War Bird Ace: The Great War Exploits of Capt. Field E. KindleyCapt. Field E. Kindley, with the famous Eddie Rickenbacker, was one of America’s foremost World War I flying aces. Like Rickenbacker’s, Kindley’s story is one of fierce dogfights, daring aerial feats, and numerous brushes with death. Yet unlike Rickenbacker’s, Kindley’s story has not been fully told until now. Field Kindley gained experience with the RAF before providing leadership for the U.S. Air Service. Kindley was the fourth-ranking American air ace; his exploits earned him a Distinguished Service Cross with Oak Leaf Cluster from the United States and a Distinguished Flying Cross from the British government. In February 1920, during a practice drill Kindley led, some enlisted men unwittingly entered the bombing target area. “Buzzing” the troops to warn them off the field, Kindley somehow lost control of his plane and died in the ensuing crash. Using arduously gathered primary materials and accounts of Great War aces, Jack Ballard tells the story of this little-known hero from the glory days of aerial warfare. Through this tale, an era and a daring flyer live again. |
Contents
Training for the Big Show | 18 |
Ferrying Aircraft | 36 |
Four Victories | 59 |
Copyright | |
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War Bird Ace: The Great War Exploits of Capt. Field E. Kindley Jack Stokes Ballard Limited preview - 2007 |
War Bird Ace: The Great War Exploits of Capt. Field E. Kindley Jack Stokes Ballard Limited preview - 2007 |
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141st Aero Squadron 148th Aero Squadron 1st Lt air ace Air Force Air Race airdrome Allied Arkansas Libraries Army attack August aviation balloon became Birds bombing British cadet Capt Captain Kindley Clayton Bissell Coffeyville courtesy Lafayette Foundation Cousin Uther crash Distinguished Service Cross Elliott White Springs enemy aircraft engine father February Field E Field Kindley fighter fire flight commander Flight Log Book Fokker D.VII formation France Frank Lahm French front George German Air German aircraft Gravette Grider Hazelhurst Field Headquarters History Hostile Skies Ibid Jack Ballard July Kansas Kelly Field Kindley diary document Kindley Flight Log Kindley Personnel File Kindley's landing Letter Lieut Lieutenant Kindley lines Long Island machine gun military November offensive patrols Photo courtesy Lafayette planes postwar Pursuit Group Raymond Watts reported Royal Flying Corps September 1918 Sopwith Camel Spad Special Collections Division strafing tactics Taylor and Irvin troops United University of Arkansas Uther Kindley York