Aviation was still in its infancy when World War I broke out. The first men to take to the skies above the battlefield undertook reconnaissance. Pilots and observers soon branched out into primitive bombing attempts, and attacking enemy aircraft when they came into contact. Nascent air forces produced manuals to help these pioneers as they took warfare into a new dimension.

Pulling together information from British manuals such as A Few Hints for the Flying Officer and Practical Flying, as well as American, German and French training guides, this pocket manual shows what type of information the pilots were given. From the basics of how to care for, start, and fly an aircraft, through tactics and strategy in the air, identifying whether vehicles below were friend or foe, interacting with mechanics, and coordinating with army or naval forces. This fascinating time capsule opens up the world of the Great War aviator. With introductions to the manuals by Chris McNab, setting them in context and providing background.

This piece describes the importance of constant attention to the welfare of mechanics and machines in the work sheds; a habit which many of the great aces cultivated. Encouraging historians to expand popular interest in the first air war is one of our “missions” in the League, and this engaging pocket manual is a welcome addition to the task.

“Not an official pilot's manual, but a selection of instructions cobbled together from various sources both European and American. Fascinating…”

“This interesting little book is a compilation of contemporary British, German and American training material…it is a volume worth having.”