws you along some thought-provoking avenues.
Only two criticisms come to mind. Firstly, there is little information on the role of observation balloons, a large and very important part of the aviation work carried out on the Western Front. Secondly, the quotes are not referenced, making it hard to track down the source if you want to know more.
Overall, though, my advice is: buy this book.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
A Warning
I concur with the favourable reviews of this book. It is perhaps not as well-researched as the Peter Hart books of similar content, but is most enjoyable to read. Read more
Published 6 months ago by D. Cooknell
Bringing history allive.
I saw this book just before I went to the battlefieds of France and Belgium, and found it
invaluable. I was able to locate the grave of Albert Ball VC. Read more
invaluable. I was able to locate the grave of Albert Ball VC. Read more
Published 12 months ago by Poppy
First world war - the airmen
I borrowed this audio book from my local library and liked it so much that I've bought this copy as a Christmas present for my dad. Read more
Published 17 months ago by LJDIMES
Aces Low - a better history
This was a surprisingly good book.
I thought it would be the usual hagiographic biopic of various fighter pilots but it turned out to be much better, more thoughtful and... Read more
I thought it would be the usual hagiographic biopic of various fighter pilots but it turned out to be much better, more thoughtful and... Read more
Published 18 months ago by John R. Orr
Excellent and fascinating read
If you want to know more and understand just how it really was from the writings of the men that went through the first world war then read this book.
Published 20 months ago by Andy
Captures the extraordinary character of these early airmen
I ordered the book having seen the author on a Sky programme on the Air War of WW1 and found it a fascinating, and at times disturbing read. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Nick H
Recollections of people who were actually there
This is a damned good book. It's a collection of memories by people who were actually there at the time, and it describes day to day life as well as their experiences in combat. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Gryshnak
Misleading description.
The title is misleading. The content is heavily padded out with matters not connected to actual flying exploits. Read more
Published on 21 Jan 2010 by David H. Morgan
Fighter Heroes of World War 1
Well written book with plenty of factual detail. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the first World War.
Published on 19 Oct 2009 by Mr. Malcolm Shires
Excellent value, speedy service, would use again, 5*
Joshua Levin has written an excellent book about the RFC giving much more of an insight into how it all started and the problems they faced overcoming entrenched ideas from the... Read more
Published on 2 Oct 2009 by TruckiePilot
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