"Flying Fury," Jimmy McCudden's autobiography, is back in print. The previous printing was in 1986, so it hasn't been available for two decades.

http://www.amazon.com/FLYING-FURY-Years-...3022&sr=8-1

(I'm not plugging Amazon, I'm sure it's available elsewhere including Barnes & Noble)

I received it yesterday and read a few chapters last night. How much is his writing and how much was written by his editor is debatable, but clearly the story and its telling is his own and it is a good read.

His takes neither the book nor his fame too seriously and the mood of his writing is sometimes serious but often playful.

The book was written in the month before his death while he was serving as a flight instructor. He was on his way to command a squadron in France when his engine quit on takeoff and he was killed.

McCudden was the most highly decorated British pilot and ranked seventh among all WWI aces:

http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/mccudden1.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_McCudden

If you saw my album of my Western Front tour in September, you may recall seeing McCudden's tombstone. His grave was right at the top of the list of places I wanted to visit.

HT

Nice find HT, think ill get it, cant get enough of WWI aviation reading

One of my favorite aviation books of all time. Had a copy I bought back in the sixties and read it over and over 'til it literally fell apart a few years ago. I'd love to own that book, again.