Hat in the Ring : The Birth of American Air Power in the Great War

The insiders -- Jimmy Meissner and the first team -- Organizational training -- First victories -- Wings -- The clash of cultures -- America's first air-land battle -- The second battle of the Marne -- St. Miheil -- Meuse-Argonne. When Congress declared war in April 1917, the Europeans had already deployed their third generation of fighters, equipped with machine guns and capable of speeds in excess of 100 miles per hour, while the American Air Service consisted of only a handful of aviators in unarmed trainers. In this first in-depth study of America's first air warriors, Frandsen shows how in just two years the 1st Pursuit Group organized, absorbed French and British technology and experience, and became a well-led, respected, and lethal force over the trenches of the Western Front. Fascinating portraits of America’s first aviation leaders and legends, including Eddie Rickenbacker, Billy Mitchell, Frank Luke, Benjamin Foulouis, Bert Atkinson, and James Meissner, provide new and controversial perspective on one of America’s least understood wars and on the origins of the most powerful air force in history. Toxic personalities, competing French-British tactics and aircraft, and an experienced, aggressive enemy forced the Americans into a tactical crucible with deadly results, including 73 casualties in the Meuse-Argonne campaign alone. "Hat in the Ring is an assiduously researched account of America's first cadre of fighter pilots who accepted the challenge of leading the United States into a new dimension of warfare. In 1918 the 1st Pursuit Group organized and then absorbed French and British experience and technology. The U.S. pilots became a well-led, respected, and lethal force over the trenches of the Western Front." "Hat in the Ring's vivid descriptions explode old myths and shed new light on raging controversies of some of America's most interesting aviation heroes, including Eddie Rickenbacker, Billy Mitchell, Frank Luke, Benjamin Foulouis, Bert Atkinson, and Jimmy Meissner. Dozens of photographs, some rare and all historically significant, bring America's first aerial legends and their fighting machines closer to the reader. Carefully prepared maps provide graphic reference for following the action of the AEF's air campaigns."--Jacket