War Bird Ace

Cover

Download PDF (8.6 MB)
 

Title Page, Copyright Page

Download PDF (74.2 KB)
 

Contents

Download PDF (31.2 KB)
pp. vii-

Foreword

Download PDF (25.2 KB)
pp. ix-

Jack Ballard’s War Bird Ace chronicles the exploits of one of America’s great, and relatively unknown, World War I aces. The fourth-ranking air ace of World War I, Kindley was killed in an air crash at only twenty-three years of age. Author Jack Ballard grew up in Gravette, Arkansas, Kindley’s hometown, and for many years was fascinated by the exploits of the young ...

Preface

Download PDF (39.1 KB)
pp. xi-xvi

New books and articles about World War I, the so-called “Great War” and the “War to End All Wars,” continue to appear. To the historian, more information seems to materialize even when the subject appears to have reached a state of exhaustion. Clearly, new interpretations and insights come from renewed examination of old accounts, data, and ...

1. The Early Years

Download PDF (3.0 MB)
pp. 1-17

By the spring of 1917, the worldwide conflict with its deadly new weapons, such as the machine gun, produced heavy casualties in mass attacks by troops on both sides. As a consequence, the war ground to a stalemate on the Western Front, the German-French boundary. From the English Channel to the Alps, trench warfare dominated. Troops endured horrible ...

2. Training for the Big Show

Download PDF (1.8 MB)
pp. 18-35

It no doubt was the first time he had visited a major university, and certainly he must have been impressed and perhaps eager to explore this new environment. His time there, however, was not to be a relaxed introduction to academia. The School of Military Aeronautics, established to provide ground training for World War I pilots, required long hours and concentrated study. ...

3. Ferrying Aircraft

Download PDF (52.7 KB)
pp. 36-41

The father presumed that Field had gone to France and with some resignation to that thought added strong patriotic comments. “The bloody Kaiser has forced death to so many. . . . If Field could only be the one of thousands who may be fortunate to cast a ton of explosives on the head of the tyrant I shall be satisfied and die believing that my life has been well spent.” ...

4. First Combat

Download PDF (436.2 KB)
pp. 42-58

... by the new American pilots, they had been totally equipped by the British as well as completely trained by the RAF. In typical action, Lieutenant Kindley received orders first to the 65th Squadron of the Royal Air Force in France and later moved to the 148th American pursuit squadron at the northern British front. ...

5. Four Victories

Download PDF (2.1 MB)
pp. 59-78

It was nearly 10:30 P.M. as he pulled his baggage off the truck. He had just turned to shake hands with one of his “old Yankee friends” when he heard a whizzing and then a large explosion. A faint hum of an engine could be heard, and it was obvious that “Fritz” was overhead. It sounded as if he was headed ...

6. Becoming an Air Ace

Download PDF (2.0 MB)
pp. 79-107

The correspondence flow from the Philippines to France and vice versa must have taken a long time indeed. George C. Kindley, Field’s father, writing on August 19, 1918, from Malaybalay, acknowledged Field’s letter of June 4. “You don’t know dear boy how proud I am of you at this time,” he wrote. “I am so pleased to know you are doing ...

7. The Postwar Experience

Download PDF (775.9 KB)
pp. 108-126

As has been noted, he had expressed concern about his fraying nerves and wished for a break in his combat flying. It seems highly possible that if Kindley’s move to Toul and the process of transition to a new aircraft had not occurred, he might have been on that psychological downward spiral wherein that dreaded one last ...

8. Return to the United States

Download PDF (1011.9 KB)
pp. 127-144

The New York newspaper went on to say, “Captain F. E. Kindley, next to ‘Eddie’ Rickenbacker, America’s greatest ace, returned yesterday on the transport Tiger, which brought 2,546 troops into port. Captain Kindley, who is officially credited with downing twelve German planes, was in command of the 141st Aero Squadron ...

9. Fallen Aerial Warrior

Download PDF (243.0 KB)
pp. 145-156

Once again, his hometown celebrated his arrival. At one point he was honored by the citizens with the presentation of a “handsome gold watch.” One young townsman remembered his very shiny brown boots.¹ Others were impressed with his modesty and his military bearing. During his short stay there he expressed the wish to bring his father back from the Philippines to join him and perhaps to ...

Appendix A

Download PDF (24.2 KB)
pp. 157-

Appendix B

Download PDF (34.4 KB)
pp. 158-160

Appendix C

Download PDF (36.5 KB)
pp. 161-163

Appendix D

Download PDF (33.8 KB)
pp. 164-166

Notes

Download PDF (77.0 KB)
pp. 167-186

Bibliography

Download PDF (66.1 KB)
pp. 187-200

Index

Download PDF (64.7 KB)
pp. 201-208