Seventy-eight men flew as fighter pilots throughout the war, and each of them has a biography recorded. These biographies include the pilot’s date of birth, his military career and, in some cases, post-war career and date of death.

Above Flanders’ Fields is the result of a four-year, daily research, and is the first book ever published in English on all the Belgian fighter pilots and their units during World War I, not just the big scorers - Coppens, Demeulemeester and Olieslagers. Seventy-eight men flew as fighter pilots throughout the war, and each of them has a biography recorded. These biographies include the pilot’s date of birth, his military career and, in some cases, post-war career and date of death. As combat reports have been saved and preserved, the author has discovered details of all official victories as well as probable claims. In many cases, when pilots were shot down or claimed a victory, the identity of their German opponent has been found. The book also reproduces at least one photograph of every fighter pilot, many never before published.

 

A map of the Flanders area is included with the main places of interest mentioned in their old and new spellings. In the last chapter, a complete list of all Belgian victories and probable victories is given, a list of patrol and combat activities on a monthly basis and the subsequent reorganisations of the combat activities on a monthly basis and the subsequent reorganisations of the Aviation Militaire Belge. All except one insignia of the escadrilles is given, a list of honours and awards, both Belgian and foreign, and last but not least the Belgian aircrew, killed in action, and everyone belonging to the Aviation Militaire (officers, NCO’s and men) killed or deceased during World War I.

 

 

This is a welcome addition to the highly acclaimed Grub Street World War I series and is essential reference for all Great War researchers.