Days on the wing (Flight, its first seventy-five years) [Unknown Binding]

Willy Coppens de Houthulst (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, French (translation)

Product Details

• Unknown Binding: 290 pages
• Publisher: Arno Press (1980)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0405121571
• ISBN-13: 978-0405121579
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,397,658 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The story of a Belgian WWI fighter pilot, January 23, 2004

By 

K Scheffler (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Days on the wing (Flight, its first seventy-five years)

Willy Coppens was the Belgian Flying Corp's highest scoring ace of the First World War, having received credit for 37 kills, all but two of which were against balloons. This biography tells it all, from the very beginning when he had to go to England to receive less-than-suitable private flying instruction, through two years of varied and unfruitful service, until finally in the spring of 1918 he began to register kills. The book is an insightful portrayal of the mindset of a First World War pilot, as well as the advent and growth of the small Belgian contribution to the air war. Days on the Wing was subsequently revised and re-issued in paperback in 1971 with the title Flying in Flanders.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very detailed, good book, June 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Days on the wing (Flight, its first seventy-five years)

Willy Coppens flew in the Belgian Air Force and was their highest scoring ace. All but to of these kills were German "Drachen" Balloons, except for his first( a single seater, most likely an Albatros DVa), and tenth a Hannoveraner CL III two seat fighter. Unfortunately his later kills are breif, example: on August 8 1918 I scored my 23rd and 24th kills. Earlier, about his first ten kills, are well written. It is very deep in his earlier years in training and on a Sopwith 1 1/2 Strutter. He had a long period of unsuccessful flights, from August 1917, until April 25, 1918. He is the highest scoring pilot of the Hanriot fighter, which was supplied to Belgians and Italians. All in all it was a good book, a little slow to start, but good. I forgot to mention when his foot was amputated, the book doesn't end. It is after he explains the agony he went through. Try reading James McCuddens book for the most complete book I read, along with RickenBacker's. Rene Fonk's, Bishop's, and Richthofens are semi let downs, but are good to read. Just remember they are exaggerated, Richthofen's because of the German Government's secScott Sorship