Our Pilots in the Air

In Short

Set near the Western Front during the First World War, the narrative follows daredevil American pilots like Lafayette Blaine and Orris Erwin as they undertake dangerous bombing raids and dogfights against German forces. Balancing high-altitude combat with moments of camaraderie and romance behind the lines, these airmen outwit enemy pilots, destroy vital observation balloons, and earn decorations from French and American commanders. It has endured as a vivid, action-packed window into the early days of military aviation and the spirited camaraderie of American doughboys in France.

The Story

The narrative opens at a bustling Flying Camp in eastern France, where young American aviators gather to read orders for night bombing missions. Lafayette Blaine and Orris Erwin team up in a nimble biplane, frequently clashing with German Fokkers and dangerous anti-aircraft fire. Early in their deployment, they execute a daring ruse: after faking a crash and pretending to be dead or severely wounded, they ambush a curious German pilot, successfully capturing him and his machine.

As the Allied push intensifies, the squadron targets German observation balloons—the vulnerable, gas-filled "sausages" hovering near Appincourte Bluff to direct artillery fire. During a fierce nocturnal raid, Blaine and Erwin help ignite the balloons, though they face heavy retaliation from enemy machine guns and flak. Their missions lead them deep behind enemy lines, where planes are shot down, companions are lost, and survivors find temporary refuge in a ruined chateau near the front lines.

At the chateau, the weary pilots encounter a group of stranded women, including Aida Daskam and Brenda, as well as Senator Walsen and his daughters, Andra and Avella. Brief interludes of warmth, conversation, and relief temper the harsh environment. When pilot Stanley volunteers to fly a captured German Fokker back to friendly lines for help, he successfully navigates the foggy night, paving the way for organized rescue operations and reinforcements.

Back at the base and the active front, aerial skirmishes continue without pause. Buck Bangs joins the fray, engaging in fierce dogfights and even ramming hostile aircraft when his ammunition runs out. Meanwhile, Blaine and Erwin push themselves to physical exhaustion, protecting advancing infantry columns from enemy bombs, recovering vital maps from downed adversaries, and executing harrowing emergency landings in No-Man's-Land.

The narrative culminates at a formal gathering where high-ranking commanders, including General Petain, General Pershing, and a visiting French Marshal, honor the young men for their extraordinary gallantry. Blaine is promoted to First Lieutenant, Bangs to Second Lieutenant, and Erwin and Stanley become First Sergeants, receiving crosses of honor. Amidst ten-day furloughs, dawning romances with the Walsen sisters, and fine dining, the characters remain acutely aware that the bitter war still rages outside, leaving their futures uncertain as they prepare to return to the skies above the scarred European landscape.

How It Unfolds

• The Flying Camp: The story begins at an active aerodrome in eastern France, where American aviators read evening orders and prepare for dangerous night bombing sorties. Chums like Lafayette Blaine and Orris Erwin banter casually before climbing into their biplanes to face enemy fighters.
• A clever ruse: During an intense aerial dogfight, Blaine and Erwin trick a pursuing German pilot by feigning a crash and pretending to be dead and wounded. When the unsuspecting enemy lands to inspect them, they suddenly draw their revolvers, capture him, and tie him up.
• Attacking the sausages: Headquarters orders a massive raid on the vulnerable German observation balloons, known as sausages, positioned behind Appincourte Bluff. The squadron dives through heavy anti-aircraft fire, using explosive bullets to ignite the gas-bags one by one.
• Refuge at the chateau: After crash-landing and surviving harrowing patrols behind enemy lines, the airmen find shelter at a ruined chateau occupied by displaced women and visiting officials. Amidst dwindling supplies and constant tension, Stanley undertakes a perilous night flight in a captured Fokker to summon help.
• Final honors and continuing war: The narrative concludes with a formal ceremony where French and American generals award the exhausted pilots crosses of honor and well-earned promotions. Even as they enjoy brief furloughs and budding romances with visiting American women, the unrelenting bitterness of the Western Front calls them back.

The People

Lafayette "Lafe" Blaine is an athletic, daring pilot who thrives on danger and leads with an unshakeable, uproarious spirit. He wants to outwit the enemy and protect his comrades, but his reckless courage constantly puts him in the path of heavy fire, though he ultimately earns promotion to First Lieutenant. Orris "Orry" Erwin, his nervous, sprightly, dark-eyed gunner and pilot, battles physical exhaustion, shrapnel wounds, and jammed machine guns. He wants to prove his mettle and survive the war, evolving from a hesitant youngster into a resilient First Sergeant decorated for his bravery alongside Blaine. Buck Bangs, a tough youth from Montana, brings fierce determination to the squadron, eagerly engaging enemy bombers and even ramming hostile planes when his ammunition runs out, ultimately earning a commission as Second Lieutenant. Stanley acts as a resourceful observer who risks everything by flying a captured German Fokker through the fog to secure rescue. Meanwhile, women like Aida Daskam, Brenda, and the Walsen sisters—Andra and Avella—provide vital emotional grounding behind the lines, offering warmth and romance that sharply contrast with the grim brutality of the conflict.

In Its Own Voice

Discussing the dangers of their biplane before a flight, the two companions reveal their contrasting temperaments.

"Did she get your nerve last time?"

Refusing to yield to fear as hostile aircraft close in behind them, Blaine maintains his trademark levity.

"Danger, the closer and more menacing, instead of rousing fear, nerved him to his best or, as it might turn out, worst."

Reflecting on his deep affection for his companion amid the celebrations, Blaine expresses his devotion simply.

"I always feel best when you are with me," he simply replied.

What It's Really About

The book explores the psychological transformation of ordinary young men thrust into the mechanized horror of modern aerial warfare. It questions how human beings maintain joy, humor, and emotional connection in an environment defined by sudden death and mechanical destruction. Beneath the thrilling dogfights and tactical air raids, the narrative examines the profound tension between military duty and personal survival, showing how individual heroism is inextricably bound to collective squadron camaraderie. Furthermore, it highlights the poignant, jarring contrast between the pastoral French countryside—populated by historic chateaus, displaced refugees, and tender romances—and the brutal, industrialized slaughter unfolding overhead across No-Man's-Land.

Why Read It Today

Readers who love classic wartime adventure, aviation history, and fast-paced camaraderie will find much to enjoy in this energetic period piece. Reading it feels like stepping directly into a vintage pulp magazine or an early newsreel, crackling with the roar of powerful engines, the rattle of Lewis guns, and the breezy optimism of American doughboys abroad. However, contemporary readers should approach with honesty regarding its historical limitations. The prose occasionally leans into dated period attitudes, stylized battlefield slang, and clunky dialect reproductions that can slow the pacing. Furthermore, the plot relies heavily on episodic skirmishes rather than a tight, modern narrative arc, and the romantic subplots can feel somewhat conventional. Yet, despite these stylistic hurdles, the book's genuine historical flavor, breathless momentum, and affectionate depiction of human resilience under fire make it a rewarding historical artifact. It captures a specific, vanished moment when aviation was still a daring frontier, leaving readers with a vivid appreciation for the courage of those early pilots who took to the skies above the trenches.