Customer Reviews

War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator (Texas A& M University Military History Series, No 6)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Diary of Lt John M Grider, KIA in France, 1918, as amended and edited by his friend E.W. Springs. Springs believed it would add to the value of the book if he kept it anonymous and mysterious. The book was serialized in a popular magazine in 1926 and created a scandal because it depicts the American boys as womanizers, drinkers, etc. (the racist attitudes of the flyers caused no comment at the time). Later Griders sisters forced Springs to admit that the book was based on their brothers diary, although apparently Springs also included considerable material from his own letters home. Springs was a Princeton graduate from a wealthy family. He was a top pilot and received the DFC, shooting down 5 enemy planes. He wrote some other books but none as popular as this one. This book is gritty and tough, and depicts very well the descent from idealistic recruit to hardened and battle weary veteran.

Although little is written of the truth to the Air War in WWI, it is often offered to history as a time of chivalry amoungst the "Upper Class Gentleman" of WWI. Most sucessful pilots, that being anymore that 5 kills, were showered with metals and given the highest honors from their fatherlands. Deeming them, The Knights of The Skies. The truth is far from reality. This book of one young man's personal, daily recolection in it's original, unaltered text, depicts the Air War as it really was. Not only can you feel the excitement and astonishment in his mind as he earns his wings in flight school, you also experience the sadness and despair as he watches his squadmates perish and learns the veracity of war and death. Illustrated by Clayton Knight, whose sketches and paintings went on to become famous after the war, this book is a must for anyone who is interested in the true reality of The Air War of WWI.

It was obvious from the wealth of information of those who served with the author that the identity is known. Why not disclose who wrote the diary? We share the experiences. We watch the aviator transform from a fun loving barn stormer to a machine that can only function when airborne. The end comes and you know it is coming, the author is crumbling, his attitude has changed, he operates by reflex and his judgement is impaired. (not by booze but battle fatigue has taken over} This is too real . . .

I first read this book aged 15. It made such an impression on me that I sought out copies in secondhand shops etc with no success. And now 50 years later I have read it again and found it just as powerful as a conveyance of the notion of adventure and the spirit of youth amidst the insanity of war. The insights into the scant training of the fighter pilots, the conflict between the U.S. and British hierarchy and the maverick attitudes of the pilots help to take us through the actual experience of war in contrast to the 'dates and events' fed to us through history books. What a privilege to be able to read such detailed and private writings of this young man.

War Birds: Diary of an Unknown Aviator is a fascinating portrait of training and combat for a WWI aviator. It is unclear to me whether the book consists of an actual diary, or is a dramatization written by a friend based on letters written by the aviator main character (see http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/usa/springs.html). The aviator was a real person with real faults (he makes some racist statements), and this makes the story all the more personal. The story reminded me of Catch-22, but is more touching because the triumphs and deaths actually occurred.

Factual every day history of the air war of WWI. This should be required reading for all History Buffs.

It would be hard to describe the book as interesting on its own merits. It is in the format of a diary, and the writing is pretty simplistic. However, it was really interesting from a historical point of view.

Two things stand out to me after reading this book: (1) their airplanes were awful. Almost every entry lists airplanes that break down or crash or have other mechanical problems. A number of pilots shoot their own propellors off. This shouldn't be too surprising, since the first powered airplane flew less than 20 years before the book was written, but it's amazing to read how awful and dangerous they were at that time. The second item is somewhat related, but (2) so many men died in such a short time period, and most of the ones referenced in this book died in plane-related accidents. Again, almost every entry has a list of the people who died. The author says at one point that he knows of 100 men who have died, although he "only" saw seven or eight of those deaths.

A collection of the letters of both Lt John Grider, KIA, and Lt Elliot White Springs, edited by Springs. It details their alcoholic and amorous adventures while in training, paying slight attention to the casualty rate of British flight school. On to aerial battles over the Front, these well bred fighter pilots (Springs a Princeton grad) pursued booze with the intensity they sought the Hun. The stories of combat are absolutely real and intense, saying little of their comrades deaths. One can see the two change from shallow fraternity brother to hardened and bitter combat veteran. This is aerial warfare showing all of the tarnish on the knight's armor.

As an aside, Elliot White Springs inherited a southern cotton mill and gained noteriety for his advertisemnts in popular magazines for bedsheets showing a tired Indian warrior abed in a wnite hammock, overlooked by a barely clad Indian girl, the caption reading, "A buck well spent on a Springmade sheet."

This book was written by a person who found the personal diaries of the soldier involved. It was very descriptive and interesting read.